Efek Rumah Kaca is an
indie rock band from Jakarta. Consisting of Cholil Mahmud (vocals, guitar),
Adrian Yunan Faisal (backing vocals, bass), Akbar Bagus Sudibyo (drums, backing
vocals). They are known by music lovers in Indonesia of their songs are a lot
of touching and photographing social circumstances surrounding them on all
levels. Until now, the band has released two studio albums, the Greenhouse
Effect in 2007 and the Dark Room in 2008.
Starting in January 2009, they
are believed to fill a special section about the election in the newspaper
Kompas every Saturday.
Efek Rumah Kaca was originally
formed in 2001. Having experienced several personnel changes, they finally
established itself with the formation of a band of three people. Previously,
the band was named Hush. This name was later changed to Superego, and then
changed again in 2005 to the Efek Rumah Kaca - a title taken from
one of the songs on their debut album.
Since the beginning of their
emergence, many people who said that the color of the Efek Rumah Kaca music
belong to the post-rock, there is even mention of shoegaze as the color of
their music. However, the Efek Rumah Kaca firmly stated that
the color of their music is pop, because they are not using a lot of distortion
and effects guitar in their songs looking like rock music.
The band formed in 2001 with five members, but in 2003
became a trio. The band's name at first was Hush, then Superego. They finally
chose the name Efek Rumah Kaca after the release of their first album in 2007.
They have said that music
is their lives; what has happened in their lives is reflected in their music.
They also have been described as a pop band with social and political messages
in their lyrics. Their music is influenced by variety of music genres, including
swing, jazz, rock, and a cappella.
In 2007, they released
Efek Rumah Kaca and the album sold more than 5,000 copies. Two singles of this
album are "Di Udara" (English: On Air) which tells the death of Munir
Said Thalib and "Cinta Melulu" (English: Always Love) as a criticism
of the increasing prevalence of insipid love songs in Indonesia.
In 2008, they released
their second album Kamar Gelap (English: Dark Room). Among the tracks from this
album are "Jangan Bakar Buku" (English: Don't Burn Books), "Kenakalan
Remaja di Era Informatika" (English: Teenage Mischief in the Information
Era) and "Mosi Tidak Percaya" (English: Motion of Distrust).
They will release their
third album in September 2011; they have said that it will not be a
"friendly" album.
In May 2010, they founded
a label, Jangan Marah Records (English: Don't Be Angry Records), hoping to
accommodate creative bands that are not accepted by major labels.