The first time I came to Astera’s performance was in 2022. Back then, they were the opening band for an event in Kuta. I had never heard their music before, so I decided to just enjoy the show.
After that, I gave Astera’s songs another listen. As I listen to this alternative pop-rock coming-of-age band on my music streaming platform again, I found myself slightly intrigued.
Upon hearing they would perform at the 2024 Music Celebration at Rumah Tanjung Bungkak, January 27th and 28th, 2024, I made sure I would be there.
I believe live performances always reveal the true core of an artist.
A Night with Astera
Even though I couldn’t sing along to their songs, at least their music was enjoyable enough to dance to. Astera perform at The Music Celebration 2024 event at Rumah Tanjung Bungkak. Astera was one of the featured performers, presenting a selection of their songs.
I don’t remember all the songs they played, but a few stood me out.
The guitar sound in “Backseat Affair” was undeniably catchy, with a prominent melody. The tempo and rhythm of this song were bound to make the audience move their feet to the music.
The infectious catchiness of the music itself is the soul of “Backseat Affair.” Even without fully understanding or knowing the lyrics, the song is still enjoyable.
“Better Life” is another pleasing song, with an easy-listening musical arrangement.
On the other hand, the storytelling style of the lyrics added charm to Astera’s performance that night.
Moreover, the drum beats often took a dominant role in some songs, but this part was intriguing. The drumming added a layer of emotion that continuously built up as the songs progressed toward the middle and end.
The attractive vocalist performance also added extra value to the band. In one or two songs, the vocalist engaged with the audience, inviting them to interact or sing along. With simple clap and lyrics, the audience was encouraged to immerse themselves into the songs.
“Flowers” was equally impressive, urging listeners not to compare themselves to others. In the lyric, it said, “This time feels like all of my friends grew, and I can’t take color’s so blue.”
Overall, despite some people seem to be unfamiliar with Astera’s songs, the band still managed to captivate the audience with their performance. The engaging vocalist made Astera’s performance memorable.
What They Say About Astera
I spoke with Mega (24), who specifically came to watch Astera. After getting the information from social media, she decided to attend the event. Despite the rainy Saturday afternoon, she just wants to see Astera’s live performance. She came with her friend.
“The first impression upon hearing their songs was that they’re good and stylish,” she expressed when I asked about her initial impressions of Astera’s music.
Mega shared that she had been familiar with Astera’s songs since 2020, remembering their first performance at the Univlox music event in 2022.
According to Mega, Astera’s songs have great lyrics, and she enjoys the band’s stage performance. She appreciates how Astera interacts with the audience.
“What’s interesting is that they’re humble,” she added.
Mega particularly likes the song “Backseat Affair.” Looking ahead, she hopes Astera becomes more “Famous” and produces even better songs.
Aside from Mega, I also spoke with Wahdita (20) and Nadya (20), who came to the Music Celebration 2024 event to watch Navicula and catch Astera’s performance.
Wahdita mentioned that he was interested in watching Astera because he found their music arrangements to be colorful. He noted that Astera’s music stands out in the Bali music scene.
When I asked about their favorite song, Wahdita replied, “Better Life.”
These two shared that they have been listening to Astera’s music since 2022. Nadya mentioned that she listens to Astera’s music on Spotify and attends concerts of the bands she likes.
It’s interesting to see how Astera performs and presents their work. It’s no wonder that Dadang SH Pranoto, a well-known musician from Bali associated with the band Navicula, has taken notice of and paid attention to this band. I also asked Christian, who, along with Dadang, was involved in creating one Astera’s songs. According to Christian, the band is appealing because they offer a complete package.
He explained why he likes Astera, stating that the band excels in songwriting, creating arrangements, and projecting their image through social media. These factors are what drew him to the band and led to his involvement in their songwriting.
“In short, they are the complete package, and there are many reasons why one should like them,” he concluded after we both witnessed Astera’s performance that night.
In conclusion, if you want to experience coming-of-age pop-rock alternative music from Bali or add new songs to your playlist, I believe you can start by opening your favorite music streaming platform now and listening to their songs.
Astera is an alternative pop-rock band from Bali founded in 2014. In 2018, they underwent adjustments and rebranding, becoming the Astera known today. The band consists of Rio Bagastyan (vocal), Dode Debby (guitar), Raden Bagus (guitar), and Chandra Raditya (drums).
