WESTERN FRONT – Yes No Wave

Description:

Western Front presented a showcase of music from Indonesia represented by the Yes No Wave Music label run by the interdisciplinary artist and producer Wok the Rock. The showcase featured live performances by Gabber Modus Operandi and Rani Jambak, and a DJ set by Wok the Rock.

Based in the Javanese cultural hub Yogyakarta, Yes No Wave Music is an online label and platform to nurture Indonesian artists and promote their activities internationally. Founded by Wok the Rock in 2007, the label is run with a DIY ethos to build a post-capitalist alternative to music industry norms. All music on the label is free to download, distribute, and even remix, reflecting the Indonesian social value of sharing communal resources, and the necessity for artists to develop their activities in spite of nominal government support and funding.

The showcase began with a DJ set by Wok the Rock, followed by a performance by Rani Jambak that layered live vocals with electronic tracks and field recordings. Gabber Modus Operandi closed the evening with an hour-long set that featured strobe lights, fog, and lasers—some of which were emitted by a pair of gloves worn by duo member Ican Harem.

Prior to arriving at Western Front, the showcase was presented by Debaser, Ottawa; Arts in the Margins, Montréal; The Music Gallery, Toronto; and Send + Receive Festival, Winnipeg.

The concerts were accompanied by a screening of video works by Natasha Tontey and Riar Rizaldi in the Grand Luxe Hall during gallery operating hours.

Curated by Aki Onda and Wok the Rock.

Wok the Rock stands at a DJ table in a dark room. He is illuminated by the light emitted from his DJ equipment, and green and red lasers are projected on the back wall.

Wok the Rock stands at a DJ table, adjusting the dials on his electronic equipment. He wears black glasses, and a patterned long-sleeved shirt. He’s illuminated by a red light, and green and red lasers pattern the wall behind him.

With her head tilted back and eyes closed, Rani Jambak sings into a microphone from behind a DJ booth. She’s basked in a warm red light, and wears a head covering and sparkly long sleeved top.

Rani Jambak stands behind a DJ table and dances with her arms up. She’s basked in a warm red light, and wears a head covering and sparkly long sleeved top.

Rani Jambak stands behind a DJ table and sings into a microphone. She wears headphones over her head scarf, and is dressed in a sparkly top, long patterned skirt, and kitten heeled boots. The room is illuminated by a red light.

Lit by a warm red light, Rani Jambak stands behind a DJ table and sings into a microphone with her eyes closed and head thrown back. She wears headphones over her head scarf, and is dressed in a sparkly top.

Ican Harem tilts his head forward while holding a microphone in each hand. His face is concealed by the angle of his baseball cap. The room is illuminated by a soft gradient of green and orange light.

Ican Harm sings into a microphone as green lasers shoot from his glove. Two audience members are illuminated by the glow emitted from his hand.

Kasimyn stands at a DJ booth and spins the jog wheel on a CDJ while Ican Harem stands in the background. The space is lit by a red light.

Audience members stand facing Gabber Modus Operandi. A bright white light is emitted from the stage area.

Kasimyn stands at a DJ booth and turns dials on a CDJ. He wears a black baseball cap and black t-shirt. Ican Harem faces him, and wears a hooded jacket and baseball cap. Smoke from a fog machine diffuses the light in the room into a soft red and blue glow.

Ican Harem crouches on top of a DJ booth and shoots green lasers from his glove. Behind him, Kasimyn turns the dials on a CDJ. The room is illuminated in a red glow.

A group photo on the stairs at Western Front.

Related People

Aki Onda (Curator)

Related Events

2023

Screening by Natasha Tontey and Riar Rizaldi

Captions:

Yes No Wave, video documentation, Oct 18, 2023. 2 hr. 5 min. 48 sec. Camera by Qiuli Wu.
Wok the Rock performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Wok the Rock performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Rani Jambak performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Rani Jambak performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Rani Jambak performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Rani Jambak performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Ican Harem of Gabber Modus Operandi performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Ican Harem of Gabber Modus Operandi performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Gabber Modus Operandi performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Gabber Modus Operandi performing at Western Front, Oct 18, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Gabber Modus Operandi performing at Western Front, Oct 19, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Gabber Modus Operandi performing at Western Front, Oct 19, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.
Ican Harem (back left), Wok the Rock, Kasimyn, Aki Onda, Rani Jambak, and Susan Gibb at Western Front, Oct 19, 2023. Photo by Dennis Ha.

Western Front is a non-profit
artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.