GLIDES 24th Edition by GLIDES

GLIDES MAGAZINE VOL - 24 Kya Maldini Hill Editor in Chief

What’s up GLIDES readers! Our 24th issue is finally up and ready to read for your enjoyment. This issue’s theme is music! Something

So, with that in mind, we came up with the theme, put it all together, and the staff delivered their best! They wrote about the one thing they all love. With different approaches and interests, our writers managed to write pieces they are passionate about. Our designers managed to pull off what they have envisioned to life with this issue. We could not be more satisfied. We hope that you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoy making it. Stay safe and healthy!

Kya

NOTE

Music is such a unifying element in our life. I would say that there’s almost no one in life who doesn’t enjoy it. Whether it be rock, pop, disco, blues, EDM, classical, opera, or even dangdut. Music plays such a significant role in all of our lives. The diversity of music resulted in equally diverse enjoyers, and this issue will demonstrate that.

EDITOR’S

that the whole staff has been buzzing about and they did great on it too.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 01

Indonesia’s Hip-Hop is on the Rise by Ahmad Fikri Adzhani

For A Better Day: Avicii’s Perspective on How Music Can Deliver a Message by Vera Benita Hernando

Film Soundtracks: How Music Binds a Film Together by Kya Maldini Hill

The Ressurection of ARTPOP by Handiko Wijaya

The Mystery Behind ABBA’s Infectious Songs by Yasmin Anggraini Teguh

Editor in Chief

Writers

Kya Maldini Hill

Ahmad Fikri Adzhani Handiko Wijaya

Advisor

Kya Maldini Hill

Paramita Ayuningtyas,

Yasmin Anggraini Teguh

S.Hum., M.Hum.

Vera Benita Hernando

Editors

Designers

Vanessa

Cherrylita Ollyvia

Joshua Renaldo

Fransisca Feby Melliana

Kenzu Tandiah

by Ahmad Fikri Adzhani

INDONESIA’S HIP-HOP IS ON THE RISE

Even though Indonesia has fairly thick musical culture, hip-hop is not a popular genre in Indonesia. As someone who was born in 2001, the only rappers I know growing up were Iwa-K and Saykoji. Only those two names came to the surface when I heard the question “who are Indonesian rappers?”

“ The public started to be aware and care for rappers with the existence of the internet, social media, and music festivals which have become platforms for them to do promotion. Back in the day, we were only performing on underground shows. ” Even so, in recent years, the hip-hop scene in Indonesia has been on the rise. Many things caused it, one of which is the role of Brian Immanuel, commonly known as Rich Brian, who has captured the world’s attention by successfully making music on the international scene. Not to forget there is also Agnez Mo, who was successful first in making waves in Uncle Sam’s country.

Apart from the two names that have magnificently catapulted their names in the international market, Indonesia also has young talents based in the country who also possess potential in their musical ability. It is not impossible that sooner or later they will be able to follow the footsteps of the two who preceded them. It is because two of the following three names have signed contracts with internationally well-known labels.

ARIEL NAYAKA

A South Jakarta–based rapper who has been making music since 2013. He is a talented rapper who had the opportunity to get to know hip-hop firsthand. He moved to Houston, Texas in 2001 and stayed there for around 6 years. The moment he fell in love with hip-hop was when he was on a road trip to San Francisco. During the thirteen-hour-trip, he listened to 50 Cent’s album “Get Rich or Die Tryin”.

The first album that brought his name to the surface was the album “Curriculum Vitae” which was released in 2016. The album was featured in Rolling Stone Indonesia’s best 20 albums list. After that, his name continued to climb high. He released a mini-album titled “Colorblindflo” in 2017. As he was never satisfied, he continued to grind and released the album “Cadence Blue” which was done with the music label PreachJa and Warner Music Indonesia. The single that raised his name even more was a collaboration with Emir Hermono in “3 AM in Jakarta” which music video he recorded himself with his ex-girlfriend Emily Devita. 2019 was the year when he started to spread his wings internationally by signing a contract with the South East Asia subsidiary of the giant Def Jam label along with other Southeast Asian rappers. Def Jam is a home for big names like Kanye West and Justin Bieber. At the latest, he released an album inspired by the pandemic. In the beginning of the pandemic, we were required to self-quarantine and during the quarantine process, he produced songs and compiled it to an album titled “Carakarantina”. What’s interesting about him is his songs are mostly written in English. In addition to that, his unique accent of English makes him sound like a native. You would not think he is Indonesian when you listen to his songs.

Songs to Listen to: Curtain ft. Warrenisyellow Places All Alone

LAZE He is under the PreachJa label, just like A. Nayaka. Another South Jakarta–based rapper, and this one has been spitting bars since he was in high school. Unlike those who directly make music, he came off by participating in freestyle rap competitions. That’s why he is considered the best rapper who can do freestyle. He is widely known for his smart word-plays both in Indonesian and English. His motivation in pursuing a career as a rapper was triggered when he was watching MTV Crib that showcased the lavish lifestyle of American rappers. He was motivated to have a big house and fancy cars.

“Katakan ini agar kalian tak kecewa Idolamu manusia, bukan Tuhan atau dewa Tak ada seorang yang sempurna di dunia Karena semua panutan pasti ada panunya”

His songs are mostly written in Indonesian. He argues that by writing the song in Indonesian rather than English, the message of the song will be more well-received. Despite his preference for writing in Indonesian, he has published an album fully written in English called “Vacant Room” that was released in 2015. It took him three years to release another album titled “Waktu Bicara” that consists of Indonesian songs. Recently, he released an album “Puncak Janggal” which was inspired by his feeling of being on the top but somehow it is an odd thing. I personally really like his way of writing songs which involves a bunch of wordplays. It is really captivating when you have to think twice to understand what he really says.

Songs to listen to: Cerita Benar Titik Terendah/Titik Tertinggi Bintang 5

RAMEN

GVRL She’s probably the most famous, that’s why I put her in the last. Her eccentric appearance and stage name make her recognizable. Being influenced by Japanese culture, she chose Ramengvrl because she likes ramen and she wanted to have a different identity. She did so because she thought hip-hop in Indonesia has been about America, baseball, basketball, etc.

She first gained recognition when she published “I’m Da Man” in 2016. Before making music and being a bad-ass rapper, she used to work as a freelancer in Kompas Gramedia where she worked as a copywriter. And then, she worked for 3 years before being a rapper under the label of Underground Bizniz Club. Now, she has signed a contract with a major label of EMPIRE. The same label that has released songs of Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and fellow Indonesians Niki, Rich Brian, and Raisa. Recently, she released an album “Can’t Speak English’’ with EMPIRE which consists of ten songs. In total, she has released two albums.

Songs to listen to: I’m Da Man Foreign ft. Pyra Look at Me Now

Those are three rappers who are currently elevating their games and beginning to catch everybody’s attention. It is not impossible that sooner or later, Indonesia will have other sensational rappers who will succeed in the international stage.

“ DO WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT TO DO. SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY “

For a Better Day:

’s Perspective on How Music Can Deliver A Message By Vera Benita Hernando

istening to music has been the lifestyle of our everyday life. Music is there when

It makes music an entertainment and consolation for the soul. The

we are happy or sad; in our good and bad days. Aside from entertainment purposes, music can also hold a much deeper objective. Conveying thoughts, emotions, feelings, and messages, for example.

incorporation of these messages can be done both explicitly or implicitly. The messages may vary depending on what the songwriter wants to deliver. This also makes music a great tool of communication – to share what is inside the songwriter’s mind to the world. One good example of music as a message broadcaster is a song titled “For a Better Day” created by the late DJ Avicii. The official music video was released on September 3, 2015, and currently has 88M views on YouTube. What’s interesting about this song is that according to Music Times, Avicii had brought up the topic of child slavery and child sex trafficking. The lyrics of the song itself do not explicitly mention nor discuss any issue of child trafficking.

But, the music video is the one that takes the role in telling the issue. In sum, the video shows a group of men and elite people who loved to exploit children for their own needs. Inside a massive truck, there were a number of barely dressed children from various ages standing helplessly and couldn’t do anything other than to be chosen and purchased by those pedophiles. Fortunately, two children, one boy and one girl, managed to escape from their buyer. Years later, these two people grew up and became pedophile-hunters. They listed down all the pedophiles in the country and hunted them down one by one, including the one who bought them when they were still kids.

Avicii once stated in a Billboard article that: “All the songs have a story I wanted to tell… The promise of a better life often traps families and children into being used as tools for some of the most despicable people on earth. It’s an issue about which I hope to start a louder discussion, especially now with the huge number of families on the move from war-torn countries looking for safety and shelter.”

This clearly shows how much thought was put into his masterpiece. He creates songs not only to entertain his audience but also to educate them. By this very song, he has the intention to open the eyes of society that these cruel things are real and happening in our world. Avicii wanted this message to be spread widely when he inserted the message within his song, “For a Better Day”. Avicii proved that a song is indeed able to be a strong vessel to deliver social reflection. Avicii had warned us regarding this issue since 2015 and after years, society finally caught up with his message. As the controversy of child trafficking has just increased for the past several years, this shows that people have actually started to put more attention on the issue. Listen carefully to the music you enjoy. You might discover deep and meaningful messages there – just like Avicii’s. Hoping that a better day will come, eventually.

by Kya Maldini Hill

FILM SOUNDTRACKS:

How Music Binds a Film Together The easiest example dates back to the early days of motion pictures: The Silent Era. In an era when spoken dialogues were non-existent and relied heavily on the physicality of acting. One element stood out to enhance the experience of watching films. Music and the usage of it for this medium is crucial. Not only that it helps carry the film along, but it also evokes and determines the mood in the scenes that we watch. RUNNING TEXT

ave you ever wondered what makes a great film? The answer must almost always be the writing, the cinematography, the plot, or even the actors. But there is one thing that binds those great elements together, one thing that truly spices up the films we watch. Music. Films without music is something rather unimaginable. For as long as the industry goes, the role of music is John Lennon inseparable in the production of a film.

the kid (1921)

Modern Times (1936)

Limelight (1952)

Such practices are displayed by one of the most famous silent era stars of all time,

CHARLIE CHAPLIN. Chaplin did not just star and direct his films, he composed the music for it too. Ever the perfectionist, Chaplin wanted to have everything just right. This resulted into some of the most well-known music in film history such as Smile from Modern Times, A Smile - And Perhaps, a Tear f rom The Kid, and Terry’s Theme from Limelight. All these scores served as a vessel to deliver important scenes and even became the identity of the film. Those who watch these films will remember them because of the music associated in the film.

Another brilliant usage of music that we can highlight is f rom arguably one of the most famous films of all time, The Godfather. One of the things that makes this film great besides the story, the actors, or even the director is the music by

NINO ROTA.

The whole Godfather soundtrack album will transport you back to the film or even make you feel as if you are living that mafia life. Tracks such as the Love Theme, the Main Title, and The Godfather Finale are so heavily associated with the film that when you listen to or stumble upon it after a while, you just know.

Music as the carrier of the tone and mood within a film is apparent in contemporary films as well. An easy example is The Avengers f rom the first Avengers movie. The music, which was composed by

ALAN SILVESTRI, provided us with a sense of pride for the heroes fighting the battles in New York.

We almost felt equally as heroic as Iron Man and Captain America, all because the music carried us to feel that way. Portals from Avengers Endgame, also composed by Alan Silvestri, is another example of a brilliant soundtrack. In the scene where we felt hopeless and desperate for our heroes who are moments away from dying, Portals lifted our spirits up as we witnessed the return of our lost heroes. Some of us even cried in the movie theater, don’t lie. 13

The way music determines where our emotions go as we watch a film is proven by the brilliant score Married Life, composed by

MICHAEL GIACCHINO,

from Up, a soundtrack that we might be familiar with. Serving as the companion to the montage scene of Carl and Ellie’s love story, we could not help but feel the love they felt for one another and the devastation that follows after Ellie’s death.

Ave Satani from the movie The Omen, composed by

JERRY GOLDSMITH,

provided us with a different atmosphere than the aforementioned soundtrack. One of the most brilliantly sinister soundtracks ever, Ave Satani which literally translates to Hail Satan, will give you a rightful chill when you listen to it. As if Satan, the Devil, himself is with you. Very fitting for a film so frightening, the soundtrack couldn’t be more perfect.

Another example for the way music is important for our favourite films are Hedwig’s Theme by

JOHN WILLIAMS,

f rom Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as well as Statues and Courtyard Apocalypse by

ALEXANDRE DESPLAT,

for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

The first is the soundtrack we would recognise immediately as one from Harry Potter. The soundtrack that we all come to know and love, the one that I would assume we recognise the most f rom the entire series. The latter two marked the battles where we witness our ‘friends’ fight for their lives. Statues marked the scene in which Professor McGonagall ordered the knight statues of Hogwarts to guard the school

Music enhances our movie-watching experience and helps us navigate through the storyline by carrying our emotions. Immersing us in the fictional world we are diving into. Imagine a world where films are made without music. How dull would it be? Even theater productions need music. Films undoubtedly would need as much. We should never forget to give our highest appreciation to the composers of our favourite films. For it is them who, as you realise it or not, make your films even better.

as the battle against Voldemort begins. Courtyard Apocalypse served as the music in the scene in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione were caught up in the middle of the courtyard battle in Hogwarts. Running away from trolls, giant spiders, and dementors. These tracks reminded us of our childhood when we realise, the final wizarding battle is here and this is the end.

With this article, I have included a Spotify playlist of the soundtracks mentioned in this article. As a bonus, I have also included in the playlist, some notable soundtracks from films and TV shows worth listening to.

F O N

17 BY HANDIKO WIJAYA

E H T

E R R

O I CT

U S RE

“How do you describe ARTPOP?” Little Monsters, Lady Gaga’s army of fans, might describe it as her ‘failed album’. But recently after the release of Chromatica, people started to praise ARTPOP. Not only her Little Monsters, but people who enjoy pop. They came to one conclusion about ARTPOP: it was too early to be released.  With songs about sex, drugs, and the joyful feeling of being praised, ARTPOP was indeed too early for its time. For an album, the promotion was hell. She tried to fly with a flying dress, and even featured a “vomit painter” Millie Brown during the Swine live performance.

All for the sake of album promotion. Yet, ARTPOP could not be categorized as successful in the charts compared to the rest of her albums. So, what was the actual problem? Where was the mistake in ARTPOP?

The mistake was Lady Gaga herself, and her team. Her latest album before ARTPOP, Born This Way, was an era-defining album. She set the bar way too high for herself, while her fans and the public expect highly of her.

“ WE COULD

BELONG

TOGETHER ” – Lady Gaga, ARTPOP, 2013

According to IFPI, Born This Way sold six million copies, while ARTPOP sold two million. Compared to other artists in 2013, ARTPOP had impressing live performances. It was the high expectations set by her own fans that killed ARTPOP.

“In the end, ARTPOP never got the attention and praise that it deserved.” Gaga’s vision of ARTPOP was so different from the one we have today. Her label took part in the creation of the ARTPOP that we see today by scraping her original idea and forced her to do what they wanted. Gaga herself finally leaked the real ARTPOP by releasing Burqa against her label. Her management also left her during the promotion of ARTPOP. All the drama and stress surely affected her artistic creativity. In the end,

“After ARTPOP, we never had the same Lady Gaga that we knew. Her next solo album, which was a complete one-eighty, Joanne, resembled nothing of her past self.”

After ARTPOP, we never had the same Lady Gaga that we knew. Her next solo album, which was a complete one-eighty, Joanne, resembled nothing of her past self. No weird costumes and no outrageous stunts during live performances. Joanne was a country album with many acoustic instrumentals that will touch your heart. The old Lady Gaga never returned even at her next album. We had A Star is Born, the big hit that revived her career. But Little Monsters keep asking: “Where is the old Lady Gaga?” During this period, people started to praise ARTPOP, and claimed it as Gaga’s farewell to her dance-pop era.

In 2020, she surprised the world with her single  Stupid Love: first song after ARTPOP which is an electro-pop music that is not a ballad. She soon announced Chromatica. This marked the return of her ARTPOP era.

Stupid Love is a joyful song that made people remember ARTPOP. The theme is now different. Chromatica talked about her stress and mental health problems. During her interview with Genius Gaga said, 911 explores her problem with antipsychotic and the effect on her life. On her Spotify storyline, Gaga explains that Replay tells a story about her PTSD. While on her interview with RADIO, she revealed that Fun Tonight is her battle against moments in her life where she couldn’t feel fun. Chromatica did a good performance as an album. Reviving the old Lady Gaga with weird costumes and songs that celebrated diversity, while also comforting mental health problems. Chromatica feels like Gaga apologizing for the mess during ARTPOP era.

“ WE COULD BE ANYTHING YOU WANT ” – Lady Gaga, Chromatica, 2020

The Mystery Behind

‘s

Infectious Songs

by Yasmin Anggraini Teguh

Who doesn’t know ABBA? The Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 who gained popularity with the song Dancing Queen. Those who were born in the early 2000’s might notice ABBA songs from the films like Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia 2 which are based on the Broadway musical made around ABBA songs. 35 years after the band’s first album Ring Ring was released, people are still obsessed with them. Even those who dislike ABBA can’t resist its infiltration into their minds. It is so infectious that scientists wondered if it was possible to break down scientifically why their music is so irresistible.

“It’s soothing” and “it’s comforting” are some of the ways to describe how the cheery pop of the Swedes makes the fans feel good while listening to their songs.

“IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAKES A SONG POWERFUL, I WOULD SAY LOOK AT HOW THE MEMORY WORKS” — Harry Witchel, physiologist

Back in 1974, the group won the Eurovision contest and their songs were played all over the world. ABBA songs consist of both strong emotions and repetitive lyrics to occur. When people hear the words repeatedly, they start to sing along, relate to the words and tunes emotionally with either a happy or sad reaction. Lastly, what makes the group so special is that they use a small number of syllables in the hooks and consistent backbeat. All are factors into the insidious nature of the tunes to provide the listeners a soothing and comforting experience.

The bubbly tune of ABBA songs give listeners a surge of dopamine in their brain. Not that ABBA doesn’t make sad songs, they do. Such the case is The Winner Takes it All, but according to a scientific research, people get the comfort hormone of prolactin when they hear sad music and that’s the same hormone released when mothers nurse their babies.

As humans we are attracted to repetition, even as adults; we want the stimulus and the reward again and again, the reward is the feeling that we get from the music.

Providing a hit of a surge of sublimity, ABBA lifts people to a higher place through their songs. Two examples of repetition found in ABBA songs are Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! and Money, Money, Money. The lyrics of the songs were simple, easy to understand, and easy to sing along. Not only that, but ABBA’s two male members who are Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus also seemed to recognize the main important piece of gaining popularity which is the “brain puzzle”, the simplest of all. They knew the secret and made it happen.

As the fans always say that ABBA didn’t just write great songs, they made great records and that was their secret. ABBA, the visions of perfect pop music was one of the most stratospherically successful pop groups which will never be forgotten and always be in our hearts. So now, try playing some of ABBA’s greatest music hits and once it sneaks in, it will get stuck. And don’t forget that “you are the dancing queen, young and sweet only seventeen”.

Another fact behind ABBA’s speciality is that the band consisted of two married couples with the husbands being the songwriters and the wives taking on the role with different vocal styles which complimented each other.