Available via Imprec.com 

Tekanan is the full-length debut of Melbourne-based Indonesian-Australian drummer and sound artist, Rama Parwata. A thorough exploration of rhythmic capabilities and percussive improvisation under ever-shifting timbral and stylistic environments, Tekanan is Parwata’s examination and documentation of his vast musical influences in electro-acoustic improvisation, Indonesian gamelan music, free jazz, electronic music, R&B, and noise music, whilst still maintaining an entirely unique non-idiomatic musical voice. Tekanan sees Parwata experimenting with not only the drum kit, but additionally implementing no-input mixing boards, musique-concréte sampling techniques, junk percussion, electric guitar, and computer music production to create a relentlessly metamorphosing soundscape that abruptly, yet seamlessly oscillates between ethereal ambiances to turbulent barrages of rhythm and noise through five unique movements.

Aptly named after the Indonesian word for pressure and stress, Tekanan was composed by Parwata with the intent of it being a listening experience which would pressure the listener to have no clear indication of the direction of the music and where it will ultimately settle, leading the listener on a sinuous, yet intriguing aural journey. This title additionally applies to the pressure of the challenging nature of the music, in a performative sense, which pushed Parwata to his physical and mental limits to perform and compose.

“As cliche or banal this might sound, I tried to make a record that was purposely made to be hard to put into a box. I didn’t want to make a “drumming” record or a noise record or anything of the type, but a record that just contained "good” music (or what I constitute as being good). Many aspects of my musical life were injected into this release: gamelan music (the first music I was exposed to), noise, hip-hop, free-improvisation, Xenakis, jazz, electronic music. Ultimately this record is a homage to those musical influences.” - Rama Parwata

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An active figure in Australia’s experimental music and art scenes, Parwata has worked with the likes of Marco Fusinato, Robin Fox, and Robbie Avenaim, and choreographers Stephanie Lake, Juliet Burnett, and Melanie Lane. He is also a member of seminal long-running Melbourne Doom Metal band, Whitehorse.

As of 2019, Parwata has been a co-curator and committee member of Melbourne’s legendary concert series, Make It Up Club, which has been presenting weekly avant-garde improvised performances since 1998.

ramaparwata.com

Tekanan

Rama Parwata - I - from Tekanan Cassette - Pre-Order Available Now

Solo perfomance of Tekanan, at the Toff in Town, 11/6/2022
Supporting Raja Kirik for Liquid Architecture
Desk recording captured by Rohan Rebeiro

Tekanan - Live At Toff In Town June 11 2022

The works of Rama Parwata, the Melbourne-based percussionist and sound artist, are intense, intricate, and wholly uncompromising in their approach. From Whitehorse, Kilat, Rinuwat, and co-curation for Make It Up Club, Rama’s work is full of life and self-determination. He’s joined us for an hour of polyrhythms, free jazz, death metal, and Viper. My legs are all muddled, trampling the sky. I can see the ribbons falling out, still streaming. 

Tracklist:
Supinah - Delimoan
Kim Suk Chul Ensemble - Mu Gut Samul
Frank Wright Duo Muhammad Ali - Adieu Little Man Part 1
Effluence - Caustic RNA Transmogrification
Deicide - Once Upon the Cross
Iannis Xenakis - Persephassa
Antique Ensemble Heptatonique de Gongs - Belaganjur Moderne
Tony Williams Lifetime - Vuelta Abajo
Lil E - Playa 4 Life
Vlad Tepes - Misery Fear & Storm Hunger
Magma - Weidorje
Jérôme Noetinger / eRikm - Bloom For Revox Chili Peppers
Viper - You Wanna See Me Dead Cause of My Hops

Outhouse Mix: Rama Parwata

Rama Parwata is a Naarm/Melbourne-based musician, composer, and sound artist known for his innovative exploration of sound, texture, and rhythm on the drum kit, influenced by Jazz, Extreme Metal, and Balinese Gamelan. He is a key figure in Melbourne's underground Metal, Experimental, Punk, and Jazz scenes.

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Outsiders: Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective w/ Rama Parwata @ Kiosk Radio 22.12.2024

ABSORBED on LYL Radio, aired May 1 2025

An hour of stories about and reflections on legendary Melbourne/Naarm artist, Rohan Rebeiro.

In order of appearance:

Kavil Patel,  Annalee Koernig, Sam Karmel, Michael Kucyk, Tarquin Manek, Evelyn Morris, Esala Liyanage, Genevieve Fry, Katy Roberts, Thorsten Hertog, Emelyne Khor, Joshua Wells, Emi Takada, Matt Sabbadini, Kristi Monfries, Audrey Pfister, Jim Sellars, Jack Shaw, Levi Liauw, Steven Harris, Pete Baxter, Rama Parwata, Karina Utomo, Arsam Samadi

Tracklist:

R. Rebeiro - Music III (Nice Setting, 2023)
MY DISCO - In The Benelux (Crashing Jets, 2004)
MY DISCO Live at Revolver Upstairs (2007, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKmDFOwIcbo)
Kangaroo Skull - P.O.N. FOUR (Temporal Cast, 2015)
R. Rebeiro - River I  (Nice Setting, 2023)
R. Rebeiro - Unrendered Language 2 (Downwards, 2024)
R. Rebeiro - Music III (Nice Setting, 2023)
R.Rebeiro - PE_2 (Self-released, 2025)

@rrebeiro

If you have something to add, please share in the comments!

E24 - About Rohan Rebeiro

Hammers Lake With Rama Parwati Aug 2017

B 2. I Ain't Missing You

PETER RYAN / PETER ALAN / ANIMAL KINGDOM 
AUZZIE LEGEND 
THIS IS THE SECOND TRACK OF HIS LP 
IAM PRODUCING FOR HIM 
R A E D
Www.Tripplahproductions.Com

LITTLE MISS

Raed's Cold Pasta

Mannequin Republic - Raed's Cold Pasta

Avant-Garde/Improvised recordings of Melbourne-based sound-artist/drummer Rama Parwata.

Tekanan - Live At Toff In Town June 11 2022

Rama Parwata

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