If you have ever been to Bali, you must have noticed that even though it’s not the most dominant genre of music played on venues, reggae does have a special place and portion at most venues’ Top 40 playlists all around island. It is only normal considering the nature of Bali: an exotic island, a place of escape and holiday for so many. But the repeating covers of Bob Marley's greatest hits is not all that this country can offer when it comes to reggae! Here is some news: the coastal culture of the archipelago of Indonesia has somewhat influenced the rising sub-genres of music in the last decade and so some very interesting blends of sounds has lead into a new sub-genre of reggae to be born.

This week’s artist of the week is a major example of the mentioned indie music phenomenon above. Meet Primitif! An amazing reggae band from the concrete jungle of Jakarta, who has just celebrated a decade of their journey creating, presenting, performing their unique sub-genre of reggae which they tend to refer to as Indonesian reggae.

Primitif equals Nico (vocals), Dewar (bass), Edison (keyboard), Ulil (guitar), Arie (percussion) and Andra (drums), and together they present a sound that really represents their statement of Indonesian Reggae. It is totally reggae, but instead of forcing themselves to go full on Jamaican, they chose to hold on to the sweet traditional Indonesian hints of sounds as well as melodies as well to be part of their specific reggae identity. The result, you ask? Honestly, an unpretentious awesome blend of not-Jamaican-wanna-be reggae music of Indonesia! It’s refreshing!

Ever since they started the band, they have been very serious about making things happen and to be able to spread the music they love and also the message they believe in, and in 2008 they finally launched their debut album, Peradaban Indonesia, which translates into Indonesian Civilization. That album was a big success; loved, pirated and the tracks were somehow even leaked and spread from phone to phone, mostly by Bluetooth back then, before the album was even launched.  Their songs which are mostly about life in Jakarta from the social and political angle, as well as the day-to-day kind of romance, struggles and the big city sometimes rather tired life, were so well received by music lovers from very different backgrounds and also became very popular among the street musicians especially in South Jakarta.

As the band has marked its one decade journey, it also celebrated the launching of their second album. This mini album entitled Langkah Kecil, which translates into A Small Step, has 5 tracks, all catchy in a great way, still bringing up the subjects they have always put forward and most definitely still rocking their Indonesian music identity while going full on reggae at the same time!

So what are you waiting for? Check ‘em out, check ‘em out! This is Jakarta’s voice of many! And more importantly, THIS IS Indonesian Reggae! Go Primitif!

http://www.facebook.com/PrimitifBAND

http://www.reverbnation.com/fan/mantemanprimitif

http://www.reverbnation.com/hgfg