Jakarta is famous for three things :. its food, its traffic and street musicians
Keribo and friends Danu and Agay be proud to entertain bus passengers - they go everywhere between 40 and 50 different buses a day - choking down of smoke from Kopajas countless hits and belts Indonesian idols as Slank, Iwan Fals and Jamrud. And while you will not find the trio humming tunes of Frank Sinatra or swanning the falsetto Bieber, Keribo and his friends gladly take requests and know somewhere between 150-200 songs at the top of their heads.
"We get to play for thousands of people every day," said the 33-year-old guitar player. "We jump on our first bus about 11 in the afternoon and play until 11 pm. It is not a coffee together, but you never know what will happen. Someone might invite you to play their wedding and then someone in this marriage might know someone on a label. You must believe that miracles happen every day. "
With a view like this it is no wonder Keribo, with long black hair and a shy smile, like the freedom that comes from playing the city bus. That surrounding the results in Bekasi or singing his lungs in Senen, along the artist's life, which was Busking for the past seven years, is happy with the lifestyle and not trade it for anything - except a big time contract, of course.
for why the trio work? Why not play alone and keep all the money for yourself?
"There is something to work in a trio. We share everything. Furthermore, if we are lazy, the other person who motivates us and we encourage each other. "
But what happens if you sing your heart, and nobody reached into their pockets to get some 'thank you' Rupiah?
" People do not have to pay, some people content to know that we are working, "said Keribo. "We are like a live radio station. You can change the channel or off the bus or ask us to play a song."
It could be worse. Kopajas are known for pickpockets teams. People who, instead of playing the guitar and to work to live, just rob people trying to get home in the evening. "We do not know the songs of Justin Bieber. We know Iwan Fals and Slank ... if you want we can play ... we know Metallica" Nothing Else Matters ". Really, if you ask us to play Slank, we are happy. and if you want to give or Rp.500 Rp.1,000 we consider it a good day. "But they also work safety. "Many people do not take Kopaja because of pickpockets. Then there are people who see pickpockets, but do nothing. It's sad. I feel I must do something. If these guys are scaring people, so no one will go up. I have to stop them. "
Sometimes this means taking a punch. Other times Keribo just give pickpockets a look that means he knows what they do. They normally get to the next stop, give up a seat to someone who might have an ear for music, or someone who has a contact to a label, which could give Keribo, Agay Danu and the big break that they were looking for.
- Agay (black cap down), 27, guitar and vocals, Matraman - 089 650 469 285
- Keribo (long hair), 33, singing and keyboard
- Danu (hat), 23, vocal