- 11.03 AM
- February, 4, 2026
Bingkai Karya – “How is your new years’ resolution?” Is a question that is commonly asked around this period of time. As we’re nearing the end of the first month of the year, gyms that were filled with hopes and aspirations are now back to being filled with regulars. But for Indonesian-based band Ricecooker, they would rather pose the question, “Do you have someone to remind you of these resolutions? Focusing rather on the fact that sometimes, to grow, you need to lean on a friend, or rather, a ‘Favorite Dinner Guest’.”
After two eventful years, Indie-pop band Ricecooker has been everywhere. Their songs “Moving On” and “Sunday Song” was used in the hit-series “My Nerd Girl 3” from the streaming service Vidio, and they were chosen to create an original soundtrack (OST), “If You Let Me”, for “Love Unlike” in K-dramas, that became the number one film on Netflix Indonesia.
“After a lot of unbelievable opportunities, we think it’s time for us to release an album,” said Will Mara, bassist for Ricecooker and producer to chart-toppers namely Raissa Anggiani and Nadin Amizah.
Picture an average day for young adults in 2026. After a full day at the office and being stuck in rush hour, you come back to an empty apartment, you sit on your couch and grab the takeaway you bought on the way home. You open your favorite livestreamer and are connected to thousands online. But as you type “LOL” (laugh out loud), you realize you’re not actually laughing. You’re not making a meaningful connection. “Without realizing, these little hints of loneliness can become something deterrent in the long-term. According to WHO, there is a Loneliness Epidemic that increases risks of dementia and depression,” adds Alif Ibrahim, guitarist and a published author across Europe and Asia. “A couple of songs in this album were written in some of our loneliest hours, and a lot of them were about the journey of us accepting the pain, and opening up again until we found our people. Thus we called it ‘Favorite Dinner Guest’.”
“I believe the best song to encapsulate this feeling is our song, “Smitten”,” said Jerome Kurnia, vocalist to Ricecooker and acclaimed actor to many. The recent Indonesian Film Festival 2025 nominee claimed, “We loved the term [smitten], as there is more excitement, sweet intensity and folly, in addition to saying love.” Moreover, this song was written and produced together with teen sensation Arash Buana, of “If You Could See Me Crying In My Room” and “hey i’m tired” fame. “The sweet melodies and lyrics of Smitten needed the accompaniment of the sweetest piano sound played by the man who can truly create beautiful sceneries with just the touch of the instrument. And Arash Buana is the right man,” said Will Mara, his frequent collaborator.
The statement rings true as from the first listen, Smitten began with an enchanting tone, paired with a sensitive and grateful voice claiming, “I think you’re out of my league, but here you are next to me.” Being able to envelop listeners with warmth has become Ricecooker’s signature move. Smitten alongside ten other songs from the album ‘Favorite Dinner Guest’, is available on all digital streaming platforms starting from the 30th of January 2026.
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