Dressed in a hijab and a black and silver dress covered in sequins, the musicians of the female group Nasida Ria accompany the suave voice of the singer to the sound of bongos, violins, mandolins, bamboo flutes and tambourines.

"Cursed creator of the atomic bomb. Why summon the last judgment?", they sing in the song "Bom Nuklir".

Young fans sway to this macabre tune and cheer on their favorite musician by shouting "Umi!"

(“mother!” in Arabic).

Formed 47 years ago as a Quran recitation group, the formation now brings together dozens of musicians who cheerfully mix Arab musical heritage and popular Indonesian dangdut music, long considered vulgar and old-fashioned.

Their pop songs, mixing Islam and humor on serious themes, such as justice or human rights, have seduced a young generation looking for a little levity.

"More Than Cool"

Taking advantage of the revival of the Indonesian music scene, the group with fun songs has found new notoriety.

In his texts, full of metaphors and comparisons, he compares seducers to "ungrateful bats" and emphasizes that "monkeys like to carry weapons, and humans show their nipples".

Fathul Amin, a 22-year-old fan, calls the group "more than cool".

"Because all of its members are women who play more than three instruments."

The musicians of the female group Nasida Ria, in hijab and silver dress, in concert during a festival in Jakarta, January 6, 2023 in Indonesia © AGNES ANYA / AFP

Many of the group's colorful expressions have become very popular memes, widely shared on social media.

"That's how young people communicate today and that suits us. But the most important thing is that it shows that the messages of our songs are convincing," said Rien Djamain to AFP.

"I am grateful that despite the advanced age of a majority of the band members, Nasida Ria is still loved by young people. And that our music appeals to them."

"Guilty pleasure"

Musical tastes are changing in Indonesia.

In parallel with Western hits, the public increasingly appreciates music that combines traditional sounds - such as dangdut -, Javanese lyrics or reggae sung in dialects from eastern Indonesia.

This trend makes Nasida Ria's music more current than ever, according to music journalist Shindu Alpito.

Spectators attend a concert by musicians from the female group Nasida Ria, during a festival in Jakarta, on January 6, 2023 in Indonesia © AGNES ANYA / AFP

"The new generation appreciates music that has a sense of humor. They are attracted not only by the aesthetics of the music but also by the musical comedy aspect," he told AFP.

Popular dangdut music, which was mostly played in the villages, saw its popularity grow.

Bands are now invited to festivals across Indonesia to perform for young audiences alongside rock bands.

"Many young people in Jakarta are rediscovering local music. They describe this type of music as 'guilty pleasure'", says the critic.

"Islamic songs are generally serious, with lyrics that reference the teachings of the Quran. Yet Nasida Ria has charmed a wider audience through a style that is easy to understand and entertaining."

The YouTube Effect

Nasida Ria's youngest musician, 27-year-old Nazla Zain, attributes the band's success to new technologies that allow audiences from all walks of life to access their music.

"We stay trendy using YouTube and other apps."

The musicians of the female group Nasida Ria, in hijab and silver dress, in concert during a festival in Jakarta, January 6, 2023 in Indonesia © AGNES ANYA / AFP

"That way young people can listen to our songs on smartphones. That's why they like us."

They have seen the number of their subscribers on YouTube multiplied by six since March 2020 to nearly 500,000.

They also accumulate more than 50,000 plays each month on the Spotify streaming platform and some 38,000 subscribers on Instagram.

"It's very cool that they perform on stage at their age," says metal and punk fan Ricky Prasetyo.

© 2023 AFP