LUNARIAN – interview

Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:

We’re LunariaN, an experimental-rock/art-rock band based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The members are Rivelino Ismaya as vocalist / guitarist / synth / other instruments, Anink Edyson on guitars, Immanuel Willy on bass, and Ekky Setiawan as the drummer.

We think 2010 is the year where LunariaN was really born after several changes in the past. We released an EP in 2011 called Experimental Thinking through Phoenixx Records in Manchester-UK, performing from stage to stage in Indonesia, before for some reason we had to pause in 2014. Last year we picked up the pace again, finished our first album which will be out this June, while releasing 1 song each month since January.

What’s the hardest part about being a band in this day and age?

The first thing is maintaining your presence in social media, it’s tiring as well as not rewarding in any way. The likes and follows and social media don’t count as achievements.

The second is related to where we live, getting a stage for the kind of music that we play is not easy. Still better than the first one though.

When did you realise that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?

Rivelino: I’d say it was gradual. It was never just a band for fun from the get go, but then when we heard our first result of professional recording, we though that this music deserves to be listened by people, mostly we were thinking about Indonesian people at the time. But now could say that we have so many supports for our music not only from Indonesia, and that also one of the things that keep us going.

Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?

The latest release is a single called Noble Mind Traveler, which will be one of the tracks on our upcoming album in June. You should definitely check it out if you like an eclectic mix of rock and waltz, and if you like a song about searching for the truth.

How does a song typically come together for you?

The general rule is Rivelino creates the basic arrangement, and then the rest gives input. There have been instances where plenty of parts were altered for the better during the process. We’re used to this method and it’s still the best for us. Lyrics usually come during the process.

How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?

We always say that you can try to imagine a mix of Bloc Party or SoaD’s guitar riffs, the eerie Radiohead’s Amnesiac ambience, and Devin Townsend’s eccentricity into one, and then add some splash of European traditional music and underlying quirky electronic sound.

What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your band?

If after one listened one can deduce that 1. originality is crucial, and 2. You can be creative while being you, then we’d consider that the message is delivered.

Where would you really like to tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?

You know, we like the idea of touring in Japan and Northern Europe, if we ever get the chance. Japan is because well.. Who doesn’t want to, the cities are filled with people who have nothing to fear wearing what they want, and from what we know, they have the most appreciative audience. And Northern Europe is because our music is in one way or another is related to.

How would you say that the sound of your band has progressed over the years?

Firstly, we’re happy with how our sound has been progressing, we’ve found the best audio engineer for us, and secondly, we dare say that our music has matured to a level that we can restrain ourselves from going wackadoodle, because we can definitely do that.

How excited are you for 2023, and what can fans expect from you?

Expect our album in June! ? And we’re planning to do tour and other things around it. Being an independent band that still has no manager, it will be a challenge, but we’ll enjoy the process and fatigue.