The Band
Based in Toronto
Formed in summer 2015 by Akas, Theo, Jaya & Djenar. The band of four originally played guitar (Djenar), bass (Theo), and ukuleles (Akas and Jaya). In the process, the group enjoyed playing some old songs with kroncong as a genre. The music evolved in 2018 to include Indonesian traditional string instruments cuk (pronounced: chook) and cak (pronounced: chuck) replacing the ukuleles. Further, in 2019, the band invited an Indonesian kendang* master, Wawan to collaborate and expand the genre into a more playful sound of campur sari. The band invited vocalists Sendy (2022), Herlin (2020), and duet Krisnawan and Ira (2018).
*kendang is a javanese traditional drum set
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Genre Keroncong
Kroncong (pronounced "kronchong" Indonesian Keroncong, Dutch Krontjong) is the name of a ukelele-like instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong (the sound chrong-chrong-chrong comes from this instrument, so the music is called kroncong). A kroncong orchestra or ensemble traditionally consists of a flute, a violin at least one, but usually a pair of kroncongs, a cello in pizzicato style, string bass in pizzicato style and a vocalist. Kroncong originated as an adaption or Portuguese musical tradition, brought by sailors to Indonesian port cities in 16th century. By the late 19th century kroncong reached popular music status throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
"(excerpt from Kroncong - Wikipedia)"
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