Sundanese, Indonesian alternative indie quartet The Panturas are pleased to announce a brand new EP with the arrival of ‘Galura Tropikalia’ (22nd November) and is accompanied by brand new single ‘Béntang Sagara’. The band are poised to hit the road for an exclusive Southeast Asian tour in 2025, more details to be announced.
Drawing on a myriad of influences from ethnic Sundanese instruments to 60s surf rock, all songs are sung in their native Sundanese dialect. The band say: “Galura Tropikalia can be simply interpreted as a new wave in our musical journey. We are opening the gateway to musical exploration in areas that are, in fact, very familiar to us, as individuals living in the Sundanese land. We do not place many expectations on this mini-album. We are already very grateful to have it released in various formats. The entire process has been incredibly enjoyable. At the very least, we have created an album in the Sundanese language in the history of our discography.”
Demographics of a region play a significant role in the evolution of music genres. We often see folk music flourishing in mountainous areas, or surf music emerging from coastal plains. However, some artists defy their natural surroundings, like The Panturas.
The Panturas is a surf-rock band that originated in Jatinangor, Bandung, an area where folk music thrives like mushrooms in the rainy season. Comprising Abyan Zaki (Vocals & Guitar), Rizal Taufik (Guitar), Bagus ‘Gogon’ (Bass), and Surya Fikri (Drums), they deliver beach-inspired rhythms influenced by icons like Dick Dale and The Ventures, as well as classic Indonesian rock groups such as Kwartet Bintang and Eka Sapta.
In February 2018, they released their mini-album titled Mabuk Laut, which propelled them into the forefront of Indonesia’s micro-gig scene and led to performances at major domestic festivals. Following the success of Mabuk Laut, they launched their debut full-length album in 2021, Ombak Banyu Asmara. This album took The Panturas on a journey further than they had ever imagined.
Now, in 2024, almost a decade into their artistic journey, The Panturas shows no signs of slowing down. They have released a mini-album with Sundanese influences this year, a refreshing work that not only explores linguistic nuances but also incorporates traditional Sundanese pentatonic scales interwoven with The Panturas’ signature surf-rock DNA.
