For over a decade, Vancouver’s Gamelan Bike Bike has been blending the traditional sounds of Indonesian gamelan music with local, sustainable innovation. The group, known for crafting instruments from metal scrap bins in the city, is gearing up for their album release concert – a unique interdisciplinary event that draws from music, dance and textile art to offer audiences an immersive cultural experience.

Founded in 2012, Gamelan Bike Bike emerged from a group of musicians who were captivated by the sounds and creative possibilities of gamelan, a traditional Indonesian musical form that centers around percussion instruments made from bamboo, wood and metal. What makes Gamelan Bike Bike stand out is their commitment to crafting instruments from recycled materials, a practice that merges their artistic expression with environmental consciousness.

“Gamelan Bike Bike has been playing together as an ensemble for just over 10 years in Vancouver,” says organizer George Rahi. “We started out exploring the idea of creative instrument-making, building our own instruments from local materials and learning a lot about different sound design principles honed in Indonesia for centuries.”

The ensemble’s upcoming album release concert at the Roundhouse Community Centre is set to highlight this innovative spirit. The event will feature not only music but also performances by local Indonesian artists, such as Srikandi Indonesia, a Vancouver-based dance group dedicated to traditional Indonesian dances. This partnership reflects Gamelan Bike Bike’s emphasis on collaboration and the synergies between music and other art forms.

“There’s an emphasis on creativity in both the instruments and the music, creating a synergistic space for innovation,” Rahi explains. “It’s not just the music that’s multifaceted and interesting but also the broader community we’re nurturing here in Vancouver.”

Cross-cultural dynamism

Gamelan music itself has always been dynamic, with traditional forms being constantly reinterpreted by new generations of musicians. Gamelan Bike Bike’s upcoming album pushes these boundaries further, featuring compositions by young Indonesian composers, including Rion Suwari Andana, whose work combines dance with a smaller set of instruments – a unique approach within the Gamelan tradition.

“Rion’s piece is a really unique bridging of two art forms, and we’re excited to share it with our audience,” Rahi notes.

This interplay between tradition and innovation is central to Gamelan Bike Bike’s identity. The group consistently adapts to the challenges posed by using non-traditional instruments, particularly when it comes to tuning – a key element of gamelan music.

“Every gamelan has its own tuning reference, so when you move between different ensembles, you have to think about arrangements and how the instruments align,” Rahi explains, reflecting on the challenges of working with instruments made from recycled materials.

The concert also highlights Gamelan Bike Bike’s collaboration with Batik Library, a platform promoting Indonesian batik, the traditional art of textile design. For the performance, designer Maya Prasasto has created custom batik designs that the musicians will wear, blending visual art with the auditory experience of the show.

A focus on sustainability

Sustainability is a recurring theme in the group’s work, not just in their use of recycled materials but also in their long-term collaborations with artists from the Indonesian diaspora and beyond. Their dedication to nurturing these interdisciplinary relationships stems from a broader movement in Vancouver that connects art, advocacy and environmental awareness.

“The ensemble emerged from a broader movement in Vancouver, one connected to community bike advocacy and art,” Rahi shares. “We’ve had to be resourceful in building our instruments from scrap materials and have been inspired by other artists designing new kinds of instruments and exploring questions of sustainability.”

Looking ahead, Gamelan Bike Bike is planning to bring their music to Bali, where they will collaborate with local musicians and deepen their exploration of gamelan in its cultural context. But for now, the ensemble’s focus is on their Vancouver audience, offering them a concert that promises to be both a celebration of tradition and a bold step into the future of gamelan music.

Gamelan Bike Bike’s album release concert will take place on September 23 at the Roundhouse Community Centre.

For more information about the event, visit: www.roundhouse.ca/event/gamelan-bike-album-release-concert