OUT NOW! hara's debut EP Kenduri. Stream/Download Kenduri: ffm.to/kenduri

Kenduri is hara’s debut mini album. The songs in this EP are inspired by hara’s effort to look for hope amidst the pandemic in which she found it through her garden. Kenduri, in Indonesian or Javanese, is usually known as ‘selametan’ or a communal blessing ceremony to celebrate life, death, or other important milestones in life. Specifically, this album is hara’s interpretation of kenduri as a celebratory harvest blessing ritual that is usually practiced by farmers in Indonesia.

The EP consists of four songs, which begins with a song dedicated to her plants, inspired by folk songs written by indigenous farmer communities (Tembang Tandur), Akar Wangi (feat. Guna Warma), a song based on a hara’s dream where she plants vetivers on the banks of a dry river near her house, Kebun Terakhir (The Last Garden), a story inspired by the struggles of Indonesian farmers to defend their land where she explores land/garden/‘kebun’ as the last field of struggle to grow hope, and finally, Arumdalu (Night-blooming jasmine), an ode to the everyday beauty of life.

An Indonesian singer-songwriter, a researcher, and an urban gardener, Kenduri is an invitation for listeners to visit her garden and witness the journey of how she rekindles her relationship with nature through gardening.

released June 7, 2021

Performed by hara
Written by Rara Sekar Larasati
Arranged by Rara Sekar Larasati
Produced by Rara Sekar Larasati & Febrian Mohammad
Guitar, piano and vocals by Rara Sekar Larasati
Mixed by Febrian Mohammad at Seruak Studio, Bantul, Indonesia.
Mastered by Putu Deny Surya at PosKo Studio, Ubud, Indonesia.

2021 © Akar Wangi Records x REDROSE Records

Kenduri

hara - Kenduri EP (Album Preview)

Mega mendung di angkasa
Hembusan bayu dingin terasa
Gerimis berderai di merata
Bagai mutiara

Rahmat dibawa bersama
Limpahannya meresap di jiwa
Adakala bahagia terasa
Meskipun duka nestapa

Tika hujan turun
Sayup mendayu lagu keroncong
Merdu irama dialun
Bersenandung

Hujan membasahi bumi
Melahirkan keluhuran budi
Mengeratkan perpaduan suci
Kasih sayang abadi

Keroncong Hujan - OST Mukhsin (Cover by hara)

Ada beberapa cerita yang begitu sederhana tapi dampaknya bisa mengubah kehidupan seseorang. Salah satunya buatku adalah cerita The Giving Tree karya Shel Silverstein yang menjadi salah satu buku favoritku sepanjang masa. 

Seminggu yang lalu, aku nemu buku ini di Gramedia dan dalam Bahasa Indonesia! Langsung ga pake mikir 2x, aku beli 2 buku, satu untuk hadiah natal keponakannya Ben, dan satu lagi untuk Sekolah Kita Rumpin. Buat yang penasaran ingin baca, cerita tentang unconditional love sebuah pohon tua kepada seorang anak laki-laki yang begitu dalam ini bisa dibaca online di sini: http://www.slideshare.net/peneglos/thegivingtree?related=1

Kebetulan, sejak hari Jumat 26 Desember sampai Minggu 28 Desember 2014 lalu, aku berkesempatan live-in di Rumpin bersama adik-adik Sekolah Kita. Setelah bersama-sama membaca bersama buku The Giving Tree, aku mengajak adik-adik untuk menerjemahkan pemahaman mereka tentang kasih sang pohon tua dalam sebuah lagu.

Inilah lagu yang dibuat adik-adik Sekolah Kita Rumpin sebagai respon terhadap cerita The Giving Tree. Didedikasikan kepada pohon-pohon tua di kampung yang sudah memberi kita semua kehidupan. Meski sumbang di sana sini (harap maklum belum ada kelas spesialis musik sejauh ini hahaha anggap aja sengaja dibuat dissonance dan ketukan yang bersautan) semoga teman-teman tetap menikmati lagu sederhana ini :D

Pohon Tua

Berdiri sendiri, pohon tua di sana
Berdiri sendiri, bunga mawar di sana

Jangan kau tebang, sebelum kau tanyakan
Apakah tebang, menjawab kebutuhan
Jangan kau petik, sebelum kau renungkan
Apakah petik, hanya membuat senang

Alam berbicara, tentang persahabatan
Pohon membantu kita, untuk berlayar jauh

Berdiri sendiri, pohon tua di sana
Berdiri sendiri, bunga mawar di sana

Maka jangan kau tebang, sebelum kau tanyakan
Apakah tebang, menjawab kebutuhan
Jangan kau petik, sebelum kau renungkan
Apakah petik, hanya membuat senang?

Totetoteeet~ (suara terompet ala ala adik-adik)

Tentang Sekolah Kita Rumpin: 
Sekolah Kita Rumpin adalah sekolah non-formal yang didirikan dengan tujuan agar anak-anak korban konflik sengketa tanah Rumpin dari usia 5-17 tahun tetap dapat merasakan pendidikan yang tidak hanya bersifat akademis namun juga berisi kegiatan yang dapat menanamkan rasa percaya diri, empati, rasa ingin tahu dan kreativitas. Sekolah Kita Rumpin memiliki dua jenis kelas yaitu kelas spesialis yang terdiri dari teater, prakarya dan berani bicara serta kelas umum yang dijalankan berdasarkan tema dwibulanan dengan kurikulum yang holistik dan aplikatif.

www.sekolahkitarumpin.com

Pohon Tua by Sekolah Kita Rumpin

Hi! It's been such a long time since I last posted a cover on Soundcloud. Hope you're all doing well.

So, a few weeks ago I got a banjolele as a gift from my best friends and today I thought that it would be such a waste to not try it out. 

This is a cover of The Moon Song (OST Her), originally sung by Karen O. Hopefully I did justice to this cute little song, :D

I'm lying on the moon
My dear, I'll be there soon
It's a quiet and starry place
Time's we're swallowed up
In space we're here a million miles away

There's things I wish I knew
There's no thing I'd keep from you
It's a dark and shiny place
But with you my dear
I'm safe and we're a million miles away

We're lying on the moon
It's a perfect afternoon
Your shadow follows me all day
Making sure that I'm
Okay and we're a million miles away


The Moon Song (Cover)

Nobody Knows Me At All - The Weepies

When I was a child everybody smiled, nobody knows me at all
Very late at night and in the morning light, nobody knows me at all

Now I got lots of friends, yes, but then again, nobody knows me at all 
Kids and a wife, it's a beautiful life, nobody knows me at all

And oh when the lights are low
Oh with someone I don't know

I don't give a damn, I'm happy as a clam, nobody knows me at all 
Ah, what can you do? There's nobody like you. Nobody knows me at all

I know how you feel, no secrets to reveal, nobody knows me at all
Very late at night and in the morning light, nobody knows me at all
Nobody knows me, nobody knows me, nobody knows me at all

Nobody Knows Me At All - The Weepies (Cover)

Mencoba bebunyian baru di kala sendu. Kayanya kebanyakan dengerin album Radiohead yang baru nih. Direkam menggunakan iPhone & diramu rekam alakadarnya dengan Garage Band. Semoga suka <3

Heartbeats

One night to be confused
One night to speed up truth
We had a promise made
Four hands and then away

Both under influence
We had divine scent
To know what to say
Mind is a razorblade

To call for hands of above
To lean on
Wouldn't be good enough
For me, no

Ten days of perfect tunes
The colors red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love

To call for hands of above
To lean on
Wouldn't be good enough
For me, no

To call for hands of above
To lean on
Wouldn't be good enough

And you, you knew the hands of the devil
And you, kept us awake with wolf teeth
Sharing different heartbeats
In one night

Heartbeats  - Jose Gonzalez (Cover)

Pada suatu sore, Ben cerita kalau dia baru aja tukeran email dengan salah satu dosen filsafat budaya di Unpar setelah mereka berdua terlibat dalam acara penjurian lomba foto. Kira-kira reka ulang percakapannya seperti ini:

"Alamat emailnya nih apa pak? Saya catet dulu ya." 

"Lelatunipun. Wah apa artinya nih pak?" tanya Ben.

"Oh itu artinya api-api kecil dalam bahasa Jawa, Ben."

Api api kecil. Frasa yang sangat sederhana tapi anehnya kok buatku nyentuh banget ya? Sejak pertama kali denger, aku ga bisa lupain dan terus mikirin. Aku tetiba keinget tentang kawanku Ali dari Atambua yang ingin belajar pertanian organik untuk suatu hari bisa mempraktikkan di desanya, tentang adik-adik Rumpin dan semangat belajarnya yang sebenarnya mengalahkan kakak-kakaknya, tentang seorang bapak tua yang menempuh ujian kejar paket C supaya mendapatkan pekerjaan yang lebih layak dan bisa menafkahi keluarganya. Tentang semburan cahaya yang tak perlu besar untuk terus bisa menyala.

Terima kasih ya Ben dan Pak Bambang untuk inspirasinya. Sampai-sampai ga bisa aku bendung keinginan buat lagunya hahaha. Dan untuk kalian api-api kecil di dunia, terima kasih dan teruslah menyala :)
 
Lelatunipun

Api api kecil
menyalalah
Api api kecil
menyisalah

Di kala gelap
jatuh,
menyuruk

Jadilah dekap
ajari harap
si pengembara angan; aku
para pencari jalan; kamu

Api api kecil
menyalalah
Api api kecil
menyisalah.

Lelatunipun

Dalam rangka merayakan satu tahun pernikahan dan tujuh tahun bersama, semoga kita selalu bersama :)

Rasa

Rasa ini segelap samudera
Rasa ini seluas saujana

Rasa ini detak tak terasa
Rasa ini dalam yang mengada

Pegang nafasku
Kita selami
Genggam darahku
Kita sulami,
berdua

Bersama
selamanya.

Wellington, 3 September 2016.


Direkam ala kadarnya di kamar dengan iPhone yang ditaro di atas gelas (biar lebih deket ke mulut maksudnya hahaha)
Mixing & mastering dibantu guru gitarku, Deni 'Kocun' Ramdani. Terima kasih banyak, Pak Deni!


Rasa

testing soundcloud for the first time. yahuu~

Something About Us - Daft Punk (Cover)

I Would Never - Mocca (Cover)

Turn down the lights, turn down the bed 
Turn down these voices inside my head 
Lay down with me, tell me no lies 
Just hold me close, don't patronize - don't patronize me 

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't 
You can't make your heart feel something it won't 
Here in the dark, in these final hours 
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power 
But you won't, no you won't 
'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't 

I'll close my eyes, then I won't see 
The love you don't feel when you're holding me 
Morning will come and I'll do what's right 
Just give me till then to give up this fight 
And I will give up this fight 

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't 
You can't make your heart feel something it won't 
Here in the dark, in these lonely hours 
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power 
But you won't, no you won't 
'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't

I Can't Make You Love Me - Bon Iver (Cover) by Rara Sekar ft. Isyana Sarasvati

Baru beli ukulele, sotoy, iseng ditambah galau, jadilah sebuah lagu. Hehehe..

It’s You

Waking up next to you
will come true
And all the time and space between us
we’ll go through

Pouring coffee in the evening
cups for two
We’ll sit on the couch and read Neruda
all night long

You’re everywhere in my mind, my dreams, my days, my nights,
Oh, love
No more time to think, to leave, to waste, to wait
for love
It’s you
You

Dancing to Fitzgerald’s tunes
in our living room
This is how I define a place called a home
It’s me and you

‘Cause you’re everywhere in my mind, my dreams, my days, my nights
Oh, love
No more time to think, to leave, to waste, to wait
for love

It’s you
You

It's You

Performed by:
Rara Sekar (vocal)
Matisyahdu (guitar & ambience)

Mixed and mastered by Matisyahdu.

7 June 2020.

Garden Song - Phoebe Bridgers

Someday, I'm gonna live
In your house up on the hill
And when your skinhead neighbor goes missing
I'll plant a garden in the yard, then
They're gluing roses on a flatbed
You should see it, I mean thousands
I grew up here, till it all went up in flames
Except the notches in the door frame

I don't know when you got taller
See our reflection in the water
Off a bridge at the Huntington
I hopped the fence when I was seventeen
And then I knew what I wanted

And when I grow up, I'm gonna look up
From my phone and see my life
And it's gonna be just like my recurring dream
I'm at the movies, I don't remember what I'm seeing
The screen turns into a tidal wave
Then it's a dorm room, like a hedge maze
And when I find you
You touch my leg, and I insist
But I wake up before we do it

I don't know how, but I'm taller
It must be something in the water
Everything's growing in our garden
You don't have to know that it's haunted
The doctor put her hands over my liver
She told me my resentment's getting smaller
No, I'm not afraid of hard work
I get everything I want
I have everything I wanted

Garden Song - Phoebe Bridgers (Cover) by Rara Sekar & @matisyahdu

Entah dari mana datangnya. Tapi nada-nada ini nempel terus sedari pagi. Awalnya yang kepikiran itu nada ukulelenya, lalu setelah itu kurekam pake mic built-in di earpod (maafkan kualitas seadanya), dan langsung juga setelah itu aku timpa suaraku. Lucunya, dua layer suara itu cuma sekali take aja, ga sempat ngulang berhubung yakin pasti beda-beda ya tiap kali nyanyi haha. Hm.. Mungkin inikah suara semesta? 

Hahaha begitulah, ini interpretasiku tentang pagi, teman-teman. Saran: karena kualitas rekaman yang seadanya, pakailah earphones/headphones. Selamat menikmati pagi :)

Pagi

Youtube version: https://youtu.be/Gk5nO18iQhg

Following my short cover of Life Goes On that I uploaded on my Instagram a few months ago, I finally got the courage to do the full version. It took me a month (!) to practice my Korean pronunciation and still it's far from perfect... but I've tried my best. Will definitely do better next time! Hope you enjoy this beautiful and heartwarming song which I recorded just this morning when the lovely morning light finally came through my room after a week of rain and storm here in Bogor, Indonesia.

May we always be happy 🖤 
BTS, borahae~ 💜

English translation (cc) by doolsetbangtan: https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2020/11/20/life-goes-on/.


hara is a solo project of Indonesian singer-songwriter, Rara Sekar.
Listen to hara's first single Ati Bolong: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqrDjBMEmDfQR1L1MLYflrcwvS2TGuAN2


Follow hara: 
Instagram https://instagram.com/musikhara
Twitter https://twitter.com/rarasekar

BTS (방탄소년단) - Life Goes On (Cover By hara)

I really need to get some proper microphones, don't I? Hehe.. Anyways, this is a song that I wrote just for the fun of it. The song is called "Here to Stay" and it kind of explains about how I see love.. (widih)
Hope you like it :D

Here to Stay

Love is a word I'd never want to believe
The limits that defining brings, I don't believe
Love is a term I'd never say for us today
What matters is the life we've shared

Oo..
There you are
Here we are
There you are
Here we are

Here to stay
In sunshine or in rain
Here to stay
With whatever we have today
Here to stay

No need to find a hideaway and fade away
Behind those flowery words they say
Remember, dear
The secret home we've built together
is timeless
No yesterday, no tomorrow can bear

Oo..
There you are
Here we are
There you are

Here to stay
Hoping to meet again someday

Here to stay
Though we know we will both part ways

Here to stay
Just to spend the night away

Here to stay
With all the time that's left today

Here to stay
Here to stay
To leave someday

rarasekar

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