Indonesia's Voice of Baceprot Set to Rock Glastonbury: Breaking Stereotypes with Metal Music

From the small village of Garut in West Java province, the all-female Indonesian metal band Voice of Baceprot is preparing for their most significant performance yet at the Glastonbury Festival in England this Friday. This event marks their debut at one of the world's largest music festivals, sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Coldplay and Shania Twain.

Formed in 2014, the trio, consisting of Widi Rahmawati (23), Firda Marsya Kurnia (24), and Euis Siti Aisyah (24), met while attending an Islamic school in their hometown. Initially influenced by Indonesia's popular and Islamic music, their musical direction took a sharp turn after they discovered the System of a Down album "Toxicity" on their school guidance counsellor's computer. This discovery was pivotal, as Marsya described the experience as an "adrenaline rush" that propelled them to start their musical journey.

Voice of Baceprot has not only caught the attention of the global metal music community but has also been featured on the cover of Britain's New Musical Express magazine. Their music and unique presence have earned accolades from icons such as Tom Morello, former guitarist of Rage Against the Machine.

The band's journey has been about more than just music. They are on a mission to challenge the prevailing stereotypes about Muslim women and Muslims in general. Marsya explained, "In our village, metal is considered satanic — not suitable for women, let alone women in hijabs." The perception extends beyond their local community, as Marsya recounted incidents in the United States where they were mistakenly called militants, which felt as if they were "criminals."

Indonesia, being the world's largest Muslim-majority country, plays a backdrop to their story of breaking barriers. With Muslims making up 90% of its 270 million people, the nation predominantly practices a moderate form of Islam, despite some conservative pockets.

The band's lyrical themes often revolve around female empowerment and environmental issues, with Marsya lamenting the focus on looks over music. After Glastonbury, they plan to continue making music that makes a difference, with upcoming projects including a new album and a song titled "Mighty Island," addressing corruption in Indonesia.

Moreover, Voice of Baceprot aims to empower a community of aspiring musicians in Garut. Marsya expressed their desire to "empower the community there," hoping to inspire and uplift other young artists through their success and experiences.

As they stand on the brink of their Glastonbury debut, Voice of Baceprot carries not just their instruments, but also the hopes and dreams of many from their homeland, proving that music can indeed change the world, one note at a time.