Red Not Dead: Songs from the Comrades, the upcoming album by Indonesian musician Michael Wenas, which will be released 31st of March, 2025, is expected to combine a variety of musical genres with provocative subjects. His most recent single, JERUK X JERUK, starring Barber Top Barbar, is a rebellious nu-metal song in Bahasa Indonesia that has received about 5,000 views on TikTok. This release comes after that.
Michael Wenas gave us the chance to talk about his creative process, the political overtones in his songs, and what his most recent album will be like.
Q: The defiant tone of your most recent release, JERUK X JERUK, has caused a stir. What gave you the idea to write this song?
Michael: Writing about the frustration of being different in a conservative environment was something I wanted to do. It's also a brazen method of questioning sexuality and music conventions. As gays, we ought to have nothing to conceal. We are not religious organizations that force young people into marriage or teach them that it is common "tradition" for mature men to court young women. For my part, I find taller, bearded males attractive. How that relates to having a paraphilia for children is still beyond me. Perhaps faith and reason are incompatible.
Q: The variety of genres in Red Not Dead is astounding. How do all the tracks relate to one another?
Michael: Personal narratives, solidarity, and rebellion. Every song has a message of resistance and self-discovery, whether it's about an American farmer fighting systematic injustice or a young Chinese girl feeling empowered after a concert. I wanted to demonstrate that protest music is not restricted to any one genre and may take many forms, such as outlaw country, metal, or hyperpop.
Q: For this release, do you also employ AI assistance?
Michael: Yes, I do, and I'm not going to act otherwise. Since I lacked access to a traditional music studio, generative AI proved useful in producing vocals and instrumentals that I could edit to add my own unique touch. Many artists tend to accuse generative AI of stealing because of the way it challenges the idea of intellectual property regulations. However, intellectual property is [redacted], just like any other type of private property, isn't it? Either private or public property need to exist. For example, what kind of a [redacted] would garner billions of dollars, then cry about their music being distributed on The Pirate Bay? Let that sink in.
Track-by-Track Review of Red Not Dead: Songs from the Comrades
1. "1989 Crazy Night (With Honeycomb Rain)"
This Mandarin hyperpop song tells the tale of a young Swiftie girl who, after seeing a Taylor Swift performance, experiences a wave of rebellion. The song perfectly encapsulates both the transformational potential of music and the spirit of youth rebellion.
