Masurai is here, and they're reinventing themselves with their maxi single 'Manusia / Pakar Praktisi'.
After diving into the depths of Indonesian music and drenching themselves in the distinct sound they had formulated, Clousre decided to take a step in a new direction, taking the name Masurai instead to rebrand and explore a more vast range of music. This maxi single was worked on and produced by Masurai themselves at Haum Studio since 2023 and entered post-production in 2025.
In the track, the quartet, consisting of vocalist Dheka Satria, bassist Axel Kevin, guitarist Sabiella Maris, and drummer Ahmad Ikhsan Priatno, infuse their signature culture into the track while exploring their genre shift. They incorporate the beautiful Indonesian language into the track as they fuse it with their refreshing post-punk sound inspired by the music of Russian and Slavic bands like Molchat Doma, Motorama, and many more.
Masurai believes that incorporating their native language into the record makes the themes of the track much easier to convey as it goes straight to the listeners' hearts, powered by the relatability and heavy personal touch that their Indonesian listeners would feel listening to the track.
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'Manusia / Pakar Praktisi' captures the band's perspective on the contrasting duality when it comes to discourse surrounding modern life in Indonesia. The traditional values that are recycled with every new generation, as well as the reality of the suburban person who is on a tight leash—being held back by the rapid speed of life and the eccentric and unpredictable digital world.
The first track, 'Manusia', presents an introspective take on the cyclical qualities of life, from birth to being raised, to becoming parents and imparting values, to finally having to be taken care of once again. It emphasizes the act of fulfilling the rights of those who have raised you while protecting and respecting their wishes. The lyrics encapsulate this theme, borrowing spiritual values from the Qur'an, Surah Al-Isra' verse 26 and Surah Luqman verse 14.
The second track, 'Pakar Praktisi', provides a societal commentary on today’s cyberspace and netizens. Being a part of a virtual world where being online never stops, the song explores how people can quickly gain material success by chasing shallow, surface-level values.
The characters are left open to interpretation—unpredictable, and possibly good or bad. They exist in a virtual world, always online, where appearances are treated as reality and illusions can earn money faster than traditional hard work.
The single’s release drew praise from musicians like Sundancer’s Om Robo, who said Motorama’s Baltic post-punk sound mirrors Malang’s chilly atmosphere. With hypnotic loops, reverb-soaked twangy guitars, and distant legato vocals, their music blends a dreamy coldwave mood with a sense of reflection, creating a timeless sense of gloom.
Step into a world of contemplation and juxtaposition with Masurai's 'Manusia / Pakar Praktisi'.
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