Photo credit: Tiny Studio
Indonesian trio Grrrl Gang recently announced the arrival of their full-length debut album, Spunky!, to be released on September 22 by Green Island Music in partnership with exclusive license in North, Central and South America on Kill Rock Stars (pre-order). The album will also be released on Trapped Animal Records in the United Kingdom and European Union, and Big Romantic Records in Japan and Taiwan.
The album art comes from Tiny Studio, and is available on digital, CD, cassette, and several vinyl variants, including limited opaque pink, transparent, and exclusive orange.
Today Grrrl Gang are excited to share their second single and music video for album track “Rude Awakening.” Directed by Bathroom Girls, as part of a continuous movie, with “Rude Awakening” being the first chapter. Amidst a bustling house party, an introverted girl seeks validation among her peers. Left alone in a sea of people, her attempts to mingle falter, and overwhelm takes hold. Seeking respite in the bathroom, she reflects on the true nature of validation and embraces her inner strength.
Written by Edo Alventa and Angeeta Sentana, the song revolves around Sentana’s deep longing for someone to truly listen to her, yet she finds herself trapped in a world where no one really cares. “I just hate feeling left behind, you know? And I hate it when I’m desperate for a listening ear, people just don’t care. But, on the flip side, I guess, I just didn’t realize that maybe my friends were just fed up with my sh*t. Maybe they’ve tried their best to handle me and be there for me, but I just took that for granted. So, this song is basically my point of view at that time, of thinking that no one cared about me—when, probably, they actually did.
That would be Lafa Pratomo, the in-demand producer brought in to help shape the ten tracks that make up Spunky! With a resume that includes the likes of the chanteuse Danilla and legendary singer-songwriter Iwan Fals, Pratomo might not seem the obvious choice to take the Grrrl Gang producer’s chair. But according to Rumandung, “In terms of production, this was something new for us by working with someone outside of Grrrl Gang’s comfort zone.” Indeed, Pratomo considerably beefs up Grrrl Gang’s sound – particularly Alventa’s guitar tones, Rumandung’s rumbling bass, and touring drummer Muhammad Faiz Abdurrahman’s muscular beats – while preserving the band’s signature raucous energy, catchy melodies, and Sentana’s attitude-filled, equal-parts-honey-and-vinegar vocals.
Hailing from the cultural city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Grrrl Gang is a rising force in the independent music scene with their infectious melodies, anthemic songs, and electrifying live performances. The power trio, composed of Angee Sentana on guitar and vocals, Akbar Rumandung on bass, and Edo Alventa on guitar, has been making waves in the Southeast Asian music scene since their formation in 2016.
Grrrl Gang’s music is a celebration of their collective roots and a testament to the power of pop music to connect people across cultures and borders. Their lyrics touch on themes such as feminism, mental health, and relationships with a raw honesty that speaks to a generation of young listeners. With their infectious energy, socially conscious lyrics, and unique sound, Grrrl Gang is poised to take the global music scene by storm and become a voice for a new generation.