Towards the age of 75, Sawung Jabo reflects on his long journey as an artist with simple but profound principles of life.
For him, the triumph of an artist is not about appreciation, but rather about the courage to choose a life path, be fully present in those choices, and consistently share through the work.
He believed that life should keep moving until the heart stopped beating, a spirit that kept him energetic even after entering his twilight years.
Born in Surabaya but spiritually “reborn” in Yogyakarta, Sawung Jabo brings a strong spirit of populism into each of his compositions.
Yogyakarta for him is not just a geographical setting, but a space for exploration.
There, he cultivated himself and learned from different walks of life, from intellectuals to street folk.
For him, the school doesn't have to be inside a formal building because knowledge can come from anywhere.
It is these diverse life experiences that shape the lyrics of her songs to be so honest, straightforward, and have profound meaning for the wider community.
His musical collective, Circus Baroque, was able to survive beyond the ages because it was built on a foundation of openness and openness without coercion.
Sawung Jabo also recalls the times of iconic collaboration in the Swami project and Takwa Cantata as a “matchmaking” of destiny.
There he met great luminaries like WS Rendra and later collaborated with musicians like Iwan Fals.
Although songs like “Bento” and “Unload” became very legendary, he admitted that he never expected such success because his main focus was only on honest work.
At the end of his reflection, he advised the younger generation to dare to be themselves, to keep giving, and to be unyielding in the wake of life.
