For musician Ria Soemardjo, singing in the Javanese tradition is a way to connect with her father's culture whilst also providing a space for creative experimentation.
Ria Soemardjo, with Australian and Indonesian cultural backgrounds, began learning about gamelan and Javanese songs in her childhood through her father. From this experience, she went on to deepen her practice of Sindenan, a classical Javanese vocal style that features rich ornamentation and personal nuance. Ria is also known as a cross-disciplinary artist who combines music, dance, theatre, and visual arts.
Besides exploring Javanese vocal music, she plays gamelan instruments and continues to create new works inspired by nature and everyday life. For young diaspora members, Ria said traditional Indonesian music can serve as a way to understand and discover their cultural identity, whilst also building a sense of togetherness within the community.
Javanese classical vocal, which is called Sindenan, is really quite unusual… You have melodies that you have to sing, but at the same time you can really bring your own flavour through the ornaments.Ria Soemardjo, Australian musician
In a conversation with SBS Indonesian, Ria Soemardjo discusses how her journey in the arts began, why Javanese vocals hold such a special place for her and how Javanese musical traditions inspire her contemporary work.
