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| TENGKORAK band with guitarist Samier second from left. |
My interview with Samier of Tengkorak, Inferno Music
Studio & Rock Shop, Surabaya, 26 January 2014
Interpretation where necessary by: Dimas (Valerian
Guitarist) & Verrell (Valerian Drummer)
Expert Comments and Questions by: Dimas & Niza
(Climaxeth / Osiris Vocalist)
(Note: Samier is based in Surabaya but the other
members of Tengkorak are based in Jakarta)
Jack
Frost (Busuk Webzine): First of all tell us your life story, just a short
introduction...
Samier:
Love story?
JF:
The history of Tengkorak then, just briefly...
S:
The band was established in 1993. I joined in 2002. At that time Tengkorak just
wrote some political lyrics, corruption – not about jihad or anything like
that. We started writing about Islam and jihad and topics like that in 2007.
It’s in our third album Agenda Suram.
We write about jihad because we feel lots of westerners believe that Islam
equals to terrorism. It happened because
of 9-11. We started to think how to counter that statement; Islam is not equal
to terrorism.
JF:
OK, please tell us more about the band’s philosophy and vision?
S:
It comes from our [personal] philosophy itself. We have faith in Allah, we
believe Islam; it’s a good religion, not a terrorist. We should tell about the
truth. A lot of kids in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta, at that time were
starting to doubt their beliefs so we counter that. A lot of bands say they
don’t believe in God; some of them are fake you know. If they don’t believe God
they don’t believe Satan. If they believe Satan but don’t believe God, it’s
ridiculous, man! So we tell the truth. We want the kids who watch us to
continue to believe their religion. Although they like metal they should not
accept the lifestyle.
JF:
What are the things wrong with metal lifestyle and what things are OK?
S:
A lot of metal fans here say that you are not metal if you are not drunk; you
are not metal if you are not tattooed; it happens over the years. If you live
in Indo you don’t have to take that lifestyle if you like metal. You have your
own lifestyle. As a child you studied your religion, you prayed, it was like
that. If you like metal you should not leave what you believe. If you believe
it is not correlated with your music. Music is just entertainment. If you like
horror movie it does not mean you are a killer or something like that. Don’t
adopt the western lifestyle. If the lifestyle doesn’t match with your religion
don’t take it.
JF:
What about black tee-shirt and long hair?
S:
It’s OK for me; it’s not OK for some. In the end we realize the music has power
to state our message. If people have a bad message in their music the metal
fans think it’s OK. Why then is the good music not OK? In Indonesia it’s
different to other [western] nations, you still have religion.
JF:
Do you think Indonesia is too easygoing about the religion compared to, for
example, Malaysia?
S:
Maybe in Malaysia the government is based n Islam but in Indonesia it is a
secular government. We are a Muslim majority here but the government is not
Islamic; it is too American you know...
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| Samier Tengkorak and Jack Frost (Kieran James) |
JF:
Do you know about the Christian metal scene and what do you think about it?
S:
I think it’s good. They do it for the Christian people; to help the people to
still believe. Metal does not have to have a correlation with your belief; it’s
a different thing, it’s just your hobby maybe. Lately metal has had a message
which a lot of kids have adopted.
JF:
What is your comment about the band Deicide?
S: I read an interview with Glen Benton; he said
he was not serious with the lyrics; it’s just a gimmick.
JF:
At least the early lyrics seemed to be quite serious?
S:
Maybe he changed as a person you know. He said you should pay for your rent,
for your family. He said the lyrics are not serious. I don’t know if he lied or
not. I think the music is good but the lyrics are not good for me.
JF:
OK, I want to ask are you musician first or preacher first?
S:
I’m just a musician [laughs] but I realize that music should have a good
message. It becomes our responsibility - to our audience especially; it’s
important for us.
JF:
Do you aim to convert the non-Muslims to become Muslim?
S:
No, never.
JF:
What do you think of Niza wearing jilbab
[hijab] on the stage?
S:
It’s difficult to say you know [laughs].
Dimas
(Valerian Guitarist): For me it’s not important Jack.
JF:
What is the reaction to your band?
S:
We had a lot of negative feedback in Jakarta especially thinking we want
to...they say don’t mix religion with metal.
JF:
What do you think of Jihad, for example, singing about Islamic philosophy and
also saying “we are secular band”?
S: It’s stupid you know. Are you afraid to say
what you believe? Why are we afraid to say what we believe?
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| Samier Tengkorak and Jack Frost (interview @ Inferno Studio) |
JF:
What bands are you most influenced by?
S:
There are a lot of bands you know. The main influence is Napalm Death for the
music.
JF:
What are the future plans for Tengkorak?
S:
We should make a new album. Our last album was 2007 you know. It’s been too
long. We continue to deliver an Islamic message; we continue to proclaim the
message that Islam does not equal terrorist. We hope our audience can still
believe what they believe even though they still like metal music.
JF:
What do you think of Indo metal musicians dedicating their albums to Allah but
using 666 number and pentagram symbol?
S:
It’s stupid; they don’t know what they believe. They say “in music don’t
believe Allah”, why?
JF:
How is Purgatory different from Tengkorak?
S:
Purgatory lyrics have a message from the Al-Quran; it puts quotations into the
lyrics, but Tengkorak does not.
JF:
Do you want to tour in the Middle East and did you get any feedback from there?
S:
Not yet.
Dimas
(Valerian): In your opinion what do you think about the metal scene in
Surabaya?
S:
A lot of the community people here do not know the meaning of community itself.
They think it is like a gang. A community should un by itself. If you are a
writer you should write about your metal scene or maybe you have a label...
JF:
What do you think about the Ariel Peterpan court case?
S:
People like Ariel; it’s a new phenomenon.
JF:
It copies from the west as well, yes?
Niza
(Climaxeth / Osiris Vocalist): Yes.
S:
He is very popular right now, more than before. He is more successful with the
new band. It’s a prophet’s name Noah. They go to imam and say “what is the best
name for my band?” It’s true.
JF:
What do you think of the culture of hardcore genre?
S:
I think it’s good because if we learn religion you will find that you should
respect family, parents, mother, sister, etc. All the good things come from our
religion, your religion...I think a hardcore band should say about religion.
Our culture came from religion. If they don’t say that a lot of people think
hardcore is a religion. I read that it says metal has become a religion. Wendy
of Rolling Stone magazine said hardcore lyrics are inspiring. Wendy is a
Muslim. I told her that if you want inspiration you should read Al-Quran.
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| TENGKORAK with Samier first on left |
JF:
John Yoedi and I took the 666 out of the Busuk Webzine URL, what do you think
about that?
S:
Congratulations [smiles]!
JF:
Do you have any political philosophy about left-wing or right-wing?
S:
No, I don’t know much about that.
JF:
What are some good young bands in Indonesia?
S:
Climaxeth, Valerian, lots of good bands...Full Fontal (hardcore)
JF:
Do you hope for new young bands to follow the philosophy and style of
Tengkorak?
S:
I hope so. If they are Christian or Muslim they should talk about their
religion, it becomes about responsibility. Indonesia is not western; we have a
religion; stay true to your religion.
JF:
What do you think of Jasad singing about Sundanese culture on Rebirth ov Jatisunda album?
S:
Jasad also wants to rise up their culture; I think that it is a good thing.
They want to make traditional music more popular. I think it’s a good thing to
mix metal with traditional music.
JF:
What do you think of use of inverted cross symbol by Indonesian metal bands?
S:
It’s stupid. We should respect the other religions. Those people just follow;
they don’t know the essential meaning of the symbol.
JF:
Do you feel the same way as some Christian metalheads who feel caught somewhere
between the church and the world?
S:
Metal is metal and music is music. It does not mean if you have a faith you
should not like the metal music. You have the right to like the metal music.
JF:
Did you ever use an imam or theologian to advise you on the lyrics?
S:
No.
JF:
So to record the new album you will have to go to Jakarta?
S:
Yes, I must go to Jakarta for a couple of months to do the rehearsals.
JF:
Ok, that is all, thank you very much for interview! Best wishes for the new
album.
S:
Thank you!
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| Samier's new grindcore band G.A.S. (SURABAYA). |
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