Teks: Bani Hakiki
Photo: The Panturas
The Panturas are preparing to unfurl the sails of their ship once again for another adventure
across the seas. Their upcoming mini album titled “Galura Tropikalia” is set for independent
release through Los Panturas Ent. on November 22, 2024, on various digital streaming
platforms (DSP).
This time, the band members—Surya Fikri (drums), Bagus ‘Gogon’ (bass), Rizal Taufik
(guitar), and Abyan ‘Acin’ (guitar, vocals)—aim to surprise their listeners with six tracks
featuring lyrics in the Sundanese language, accompanied by the sounds of traditional
Sundanese music.
For Kuya, the creative process behind this album has been fascinating, from the initial
workshops to the launch. Each member of The Panturas has reported extensive exploration
and the introduction of new patterns during the journey of “Galura Tropikalia,” a fresh
approach they have not undertaken in their previous album work.
“I feel we’ve discovered a lot of new elements; we’ve engaged in exploration and adopted
new patterns,” said Surya Fikri, affectionately known as Kuya, in an interview on Friday,
November 9, 2024. “The most significant realization is that we can steer our musical
direction toward an area that is very familiar to our roots in West Java,” he shared.
Some members of The Panturas found lyric writing to be the most challenging aspect of their
project, given the complexities of the Sundanese language. However, Rizal felt supported by
the language used, which evoked childhood memories of traditional chants and old
Sundanese tales. Ultimately, they wrote from the heart, expressing what they truly felt.
The contemporary surf rock band has also covered a Sundanese pop song titled “Talak Tilu,”
originally created by Kosman Jaya and popularized by Upit Sarimanah. Additionally, they
invited legendary Sundanese pop musician Doel Sumbang to collaborate on a track titled
“Jimat,” which has already been released as a single.
With a runtime of approximately 21 minutes, “Galura Tropikalia” features production by Ricky
Virgana (WSATCC). This collaboration imbues the tracks with a distinctive disco pop style
reminiscent of the ’70s and ’80s. Spiritual guitar guidance is provided by Om Robo (Southern
Beach Terror/Sundancer), alongside contributions from collaborators such as Panji Wisnu
(keyboard/synth), Rezki Delian (percussion), and Andri (trumpet).
Moreover, The Panturas have created a song titled “Bentang Sagara” as an ode to their
collective love for Indonesian pop music from the era of the LCLR 1978 compilation album.
This track represents their exploration within disco pop, enhanced by Sundanese lyrics.
“Fortunately, the writing and production of this song have been supported by Ricky Virgana,
who is indeed proficient in this genre. We are looking for a balance between disco music and
the mellow guitar style characteristic of The Panturas,” Kuya commented in the same
session. “We hope the album is well-received and that listeners today can still enjoy our
music without the barrier of language,” he expressed.
“Galura Tropikalia” is expected to be accompanied by a tour and showcase, aiming to
present their music live to audiences in various cities across Indonesia and potentially
abroad.
Previously, The Panturas released two introductory singles, “Lasut Nyanggut” and “Jimat,” in
October 2024, along with music videos for both tracks. The mini album “Galura Tropikalia” is
scheduled for release on November 22, 2024, under Los Panturas Ent., available on various
DSPs and with physical distribution handled by La Munai Records.