It is possible that these three Muslim schoolgirls do not appear to be the conventional members of a heavy metal band; but, this is precisely why they are continuing to dominate stages across Indonesia.
All three women, Firdda Kurnia, Eusi Siti Aisyah, and Widi Rahmawati, were raised as the daughters of impoverished farmers in the rural West Java area of the country, which is known for its conservatism.
The girls had no idea what heavy metal music was when they started taking a music lesson in 2014. Prior to that, they had never even heard of it.
However, it was at that point that their middle school teacher, Ahba Erza, played them “Toxicity” by System of a Down, and from that moment on, they were completely hooked on heavy metal.
Erza, who is now the manager of their band, instructed the girls on how to play their own instruments.
The youths came together to establish a band the very same year and gave themselves the name Voice of Baceprot, which in their native Sudanese language means “noise.”
The Voice of Baceprot has performed on many of the most well-known stages in Indonesia despite the fact that they have been subjected to hostility and criticism from the more traditionalist segments of the Indonesian population.
She recounted to NPR that people have told her that her religious beliefs prohibit listening to her music.
“I’m a different musician because of the fact that I’m a woman and I perform heavy music, but I’m covering my hair with a hijab.” The hijab is an essential part of who I am.
Kurnia went on to mention that when she was younger, her parents strictly prohibited her from listening to heavy metal music.
Nevertheless, as Voice of Baceprot quietly gained more and more notoriety in the community, her parents were pleased of her dedication to her hobby.
As one of Indonesia’s most prominent counterculture musical ensembles, the girls now do roughly three gigs per month, as reported by Assembly, as they continue to make their name known throughout the country.
Since Firdda, Eusi, and Widi—now aged 19, 19, and 17 respectively—play their shows wearing leather jackets and hijabs, other metal musicians have praised the teens for depicting the more diverse side of the genre. Other metal musicians have praised the teens for depicting the more diverse side of the genre.
As a result of the widespread rumors that Indonesia is home to a vibrant underground heavy metal scene, the band Voice of Baceprot is gaining a growing following all around the country. Simply through their Instagram profile, they have amassed more than 32,000 followers.
The girls now have the hope that people will be able to comprehend that Muslim girls can pursue their talents while still sincerely adhering to their religion because of the music that they have created.
Not only that, but they also want to demonstrate that heavy metal can appeal to people of all different races and religions.