Face To Face With Java Pop Artists Woro Widowati and Ndarboy Genk

If you’re wondering what is Java Pop, here the most simple definition: it’s pop music in Javanese, the most common language in the central and eastern part of the Indonesia island of Java, and natively spoken by 68 million people. It's not that simple, of course, because pop music, wherever it comes from, is always inspired by local musical and literary traditions. Javanese pop has its own codes, culture, rhythms, musicians and singers.

Hailing from Java, Woro Widowati and Ndarboy Genk are two emblematic artists of today's Java Pop scene. And they both worked with Believe before joining Krumulo, Believe’s new local imprint dedicated to Java Pop music and artists.

Ahead of the recording of an exclusive duet video, Ndarboy Genk and Woro Widowati met with Dahlia Wijaya, Country Director of Believe Indonesia, to talk about Javanese pop music, and how Krumulo could contribute to the java Pop genre and the artists who represent it.

Dahlia Wijaya: Hi everyone! Today, I’m meeting with Woro Widowati and Ndarboy Genk, nicknamed Daru by his fans and friends.

We’re going to play a game to start! I won’t be the one introducing the artists, but Woro will introduce who Daru is, then Daru will introduce who Woro is. OK, who's going first?

Ndarboy Genk: Woro is a Javanese singer, who particularly performs local songs. She sings in the local language of Magelang. Woro is also the first singer using this local language to be promoted at Times Square in New York.

Woro Widowati: Daru is an idol of mine. He is a musician from Central Java, more specifically from the city of Yogyakarta. He owns this big studio we are in now, which is so cool!

Dahlia Wijaya: Woro and Daru have been with Believe  for a while now, even before Krumulo's launch. I want to know Woro and Daru's thoughts on what is Java Pop? And why did you choose the Java Pop genre?

Ndarboy Genk: I chose Java Pop mainly because I was born in Java. In daily conversation with my parents, I also have to use formal Javanese. In Java you have to know the formal language.

When I express how I feel in Indonesian, it doesn't feel right. So, I tried expressing my feelings in the language I speak everyday. I also chose this genre because Dangdut is the music of my country. The music that is used to sing that style of song also comes from our ancestors in Indonesia.

I chose it not just as a career to earn a living, but also to respect and preserve Javanese culture, especially Javanese literature and traditional music.

Dahlia Wijaya: What about you Woro, why did you choose Java Pop?

Woro Widowati: First off, it's because I was born in Java. That's the main reason.

I tried singing Indonesian pop songs a couple of times before, but I couldn't get rid of my accent when I perfomed. I feel more comfortable singing Javanese songs, because it's part of my daily life. It's how I communicate with everyone, so I'm more comfortable, and I can get my feelings across better.

But honestly, the main reason is because I'm unable to lose my accent. So rather than complicating things, it's better to accept it.

Dahlia Wijaya: We're very happy that Believe is working with Java Pop musicians like yourselves. As you know, Believe always supports local musicians.

Now, with Krumulo about to launch, do you think Krumulo will be beneficial for other Java Pop musicians?

Ndarboy Genk: Definitely. Very beneficial. We feel protected, Taken care of! We also feel we have a place to spread our music even further.

Most regional musicians or singers performing in local language are not on labels. You're on your own, independent. Even our management is more familial in nature. With Krumulo, we can share and have somewhere to get together.

Dahlia Wijaya: Hopefully Krumulo can assist even more Java Pop musicians in Indonesia, more particularly on Java Island.

For Java Pop musicians, the most important platform is YouTube. It’s always the first platform they upload to. But now with Krumulo, we can also help them grow their audience on other platforms, so all of their fans can enjoy their music on the platforms they prefer.

Now, my first question for Daru is what can be done with Krumulo’s support in your opinion?

Ndarboy Genk: What's certain is that my listener base has grown. Before, I used to only deliver my music to YouTube. That was before Content ID, because I didn't know what Content ID was.  Now I know thanks to Believe. We need Content ID to keep our data safer and more accurate, so that we can optimize it further.

In the end, Believe has become my shield and fortress, in my work as an independent creator. I can focus more on creating. I've ended up entrusting the Believe team. They also help deliver my music to YouTube. And now it's not just YouTube, with Krumulo, my music can reach Spotify, TikTok, Instagram and more.

The data reports are always transparent and on time. We can even access them ourselves with the Backstage portal, which is incredible.  I had a digital album that I distributed through several agencies I can't name. In the end their reports were spotty. And to this day we don't know who own the masters and the ownership rights.

But when we upload to Believe, the license is through Believe, the aggregator is Believe, and we get UGC ISRC codes. Those codes can act as IDs for my songs. It’s important to me, because my songs are like my children.

Dahlia Wijaya: Woro, maybe you have expectations about Krumulo. What is still lacking? Or what do you wish for?

Woro Widowati: I hope that it will always be a bridge for us regional musicians. It can be a place where we can channel our songs so it can be heard by the people out there. Outside of Indonesia, in other countries as well. Hopefully Krumulo will help us reach overseas!

Dahlia Wijaya: Let's talk about social media. I've noticed that Woro and Daru are very active on social media, especially with short-form videos. There are Shorts, Instagram Reels, but let's talk about TikTok today.

I want to ask Woro first, as she’s the Gen Z artist here. How important is it for a Java Pop musician to have a presence on TikTok?

Woro Widowati: Very important, especially for someone still as small as me. It's very important because now people know that going viral first starts on TikTok, before it reaches other platforms.

That's the main thing for me, because I also experience it. I discover many new songs on TikTok. From TikTok, I search for them on other platforms.

Those brief snippets drive our curiosity, we ask ourselves "Where's the long version? What's the complete version like? Why is this only an extract?"

Dahlia Wijaya: Daru, how about you? How has TikTok impacted you?

Ndarboy Genk: TikTok is an outstanding platform. It can help you promote your songs, because the demand is incredible. And it's not just Gen Z users. You also have middle aged women and men.

I think TikTok isn't just about video content. It can also help you popularize music.When you upload to Believe via Backstage, your song automatically enters the official TikTok Sounds page.

A while ago, I had a TikTok video that was recreated by the Korean band NCT. Because, some dancer friends by the name of Ambyar People and I created a dance routine for"Mendung Tanpo Udan".

Dahlia Wijaya: So, TikTok can make you go to the point where international artists can jump on your song as well.

Hopefully short-form videos can help us, so that fans can instantly go listen to the full audio version on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok Music, or go watch the full video on YouTube.

Back in 2022, you both took part in the Spotify campaign, "IDentitasku", Woro Widowati represented Central Java, and Ndarboy Genk represented Yogyakarta. How has this Spotify campaign helped you reach even more fans?

Woro Widowati: It definitely helped a lot, because I felt I could represent Central Java by being part of that Spotify campaign.

More people discovered me as well. Maybe there were people from remote regions who didn't know me, and they discovered me from that Spotify campaign. Thankfully it also enabled me to reach Times Square.

Because of this, I was also recently at the Spotify Wrapped event. I'm grateful for that. I didn't expect there would be so many Indonesian pop singers attending, even national-level singers. The fact I could represent Central Java and perform a Javanese song too, that was definitely the most unexpected part.

Dahlia Wijaya: Daru, how about you?

Ndarboy Genk: It was very impactful, and I would like to thank Spotify for supporting us and our songs. For being a place where listeners can hear my songs.

Of course, thanks to Spotify I've gained new listeners. They might not listen to music via other platforms, but they do only listen through Spotify. We also often get added to playlists. You can find songs by Woro, Ndarboy Genk and other musician friends on them.

I think Spotify cares about regional music. The playlist creators sometimes put Woro's photo on the cover, other times it's me.

Every Spotify listener can access it. When they go on Spotify it might not be to listen to Javanese music. They perhaps intend to listen to pop or rock songs but get curious about Javanese songs. And let's say Woro has a new hit song, and I have a song on the same playlist, they will end up listening to it too, because they wanted to listen to Woro or vice versa.

So, thank you Spotify for being very supportive of our continued creative process.

Dahlia Wijaya: Thanks to our DSP friends YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, Apple Music, TikTok Music, Langit Musik, for supporting local music, particularly Java Pop. Thank you, we hope your support grows so that Java Pop musicians can keep developing.

Daru, Woro, thank you both for your time. Here's to more success for Java Pop, for all Java Pop musicians!

Check out the exclusive duet "Nona Jolita" by Ndarboy Genk and Woro Widowati on YouTube 

Follow Woro Widowati on YouTube and Instagram
Follow Ndarboy Benk on YouTube and Instagram

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Find all Krumulo's artists on the Spotify and YouTube playlists