- 2:40 PM
- July 10, 2026
Bingkai Karya – Everyone experiences plans that don’t go as expected, but these failures can pave the way for something better. That’s the message conveyed by Barasuara through “Sementara”, their latest single, released on July 10, 2026. Written by Iga Massardi and produced by Barasuara, this mid-tempo song is also the first new song released by the Jakarta-based group, consisting of Iga (vocals, guitar), Asteriska (vocals), Puti Chitara (vocals), Gerald Situmorang (bass), Tj Kusuma (guitar), and Marco Steffiano (drums), since the release of their third album, ‘Jalaran Sadrah’, in mid-2024.
“The core meaning of “Sementara” is that we always have plans, desires, ideals, or whatever. But sometimes things don’t go as we hoped. We experience failure or whatever it is along the way. But actually, without us realizing it, that failure opens up another path that we don’t yet know what it is,” said Iga. “It’s about letting go of what happened at that moment, and hoping while trying to find a better ending or path than what we planned.”
Asteriska added, “Acceptance is the final stage in a person’s emotional process after dashed hope or loss. Ultimately, humans are able to let go, even if it takes time. This song encourages listeners to believe that from grief and shattered expectations, new hope or strength can emerge. It’s not the elimination of feelings, but rather a new way to move forward.”
Just as “Sementara” tells the story of how finding the right path sometimes requires a process, the song itself took time to come to fruition. Iga had actually written an initial draft of “Sementara” in 2022, but it wasn’t included in the ‘Jalanan Sadrah’ album he was working on at the time. It wasn’t until early 2026, when Barasuara was planning to work on new material, that Iga submitted “Sementara” and received positive feedback from his colleagues. “When I first heard it, I immediately thought it was really catchy. The lyrics, tone, and melody are more mature and grown-up.” “The music is simple yet profound,” said Puti.
Unlike Barasuara’s past work, this time they worked on “Sementara” relatively quickly, spending April to May 2026 recording vocals and instruments, including guest musicians Bass G on baritone saxophone and tenor saxophone, as well as Ami Purba on trumpet. This was followed by mixing by Stevano and mastering by Dimas Pradipta in June. “In the past, Barasuara could spend months working on a single song,” said Gerald, who also played synthesizer and guitar in addition to bass. Marco added, “I really wanted to force myself not to think too much.”
After 14 years as a band, Barasuara has experienced its fair share of ups and downs. One of their greatest hits came in 2025 when the use of “Terbuang dalam Waktu” and “Pancarona” in the feature film “Sore: Istri dari Masa Depan” caused both songs to go viral. Barasuara’s popularity skyrocketed, after struggling through the post-pandemic transition period.
As a result, “Sementara” can be considered a representation of Barasuara’s story. They certainly hope this song will reach a wider audience, but that’s not Barasuara’s primary goal. “We always go back to the reason Barasuara was created in the first place: the music. If the song goes viral, we consider it a bonus for our hard work. But if that doesn’t happen, we just hope the song will find its own niche, who knows when. If it doesn’t succeed, we don’t consider it a failure.” “That’s just the process,” said Iga.
What’s certain is that “Sementara” can accompany the Penunggur Badai, Barasuara fans, and anyone else who’s screaming, while they wait for the next songs to be released soon for Barasuara’s fourth album. Tj said, “Hopefully, this song can be enjoyed and be a companion for friends who are in situations that don’t align with their plans and aspirations.”
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