Indorock

Indorock is a musical genre, originating in the 1950s in the Netherlands and Europe. It is a fusion of Indonesian and Western music, and has roots in Kroncong (Traditional Indonesian Music).

History

After to Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945, many Indo (Dutch-Indonesian) musicians repatriated to the Netherlands. One of the effects of this cultural process was that, in the mid-1950s, an instrumental music genre called Indorock became popular.

The guitar was imported to the Indian archipelago by Portuguese explorers in the 14th century. The traditional Portuguese song styles, saudade and fado, played with guitar accompaniment, later became krontjong music. Krontjong is characterized by guitars which seem to be "talking" to each other. The guitarists play rhythmic and melodic parts instinctively.

Many Indorock musicians had a predilection for Hawaiian music, which was popular in the Netherlands at the time. Other significant influences included American country & western, and the rock & roll repertoire played on radio stations in Indonesia via American (AFN) stations from the Philippines and Australia.

Influential artists

• The (Real) Room Rockers (1957 - after 1959, known as The Hurricane Rollers)
• The Hot Jumpers (1958)
• The Bell Boys (later The Black Dynamites)
• The Rhythm Stars
• Oety & his Real Rockers
• Electric Johnny & The Skyrockets
• The Rocking Diamonds and The Blue Eagles
• Tielman Brothers (Andy, Reggy, Ponthon and Loulou Tielman)^[2]
• The Javalins