INTERVIEW/Trailblazers Jubah Hitam fly the flag for Indonesian music in Taiwan

By Teng Pei-ju, CNA staff reporter

Under a gradually darkening sky, Indonesian heavy metal band Jubah Hitam frantically troubleshoots technical issues during a final sound check in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei.

Intense drum beats, rapid guitar riffs and piercing screams flood the street, with occasional passersby stopping in their tracks and casting curious glances at the musicians, all Indonesians living in Taiwan, on stage.

In just a couple of hours, the band, whose name literally translates as "Black Robe," will take to the stage at Taiwan's official New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony in Taipei for one of their biggest gigs yet.

"Of course, we are nervous... but we are determined to give our best on stage," David, Jubah Hitam's black-clad, long-haired founder and guitarist, told CNA in an interview on Monday.

Since forming in 2019, Jubah Hitam has made a name for itself in the local metalhead circle with performances at the Megaport Festival and the Taiwan Death Metal Festival, among others.

For Monday afternoon's sound check, David and the rest of Jubah Hitam -- singer Robby, guitarist Andy, bassist Dion, drummer Feri and synth player Haritsyah -- had to make a whirlwind one-day trip to Taipei so they could return to work the following day.

The band's six members, all based outside Taipei, will make the long trip back to the capital in the early hours of New Year's Day after a full day of labor, arriving at the event venue before dawn to perform a two-song set.

All this effort speaks to the band's dedication to their music, which they create and perform in the limited free time available between physically and mentally demanding day jobs.

"We've definitely gotten busier [and] managing time between work and performances has drained a lot of energy and time," David said of the band, which has developed a cult following among both Indonesian and Taiwanese metalheads.

The band recently released their first album, "Tirakat Spiritual," through which one can find traces of their experiences as migrant workers in Taiwan and a more spiritual element inspired by their Islamic faith.

Work, however, remains their priority, as it does for more than 800,000 migrant workers in Taiwan, a reality that sometimes forces the band to turn down gig opportunities.

To David though, the cathartic power of music still outweighs such hassles.

"Music is life," David explained in a gentle tone that starkly contrasted with Jubah Hitam's stage output. "It's what makes life bearable after work. Music takes away the fatigue and boredom."

Lan Yu-chen (藍雨楨), who has researched migrant workers' cultural activities in Taiwan since 2019, told CNA that removing the labels imposed on them by others would reveal them as a group of artists who "strive to find a balance between life and dreams."

Their music, spanning across various genres, reflects their life and even hardship in Taiwan, according to Lan, co-author of a book looking into the works of 23 migrant worker musicians, titled "Singing in abroad: Lyrics Collection from Indonesian Migrant Workers & Music Scene Report in Taiwan, 2021."

Some songs express the sorrow of being unable to maintain a relationship while working and living apart from their lover, while others highlight the challenges faced by migrant workers in Taiwan, she added.

Speaking of the upcoming New Year's Day event, David said the band "truly appreciated the invitation from the Taiwanese government."

"Hopefully, there will be more opportunities [like this] for migrant workers," he added.

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