Indie-nesia
Matt Charlton investigates why the Britpop phenomenon remains so strong in Indonesia
So the story begins…I’m going to make a sweeping statement now, so please secure yourself in seated positions and, if you’re unable to, then try not to fall over: Oasis were the last guitar band that everyone knew about.
I say this as someone who thinks Blur are superior, listens to Supergrass much more, has been a die-hard Arctic Monkeys fan since they were an unsigned support act, and is currently delighted at the current crop—Wolf Alice, Wet Leg, Last Dinner Party, Haim and countless others, who are making very special music. BUT… can your mum, your nan, or your dad (who only really listens to 1960s Acid Jazz), name the lead singer, and at least two songs?
Noel, Liam, Damon, Jarvis… only the first names needed to be uttered in the mid-90s for everyone to know who you were talking about—even as far as Jakarta. “The Britpop movement was not only about the music but also about the fashion and lifestyle that came with it. The iconic looks of bands like Oasis and Blur were emulated by Indonesian fans, who embraced the cool, effortless style of the Britpop era”, Gege, lead guitarist of Indonesian Oasis tribute band Magicpie tells me. “The music videos, the interviews, the live performances—everything about Britpop was captivating and influential”.
It all started relatively innocently. Music journalist Stuart Maconie, in an April 1993 Select Magazine article, used ‘Britpop’ as a catch-all term to encapsulate upcoming art school-driven British guitar groups such as Suede, Pulp and Denim. “I lumped all the above new British bands together,” he wrote in The Mirror newspaper in 2014, “and held them up as emerging foot soldiers in the war against grunge”. Oasis, although nothing to do with art (or indeed school), somehow came to fall into this catch-all, and their 1994 debut, ‘Definitely Maybe’, along with Blur’s ‘Parklife’ from earlier the same year, provided the scene’s breakthrough moment. And now, after dying a death in around 1997, it’s back. Blur toured and released a fantastic new album ‘The Ballad of Darren’ in 2023, Pulp have just announced a new album ‘More’, and tour, and then there’s the none too small matter of the brothers Gallagher kissing and making up for the noble cause of replenishing their respective bank accounts. Oasis go on tour this summer… though, at time of writing, they’re not coming to Asia… but maybe they should.
Indonesian music fans love the raw energy and DIY attitude of Britpop bands, and there’s a strong nostalgia for analogue warmth in an age of digital streaming.
How does a purposefully, idiosyncratically British music scene lead us to a sweaty dance floor in Jakarta 30 years later? “Britpop resonates here because its themes—youthful rebellion, camaraderie, and catchy, anthemic melodies—translate across cultures.” Bimo Nugroho is the founder of Weekenders Service Crew (WSC), an event-planning collective dedicated to bringing the spirit of ’90s Britpop to Indonesia. “Indonesian music fans love the raw energy and DIY attitude of Britpop bands, and there’s a strong nostalgia for analogue warmth in an age of digital streaming. Plus, the fashion and attitude look cool on our local scene: floppy hair, vintage tees, and a ‘live-for-today’ vibe that appeals to creatives and music lovers alike.”
This is a scene which has been chugging along happily in Indonesia for a while. In fact, Jakarta is second only to London as the city with the most Oasis listeners on Spotify in the world—nearly 900,000 in late 2024. What is going on here that a genre of music more than three decades old is booming in a metropolis nearly 12,000km away from the one it started in? “There’s a strong community feel among Britpop fans in Indonesia; it’s a shared passion that brings people together, and the music itself just hasn’t aged”, Gege tells me, whose band, Magicpie, are named after a track on the band’s third album ‘Be Here Now’. “Britpop hit Indonesia at a time when Western music, especially alternative rock, was gaining huge traction, thanks partly to channels like MTV Asia. The melodies were instantly catchy, the songs were anthemic, and there was an attitude, a swagger, that really resonated with the youth here”.
It’s easy to see why the youth of Indonesia are also looking to a more optimistic, analogue, innocent past to escape the harsh, disenfranchised, and tumultuous political climate. Bimo, however, has a more positive spin on it. “Great music transcends time. Britpop’s lyrical sincerity, memorable hooks, and DIY ethos speak to universal emotions—friendship, longing, defiance. In an era of hyper-produced pop, there’s a craving for authentic instrumentation and honest songwriting, and Britpop delivers that in spades.” Gege concurs, “It wasn’t just music; it was a cultural moment with a distinct style and energy that still feels compelling. And for us, playing it live, seeing a crowd connect with those songs with the same passion today proves its enduring power.”
It’s not just Jakarta… WSC have popular nights in Yogyakarta, Kepanjen, and Malang, the latter night bearing the rather brilliantly named Malangchester (Manchester, in the North West of England, is the home of Oasis, and, along with London, the co-parent of Britpop). In fact, WSC tour all over Java to sell-out crowds, and Magicpie appear to be gigging most nights. “One of our most memorable performances was at a music festival in Jakarta”, Gege tells me. “We had the crowd singing along to every word of ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’ [both from the seminal Oasis album ‘What’s the Story, Morning Glory?’, 30 years old this October].”
Revellers at both Magicpie’s and WSC’s events descend on venues adorned in nineties streetwear, from Reebok trainers and Adidas tracksuit tops to Kangol bucket hats, as well as Fred Perry, and Liam Gallagher’s very own label, Pretty Green. What is Bimo’s favourite item of Britpop clothing? “The classic Harrington jacket. Worn by everyone from Oasis to Suede, it’s lightweight, versatile, and carries that effortless ’90s cool.” It’s only fair to ask Gege too… “The timeless parka jacket, particularly the one made famous by Liam Gallagher, or perhaps a nice pair of Adidas Gazelles or Sambas.”
I have gone this long without addressing the biggest question, but it has to be asked at some point. Although Oasis and Blur are apples and oranges (also a good Britpop band name), the legend of the rivalry remains to this day. On which side do they fall (he asks the guitarist of an Oasis tribute band)? “The period was characterised by the rivalry with Oasis, which encouraged both bands to improve despite their stark differences”, answers a diplomatic Gege. “Although we greatly value Blur’s artistic abilities and contributions, Oasis is the one who has our hearts.” Bimo balances it out, and is also correct. “I’ll go with Blur. Their chameleon-like ability to shift from jaunty social commentary (‘Parklife’) to dreamy balladry (‘Tender’) shows incredible range. Plus, Damon Albarn’s knack for painting vivid British street scenes always sparks my own creativity when planning events. That said, I’ll never say no to a Gallagher singalong!”
There we have it in a paragraph—Britpop was rarely about rivalries and put-downs, it was about camaraderie, healthy competition, and the weird kids who had always existed on the periphery finally taking centre stage… the mis-shapes, if you will. To hark back to that sunny era in such troubled times should be actively encouraged.
Talking of which, that Oasis tour… unless the brothers fall out, it is widely expected that the Gallaghers should announce some European dates at some point. Until then, the closest you’re going to get in a 25Hours Hotel is the Sydney dates in early November… or just pop over to London from Paris Gare du Nord (it’ll probably be cheaper than getting a hotel near Wembley Stadium). But how about Asia? What are Bimo’s and Gege’s messages to the Gallaghers? “The fanbase here is massive, passionate, and incredibly loyal”, says Gege. “We, Magicpie, and countless other fans have kept the Britpop faith alive here for years. Please, please put Indonesia and Southeast Asia on your tour map. You have no idea how much it would mean to us. Come and see the madness for yourselves! We’re waiting!” Bimo adds a Beatles-esque harmony, “Hey Liam and Noel—your Asian fans have been waiting years to scream along to ‘Wonderwall’ live. Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila… we’re ready, we’ve got the energy, and we’ll pack your shows out. Let’s make this tour one for the history books!” You heard them, lads—you gotta make it happen.
