For me, one of the most exciting things about blogging is the chance get to know people in other parts of the world. New online buddy and Javanese blogger Yella Ojrak graciously volunteered to do a cool job interview with indie rocker Kukuh Ariesmart Yuda of “HiMom!” in Surabayan-Javanese and translate it into English for the benefit of the My Cool Job readership. (Pssst! Check out Yella’s blog here to learn how to swear in Javanese!)
While the United States may be the birthplace of rock and roll, don’t kid yourself that Americans are the only folks who know how to rock it out! (I’ve already downloaded a few HiMom! tunes from here and added them to my iPod –I’m loving “Lick the TV”!)
As far as jobs go, being a rock musician anywhere automatically qualifies as “cool” — doing it in Surabaya where “rock musician” is not exactly an accepted occupation makes it even in tune with the true spirit of rock and roll — I’ll have to find out from Yella how to say “cool job” in Javanese!
No matter where in the world you may be, if you follow your passion and do what you truly love, then you have a cool job!
When people ask you “what do you do?’ how do you describe your job?
Since being a musician is not a job here in Indonesia, I can’t tell people that my job is making music and performing it, though actually, I want to tell them that this is the job that I truly love. Instead, I tell them that I work for Nokia.
* so you’re not proud (of being a musician)?
I’m proud. You know I am! But I just don’t really seek for people’s acknowlegement. Let my pride be just mine, yours, my friends, and my fans.
* Hey, you haven’t described your job! Let’s just pretend: I’m a new friend, whatever, and I ask you ‘what do you do’ what would you say?
I’d say I make music, I’m in a band called ‘HiMom!’, I publish my music, I go indie, and I go stages.
What are the things about your job that you love?
mmm… the vibe. Yes. You know. When the audience moves to your songs, and when they try to sing the songs with you.. Such thing really get into me, deeply. And that nourishes my passion for music, life, and everything else everyday.
* woah, that’s deep. I thought you just love the applause part! heheheh…
errrr… you’re wrong then! I appreciate applause, but that’s not what I seek, nor what I love most. You know, some applause is fake. Some people claps because others clap. I don’t need that.
What are the things about your job that you hate?
Rehearsals with the band. Yeah. Some of them are always hours late. I hate it. But I can’t complain. This is Indonesia, everybody comes late!
What education, training, vocation, or just plain luck would someone have to have in order to get a job like yours?
We need to have all of them, I can say. And that applies to any kind of job, not just musician. As for me, you know, I train myself everyday, anytime. I search for the chance to hit the stage. I don’t wait. Because… well, some people might born lucky, but I’m well-aware I wasn’t. So I work hard. I have struggled for years.
What is the funniest story you can think of that involves your professional training or your job?
heheheh…. you know. I planted my face on the stage floor after an electrical shock. For a moment I didn’t know what was going on. I thought my guitarist just kicked me in the ass or something like that. Then I knew there was something wrong with my microphone. There were hundreds of people, and they were all laughing. That was funny. It always makes me laugh, even now. I also thank God that it happened. Now people remember me!
Note from jimsmuse: Not to take away from the awesomeness that is “HiMom!”, but in doing research for this entry, I also ran across Indonesian hip hop artist Saykoji who knows how to kick it old school!
i think the most surprising thing as that there is no such job as ‘musician’ in indonesia! it’s funny (and sad) that he tells people he works for nokia instead.
kuddos on another interesting ‘cool job’!
looking forward to more of them next week!!!
Heeeee… That’s my friend!
You know, I was here to tell you that I finally could send you *that*. So I am surprised now it’s here!
I must tell him about this now! He’s gonna love this a lot, I bet.
Indonesians don’t point at ‘what you do’ when they call it ‘cool job’. They look at the money you get from the job, first. And the second, the power: how powerful are you over this country, how many followers you get, how many people you rule. That is what I see as long as I live.
i thot the entertainment scene is huge in indon – meaning singing can be a job. what an eye opener this is
singing can be a job. but it’s not a job yet if people don’t see you on TV.
SQUEE!
heyyyaaa, ppl in indonesia are still earning money for living and stomach needs, so singing considered as the tertiary period… it’s when the first and second need are fulfilled…
but yeah, singing could earn some money also, just bring up the instrument, go to the public space, and perform your act.. two possibilities, get pennies, or end up fighting with local authorities… lol
HiMom! i lurve it!!
Where are you? Can you come out and play next week?
I MISS you!
Dear Carrie,
I read your mail but I can’t reply, so I write you here.
Indonesian musicians that inspire Kukuh are:
Sheila on 7 (he loves this band a lot)
Chrisye
Iwan Fals
Syaharani
Dewa
Reza Arthamevia
He rarely listens to Indonesian traditional music. Not because he doesn’t like it. It’s just that he doesn’t get it.
Indonesian traditional music, like gamelan, cannot be translated as plain music. Every note and every instrument of the music symbolize something. It’s deeply philosophic so it takes broader and deeper knowledge and experience in life and music to understand it. He’s not ready with it yet.
And about the band’s CD, he promised he’ll send you the copy as soon as he’s recorded a full album.
Yella Ojrak