Sounds From The Corner : Session #12 Tika & The Dissidents

SETLIST:

Tubuhku Otoritasku: 0:33
Lies my teacher told me 4:50
Unlearn the Fight: 09:30
Tiptoe: 17:03
Hawaiian Chicken Jam: 22:00
Here’s a microscopic memory.

Kartika Jahja entered the minivan and sat on the back, right next to me. It was a hot afternoon in Pontianak and the car was packed. I didn’t know anyone except her, but we understand that all of the people in the car were heading to the same destination. Five minutes after the car accelerated, I gave Tika my earphone and played a song by Michael Kiwanuka called “I’m Getting ready”. She listened to the song religiously. When the song is finished, she shed a micro tear and we started to talk about many things, mostly life.

Tika is a woman with a constant anger, honed with profound standpoint. She shows that her fight is not only for herself, but for things that are truly matter. Her take on feminism - “Tubuhku Otoritasku” -opened Tika and the Dissidents’ session with Sounds From the Corner in Syaelendra studio, marking Tika and The Dissidents first ever Online appearance with material from new upcoming album MERAH.

If their previous release - Headless Songstress (2009) - is an archipelago of various style and approach, MERAH is arguably identical, but with ballsy arrangement, lineal lyrics and robust message. With just six songs records, the album itself is hypothetically more concise compared with Dissidents’ previous releases. All of the songs recorded in live sessions, making it more tangible and borderless. “We want people to feel the atmosphere when we recorded this album,” Tika confessed.

The atmosphere from MERAH sustains not only with the organic production, but also Tika’s finessed songwriting. My personal pick - unfortunately not played in this session - “Pukul Rata” tells about how men trapped in their own masculinity and often forgot their fate as human being. “Unlearn the Fight” is a love letter, encouraging people to free themselves from stereotypes and social justifications.

Fewer songs, bigger bombs. MERAH polarises all of Tika’s point of views and convert them into compelling think pieces. Asked about the writing process, Tika confessed that in MERAH her perspective in writing is far more direct, in order to deliver the message more efficiently to the audience. But the word “audience” is maybe too delicate, since in four year’s time after Headless Songstress released, she involves herself in numerous activism such as One Billion Rising (Global feminism movement), Gertak Balik (campaign against beauty standardisation), Wo(men) Space (Collective dedicated to fight violence against women) and so on.

With strong message and solid music, MERAH pinpoints Dissidents’ comeback with such a mighty presence. It’s such a pleasure for us to host Tika & The Dissidents’ first ever Online appearance with material from the new album. Ladies & Gentlemen, Sounds From the Corner presents: Tika & The Dissidents! - Teguh Wicaksono

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