UWALMASSA – malar
PIOTR KUREK – world speaks
24 Febbraio 2022
ASSID – Connaissance des Lois Cosmiques
21 Marzo 2022“We are mere manifestations of all the things that came before us - the long lineage of cultural production and activities of sonic expression.“
Uwalmassa is the name with which DIVISI62, arts & music collective from Jakarta, Indonesia, perform and produce music.
DIVISI62 is a sound and visual arts label aiming to reach new heights in the continual construction of the Indonesian identity. Emphasizing the cross-wiring of world heritage, the collective is initiating homegrown narratives into global consciousness. Singular and plural.
Are all the artists come from Indonesia ?
"Yes. Jakarta, Indonesia."
Do you have any connection with Senyawa ? ( we were blown away by the modernism of their decentralized album promotion last year )
“They are our senior colleagues. No, we are not creatively associated.”
In your identity what s the balance between sound and visual ?
“We are still searching, if there is such a thing. For us, the perpetual exploration of our creative potential is of most importance - regardless of output.”
Is your purpose to promote a new Indonesian style ?
Or to modernise your heritage ?
“What we do is not so black and white, not quite that literal as well. We are mere manifestations of all the things that came before us - the long lineage of cultural production and activities of sonic expression.“
Uwalmassa shape their relationship with various forms of musical heritage into technical and stylish forms on Malar, marrying acoustic sonics with a contemporary outlook that reflects their Indonesian identity; evolving, mutating, and scavenging traditions to draw parallels to dance music, and to test the adaptability and flexibility of those sounds.
Here the collective go dark and deep in their first album-length collaboration with Mana, casting long shadows and moving snake style at speed across nine tracks. Using a mix of synthetic and acoustic instruments - the texture of Malar feels enigmatic, occasionally industrial, and the result magical in its mystery and fluctuating impact.
This opus is released on MANA records, the London explorative label founded by Andrea Zarza, curator at the British Library Sound Archive, and Blowing Up The Workshop founder Matthew Kent.
