Across the last year I’ve really been enjoying the live keyboard DJ culture in indonesia, especially Mayen Sembiring. This genre is pretty popular over there but I think is virtually unknown in the west so I’m gonna talk about it.
It’s basically all about playing as many notes as fast you can, modulating them on the fly, just moving along if you screw up, and generally a lot of heart coming through the keyboard performance, which you don’t often see. It’s done for parties and big events and stuff, and sometimes they get on TV.
Here’s Mayen Sembiring with some dirty ass live house music. make sure you get to 2:10 of this video
More:
I think this is a cover of that “umbrella” song maybe!? some popular thing. but I like it anyway!?
Arindi Putry is more popular but because of that she winds up doing much more traditional stuff
She’s actually a good singer too:
Here’s the party vibe that you usually get with these, it’s super fun to see. I’d hang out at one of these!
More blue tent party time:
I can’t find my favorite party video right now, but the singer is a genderfluid dynamo getting it on the dance floor, I wish I could find it.
Dunno who the keyboardist is for this one but I like the vibe here (it’s a wedding I believe) with grandmas out there getting it.
Anyhoo as a music subculture this rules super hard and even The Cops love it
If you’re wondering whether dudes do this stuff also, the answer is yes but who cares
here’s a guy who has the same last name as mayen… I think
Learning about all this through youtube gives me very limited insight but maybe it’ll be a jumping-off point for somebody to have a good time!
(p.s. A lot of the music they’re playing is in the dangdut genre if you wanna explore further)