Girls Out Loud

Three Indonesian teenage girls just did the impossible: making it big in the local music scene with their HEAV Y METAL BAND. In a country where 90% of the population identify themselves as muslim, their success reflects the contradictions of a torn society

- Lisa Charbonneaux

Erza Satia is a guidance counsellor at the Masrasah Tsanawiah Islamic high school, in south Jakarta. In this all-girl establishment, the mood isn’t always sunny. In 2014, she was confronted with a group of teenagers that gave her a lot of trouble - they were rebellious, disenchanted with the school system. At the time, metal music was only just starting to gain ground in Indonesia, especially in big cities, and despite an extremely conservative government.

ERZA SAW THIS CULTURAL PHENOMENON as a potential means of expression for the young girls in her care. So, she brought together a gang of seven students, aiming to channel their rebellious energy into something positive. Although the idea was a hit for some, for others it was one step too far. Some girls turned their backs on her initiative, often because of their parent’s lack of consent or because of the way this music is perceived or labelled in their country: “Most people tend to think that this music is satanic,” confesses Erza.