Kartika Jahja
In the music scene, Kartika Jahja is better known by her nickname, Tika. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 19, 1980. She is an independent singer-songwriter with an ensemble called Tika and The Dissidents. Outside of music, Tika also has other careers as a writer, actress and entrepreneur.
Music career
Tika is known for her one of a kind character as a singer-songwriter. Her strong sultry voice combined with her unique songwriting sets her apart from most Indonesian female singers. Though many questions her decision in choosing to go the independent path, Tika’s reason is solely because Indonesia’s thriving indie scene is the only place she can keep being a musician that is true to herself.
After returning home from her studies in the Art Institute of Seattle, the first thing she did was to get started on her solo album. With the help of fellow musicians Iman Fattah, Aghi Narottama, Bemby Gusti and Age Airlangga, she released her debut album Frozen Love Songs in 2005. The album received great acclaim because Tika introduces the Indonesian music industry to a concept of a female singer that goes outside of the pop-diva template. A year later, independent label Aksara Records repackaged the album and released it with a new title, Defrosted Love Songs.
Since the release of Defrosted Love Songs, Tika took time off from doing her own music projects. Instead, she collaborated with musicians from different genres such as Sri Aksan Sjuman, Jamie Aditya, and Agrikulture among others. She was also involved in numerous film scorings and soundtracks, such as Janji Joni, 9 Naga, Love for Share, Dead Time: Kala, Gara-gara Bola, Quickie Express, and Pintu Terlarang.
Tika and the Dissidents
After joining forces with a band and calling themselves Tika and The Dissidents, their long awaited album was finally released in July 2009 under their own label, the Head Records. The album is titled 'the Headless Songstress'. Much to the band’s surprise, 'the Headless Songstress' received numerous praises from music fans and the media, both national and international.
Their eclectic array of references created a collage of jazz, blues, doo-wop to punk, tango, and waltz that mashes together sophisticatedly. Add to that, a series of witty political lyrics that covers issues from LGBT, gender liberation, labor rights, to the massacre of individuality generated by the television.
TIME magazine dubbed Tika as “Indonesia’s Hottest Diva”, while Rolling Stone Indonesia mentioned her as “The best Indonesian independent soloist that the country has”. The pinnacle of the year, was when TEMPO Magazine awarded the album as “Album of the Year 2009” and the band as “2009’s Chosen Music Figure”.
Other career
Other than music, Tika is also an entrepreneur, writer, and actress. She owns a café called KEDAI, where she designed the interior using leftover recycled materials. The café is dedicated to promoting local Indonesian coffee. KEDAI is also featured in many publications, including CNN.
As a freelance writer, her pieces have been published in several print media, both Indonesian and other countries. For a time, she also had a weekly column named Street Smart in the Jakarta Post where she highlights Jakarta’s lifestyle from an ironically humorous point of view.
Tika’s an unplanned acting career started when she accepted an offer from director friend Paul Agusta to star in his film “the Anniversary Gift” (2008). The film was screened in several international festivals. Tika then landed a role for Joko Anwar’s film “Pintu Terlarang” (2009) which also achieved international success in the film festival circuit. The third film that she starred in and also co-wrote with director Agusta is titled “At the Very Bottom of Everything” (2009). The film received funding from the Hubert Bals Fund – International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Discography
Albums
- Frozen Love Songs (2005)
- Defrosted Love Songs (2006)
- The Headless Songstress (2009)
Compilations
- Thank You and Good Night Mother – “Saddest Farewell” (Original Soundtrack – Green Studio, 2005)
- 9 Naga – “Asa” (Original Soundtrack - Warner Music Indonesia, 2005)
- Berbagi Suami - “Bengawan Solo” (Original Soundtrack – Aksara Records, 2006)
- Mesin Waktu: Teman-Teman Menyanyikan Lagu Naif - “Dia Adalah Pusaka Seluruh Umat Manusia Yang Ada di Seluruh Dunia” (A Tribute Compilation – Aksara Records, 2007)
- Seruan Indonesia – “Mayday” (Indonesian artists in support of Make Trade Fair, 2007)
- Dead Time: Kala – “Manderlay” (Original Soundtrack – Black Morse Records, 2007)
- Pintu Terlarang – “Home Safe” (Original Soundtrack – Lifelike Records, 2009)
Collaborations
- Dawai Damai – Agrikulture- “New Day” (Aquarius Musikindo, 2007)
Filmography
- Anniversary Gift (2008)
- Pintu Terlarang (2009)
- At the Very Bottom of Everything (2009)
References
imdb.com
Lompatan Kreativitas Kartika Jahja .Journal Nasional. 2 January 2010
KARTIKA JAHJA: THE HEADLESS SONGSTRES .Jakarta Post. 25 July 2009
KARTIKA JAHJA HAPUSKAN TERMINOLOGI "INDIE"! .Pikiran Rakyat.
Pemberontakan Tika .Tempo Interaktif. 27 December 2009