Jakarta-born singer-songwriter Marissa Yudinar performs under the stage name Matahara. Now based in Melbourne, she has found a unique "middle ground" between two cultures that quietly colours her music.
Matahara is the stage name of Marissa Yudinar, a Jakarta-born indie pop musician now living in Melbourne. Since releasing her debut EP in 2021, she has put out two EPs and four singles. She is working on her first full-length album as an independent artist, she said.
She writes her lyrics in English, but fellow musicians often pick up on Indonesian tones and melodies in her songs, she told SBS Indonesian. Those elements come through subconsciously in her melodic choices, she said.
Marissa has been making music since 2020 and has mostly played within the Australian music scene. Her involvement in the Nongkrong Festival in Melbourne, however, became a turning point that connected her with the local Indonesian creative community, Marissa said. She sees her position as an Indonesian-Australian musician as an advantage. Growing up listening to both Western and Indonesian music, Marissa said, gave her a wealth of inspiration, placing her in a unique position.
Marissa hopes to perform in Jakarta, Bandung and Jogja one day, she said. She also wants to tour other cities across Australia, Marissa said. More importantly, she wants to introduce her music to as many people as possible, she added.
Listen to the full interview.
