“We don't give a shit. We give 110% on every gig regardless the crowd's reaction"

Our contributor Maradilla Syachridar talks to BRNDLS about not giving a flying fuck in changing their music, name and giving a “110% on every gig regardless the crowd's reaction”. While waiting for their upcoming album that’s nearly finished and Should be out by the 3rd week of January 2011, read this interview where they are talkin’ ‘bout a “Quickfuck”, “Dodol Ganja” and “digiring mobil bak polisi cuma pake kolor”...

Hello The Brandals aka BRNDLS! Let's start from your “newfound” name. Ada apa dengan penghilangan huruf vokal nih?
No particular reason. We're still the same band. BRNDLS, The Brandals, Brandals...
all the same, mate!

What up with the drastic changes in your music? it sounded great by the way!
Ada perubahan dalam formasi personil yang tentunya membawa perubahan juga ke karakter musik The Brandals. Bayu (gtr) dan Doddy (bass) mengundurkan diri sejak .2009, diganti PM (gtr) dan Radit (bass). If it sounded great, then good on ya. You're down with us! Hehehe

Banyak media bilang, terjadi perubahan drastis yang memberikan kesan musik kalian lebih "dewasa'. Ceritain dong maksudnya musik yang lebih dewasa versi kalian?
Kayaknya kita juga belum sampai tahap dewasa sih... But one thing for sure, we're men making music now, not boys just making noise anymore. We're on to our expanding stage at the moment. Trying not to repeating ourselves. Being mature means at peace with your self. At peace with your demons.. And not giving a flying fuck about what other people thought about you.

"Start Bleeding" merupakan bentuk dokumentasi dari kondisi Indonesia yang saat ini sedang terpuruk secara moral akibat pertikaian politik dari pihak-pihak yang rakus, egois, dan haus darah. Apa artinya mulai dari sekarang kalian ada kemungkinan jadi musisi sekaligus aktivis sosial?
Dari awal muncul kita sudah jadi aktivis sosial. Aktif jadi komentator dan kontributor perubahan sosial di sekitar kita. Lewat musik & lirik di setiap album, mudah-mudahan jadi pemicu yang dengerin buat bikin perubahan lebih baik di lingkungannya sendiri.

Denger "Start Bleeding" itu langsung kebayang cocok banget buat scoring film. Adegan apa yang menurut kalian cocok banget sama lagu ini?
A battle scene. Militia vs authority battle scene. Or a bloody counter-culture demonstration/ rally. Or a scene where a chick just got her first period. Or a pubescent kid pinching his pimple. Or...Well, you get the idea..

So BRNDLS, layaknya preman yang punya sisi sensitif tapi gak mau kepergok orang, kelakuan apa yang hanya kalian simpan untuk orang-orang terbatas karena "Dude! this is so not BRNDLS!"
Wah dulu jaman jahilliyah banyak banget kelakuan malu-maluin  gara2 mabox..Dari kencing/muntah di depan umum, digiring mobil bak polisi cuma pake kolor, sampe nyaris digebukin massa  gara2 nongkrong depan gang kampung orang disangkain BD sabu

Talking about the show, do you get annoyed when people don't dance at your gigs?
Nah, we're way passed that. We don't give a shit. We give 110% on every gig regardless the crowd's reaction.

Okay. Each of you, Give me your top fives!

-Top 5 beers:

Eka Annash (voc):
I'm not into beer really..More into spirits and cocktails. If i drink, then might as well get smashed pretty quick. So here's my top 5 :
1. Screwdriver (vodka n orange. A classic!)
2. Strawberry daiquiri
3. Quickfuck (Vodka/midori based, topped with Kahlua and Bailey)
4. Contreau (Straight or mixed, doesn't matter. Can't get enough of it!)
5.  A local brand fermented wine called Pu Tao.
Mulyadi Natakusumah ‘PM’ (gtr):
Top 1 aja --> Bintang

Radhit Syaharzam Almatsier (bass):
don't like beers.. it taste like "Air Tape!"

Toni Dwi Setiaji (gtr):
Bintang
Bintang
Bintang
Bintang
Heineken

Rully Annash (drum):
There’s only 2 brand of beers that really could kick my ass up. Its Beer Bintang and Heineken, period!

-Top 5 foods in Jakarta:

EKA:
1. Shinaro, A japanese resto @Bintaro Sektor I. Cheap and tasty!
2. Sushi Ya, another small sushi joint @Tebet.
3. Warung Nasi Bogana. Various traditional javanese nasi with special dishes, wrapped in banana leaf. Find it @Jl. Cikajang area.
4. Warung Jogja. My local warteg @Jeruk Purut area for my lunch break.
5. Space brownie or Medan's Dodol ganja. Made from our world famous weed. Not a jakarta meal particulary. But still..a killer!!

PM:
1. Iga Penyet Bu Kris
2. Kwetiaw Sapi @Kelapa Gading
3. Soto Betawi @belakang EX
4. Mie Ayam @Pasar Tebet

Radhit:
1. Sushi tei
2. Ikan patin kedai cangkir cipete
3. Sate padang Ajo RAMON @santa
4. Iga panggang @panglima polim (sekarang di gandaria)
5. Papa's Kitchen @Bintaro

Toni:
1. Sop kaki kambing
2. Steik meat me
3. Bebek Pak Slamet
4. Mie ayam @tebet
5. Pecel lele @brawijaya

Rully:
Any kind of food that my mother and my girl have been cooked
Roku-Roku – a Japanese street resto
ANDAKAR – the best steak in J-town!
Bubur Ayam Pecinan Kota
Sushi Dimsum - Kemang

-Top 5 girl crushes:

EKA:
1. My wife, Patricia Rivai :)
2. Cosey Fanny Tutti (Throbbing Gristle)
3. Suzi Quatro
4. Siouxsie Sioux
5. Pretty Asmara (We like our chick plump and fat yo!)
PM:
Eva Arnaz

Radhit:
1. the Chinese girl who live near my house
2. the tan Japanese girl who talks like cinta laura
3. the high school girl with tight and short skirt 


Rully:
MZ aka Maha Zul
Nina Persson (The Cardigans)
Bjork
Dewi Persik
Julia Perez aka JUPE..she’s da bomb, yo!

-Top 5 local acts:

Eka:
1. Our brother Luky Annash. About to release his debut solo album in early 2011. Keep your eyes on him.
2. Our label mates : Santa Monica/ Monkey To Millionare/ The Porno/ Denial/ Bayu Rissa
3. The Upstairs/ Morfem. Jimi is ma homeboy yo!!! Eastside rules!!
4. Kelelawar Malam. For bringing horror back to rock n roll!!
5. Nervous Breakdown. East jakarta ear-blasting hardcore crew. Loud and proud!

PM:
Sore

Radhit:
1. the Upstairs 'antah berantah era'
2. bb's scene (RIP), parc scene(RIP),
3. always that's rockerfeller
4. rumah sakit at the twins bulungan birthday party not so long ago

Rully:
My lil brother Luky Annash. Y’all should watch him perform. He’s a piano slayer kinda thing’
Sentimental Moods (Benny Upstairs other bands)
KRSGTH
Manfuxx
Dead Vertical – Grinding ur ears fo-soo!

-Top 5 valentine songs:
Eka:
1. Chances Are - Johnny Mathis
2. So Alive - Love & Rockets
3. Paradise - The Ronettes
4. My This Be Love - Jimi Hendrix Experience
5. Faling In Love - Fariz RM

PM:
1. Pantera, drag the waters
2. At the drive-in, rolodex propaganda
Radhit:
pick any 5 songs from Farid Harja or Bimbo

Rully:
I HATE Valentine!

-Top 5 collections:

Eka:
1. A purple-coloured vinyl Cocteau Twins' Violaine single
2. My New PX 150 Vespa
3. The Black Cowes tour photo book. Amorica Tour '93. Fan-club only distributed. Individually numbered. Only 10.000 copies worldwide.
4. John Lydon autobiography 'No Irish, No Blacks and No Dogs'
5. Sandman action figure. 1st edition.

PM:
1. Efek gitar
2. Converse

Radhit:
1. pasar senen t-shirts
2. the old Pizza Hut's SMURF give away
3. broken glasses
4. elex media dragon ball comic books
5. dad's alcoholic botols

Toni:
1. CD Jesus and Mary Chain
2. Toys Joker

Rully:
All of my  t shirt band
All of my hats
My Dickies pants
My cactus plants
And my drum kits

By the way, Can you tell me a bit about the recording process..?
70% done. Should be out by the 3rd week of January 2011. Keep your fingers crossed!!


Last but not least. Can I have a word from each of you to describe
your newest album?
A shocker!!! Good or bad? you decide!

[interview.maradilla syachridar / photo.BRNDLS docs]