In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, guest host Andrew Clark is joined by Voice of Baceprot’s frontwoman, Firda Marsya Kurnia, better known as Marsya. She talks about the Indonesian heavy metal group’s remarkable journey from meeting as school friends in a small village in West Java, to performing at events like Glastonbury and the Singapore F1.

Marsya reflects on the role social media has played in helping propel the band to fame, as well as discussing their distinctive look. She also talks about why the band isn’t afraid to address social and political issues in their song lyrics.

Featured Voices

Host: Andrew Clark (interviewer); Manisha Tank (introduction)

Guest: Firda Marsya Kurnia, Voice of Baceprot, vocalist and guitarist

Key takeaways

• Marsya talks about how the Voice of Baceprot trio were guided by a teacher at school, who became their mentor.
• She says that discovering metal music on their teacher’s laptop sparked their interest in the genre.
• Marsya discusses how the band uses music to address social issues, such as poverty, patriarchy and freedom of expression in Indonesia.
• She reflects on the role social media played in turning a low-quality music video into a viral moment that launched their international career.
• Marsya also highlights the importance of giving back and explains how the band have built a studio in their hometown to support other young musicians.

Chapter heads

00:00

From a Small Town to the Global Stage

Andrew and Manisha introduce Voice of Baceprot, discussing the band’s roots in rural Indonesia and their rise to fame.

03:25

How It All Began

Marsya explains how a teacher played a pivotal role in helping form the band while the girls were at school.

04:55

Discovering Metal

She talks about how discovering the music of System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine sparked their interest in metal.

06:00

Naming the Band

Marsya goes on to discuss the story behind Voice of Baceprot and the positive influence of their mentor.

07:01

Musical Influences

She discusses how global metal icons and the Indonesian music scene have contributed to shaping the band’s sound.

08:28

Joy and Bravery

Marsya talks about key themes in their music and says that performing is an act of freedom and self-expression for the trio.

10:04

Challenging Perceptions

She talks about how, by performing metal in the hijab, the girls have had to confront online and offline stereotypes.

11:46

Music and Social Issues

Marsya states that the band isn’t afraid to address issues like patriarchy and inequality in their lyrics.

12:58

Going Viral and Going Global

She explores how social media transformed their path and opened up international doors.

15:47

Life on Tour

She shares insights from performing at Glastonbury to Wacken and tells us how it feels to meet your musical idols.

20:40

Giving Back at Home

Marsya explains that the band have returned to live in their home village and have built a studio there with the aim of supporting other talent.

23:33

The Next Chapter

She outlines the band’s upcoming plans and has some advice for other young women in Asia.

Useful links

https://voiceofbaceprot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/marsyavob/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH4sQPdgOgk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJOtmMKwkcc

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAVd8ynyUuG/a-little-story-when-we-were-racing-our-musical-roar-at-the-singapore-f1-arena-f1/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU420zwX7do&list=RDOU420zwX7do&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iywaBOMvYLI

https://www.instagram.com/alissawhitegluz/?hl=en-gb

https://copenhell.dk/en/front-page/

https://www.instagram.com/voiceofbaceprot/

https://www.youtube.com/@VoiceofBaceprot

https://www.tiktok.com/@voiceofbaceprot

https://open.spotify.com/artist/32rI2a65NqHEnTAewmPNEC?si=r0wuYnZkSZOmpktT-Sr6Vg

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Tank Talks Asia is an AsiaWorks production.