Indonesia’s Raissa Febriani is set to release a new EP, ‘Hutan Timur’, later this week on Human Pitch. Have an exclusive first listen to ‘Whimsy’ below.
Taking inspiration from the sights and sounds of her homeland – in particular the “vast and beautiful forest” of Begudul, Bali – ‘Hutan Timur’ combines the interlocking rhythms of Gendang and Gamelan (traditional Indonesian styles) with serpentine synthwork and bass-forward sound design to mimic nature’s innate rhythms.
“I would sit there, surrounded by towering trees, listening to the sound of insects,” Raissa Febriani (aka RAISSA) shared on her creative process. “I could see the lake and the moon and it brought back many mystical stories connected to the forest.”
“These sounds are deeply rooted in my upbringing, as I grew up surrounded by them,” she added. “Without even realising it, they became a natural part of my creative process.”
The DJ, producer and composer’s second EP will find a home on NYC label Human Pitch, following a “serendipitous encounter” with co-founder Tristan Arp at a rave in a Balinese rice field, where Febriani was DJing. Her colourful, mosaic-like sets encompass everything from leftfield bass to oddball techno, and have seen her foster a vibrant community in Bali’s underground bass music scene.
In 2021, this coalesced into the creation of her label Non Archive with partner Hatagarah, which has featured releases from rising Indonesian talent including Magis, F00RY, Verdy Arien and more.
‘Hutan Timur’ is out 5th March via Human Pitch. Pre-save the EP here, and have an exclusive first listen to ‘Whimsy’ below.