Tasya Rosmala and Syahiba Saufa Perform Old Hits with Dangdut Arrangements

Kapanlagi.com - The music industry in the country certainly cannot be separated from dangdut and Malay music. It can be guaranteed that this music has a special place in the hearts of most local music enthusiasts. Big names like Rhoma Irama who holds the title of the King of Indonesian Dangdut, Mansyur S, Elvi Sukaesih, Ikke Nurjanah, and Inul Daratista are already quite close to the Indonesian people.

Emerging since the late 60s, dangdut in the country eventually became more than just music but can be said as one of the cultural identities. Although, there was a stigma attached that this music was only popular and consumed by the lower middle class.

In recent years, a new phenomenon seems to have occurred. Koplo-type dangdut songs are currently widely enjoyed and receive attention from young people from various and diverse backgrounds. This can be seen from the many songs of this music genre that go viral on social media platforms or have a high number of listeners on digital streaming. Currently, we often find dangdut artists who adorn the line-up list at several major national music festivals, which may have been rare in the previous era.

1. New Sub Label Becomes the Answer to the Phenomenon Happening

Capturing the phenomenon that is happening, Sony Music Entertainment Indonesia, as one of the major record companies in the country, will also contribute to advancing the development of dangdut and Malay music by creating a new sub label called Megah Music.

Megah Music was established in 2021. Some names such as Yogie Nandes, Tasya Rosmala, Syahiba Saufa, Sasya Arkhisna, Vianty Arvy, and Alfin Habib are young artists who are currently under the umbrella of Megah Music. Not only that, in addition to dangdut and Malay music, Megah Music also releases songs with traditional and religious nuances. It can be said that Sony Music Indonesia is the first international record company in Indonesia to create a sub label focused on this genre.

There is a unique thing that is currently being carried out by Megah Music, which is bringing back old hit songs from several artist catalogs under Sony Music Indonesia. These songs are performed again by Megah Music artists with Dangdut-style musical arrangements. Songs like Berhenti Berharap by Sheila On 7, performed again by Tasya Rosmala, Nakal by Gigi, performed again by Syahiba Saufa, and Gelora Asmara by Derby Romero, performed by Sasya Arkhisna, have been quite successful in receiving very positive responses from music listeners in the country. These songs are available on all digital music platforms.

“Sony Music Indonesia has a lot of popular pop song catalogs. We are thinking about how these songs can be enjoyed again by the current generation, especially in different genres. Maybe there are listeners from Gen Z who are not familiar with Sheila On 7's songs, for example, but they know it from the latest version with dangdut arrangement. Finally, they can explore about Sheila On 7," said Wisnu Wicaksana, Head of A&R from Megah Music.

2. Good Momentum Like the Insan Dangdut of the Homeland

In addition, Megah Music will also digitize the release of Dangdut from their old catalog which previously only existed in physical form. The presence of Megah Music in the recording industry of the Homeland is expected to provide new hope for the players in the Dangdut and traditional music genres. And at the moment, it seems like the right moment for Dangdut musicians to innovate even more.

With the existing ecosystem, coupled with the presence of Megah Music as a sub label of a large international recording company that certainly has access and potential to bring this music to a wider audience. It is not impossible that in the near future Dangdut and Melayu music could find a place in the Asian music industry or even wider.

(kpl/far/ums)