Radio Rumah Oma launches website with 24-hour livestream event this Friday

Jakarta-based collective Radio Rumah Oma (RRO) is set to launch its website this Friday, July 28.

The initiative started back in 2019, when its founders were inspired by local record label Demajors who started broadcasting their online radio programming to a live audience from their new headquarters in the busy M Bloc compound.

“That was exactly what I wanted to do,” mentions one-third of RRO’s founders, Farhan “Facil” Ali, who spoke exclusively to Mixmag Asia about the collective’s journey towards realising their own online platform.

After researching and gathering all the needed equipment, they started broadcasting online in March 2020, just as the pandemic started.

Having free time on their hands on the weekends, the three then initiated the ‘Siaran Akhir Pekan’ (‘Weekend Broadcast’) program. Eventually, they invited friends over for light discussions — at the time, they were still renting out an extra space from where Facil was living.

Now that the pandemic has passed, their consistency and perseverance have paid off and the team have obtained a permanent residence at the A3000 compound — a stroke of luck partly thanks to one Jonathan Kusuma, 3000 Group's music director.

“I bumped into Ojon during an event at Ding Dong Disko, 3000 Group’s club venue. He was talking about doing a collaboration with us…which ended up with an offer for RRO to set up HQ at their A3000 space!” says Facil.

In December 2022, construction of what is to be the RRO basecamp took place. Fast-forward to today, it stands proud amidst the hustle and bustle of the trendy Kemang neighbourhood and its enthusiastic music scene.

During that period of development, the team focused on rebranding and the ultimate goal of officially launching a flagship product that’s been their goal since day one; their own web-based radio.

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“Our programming will be like that of a conventional radio; not just playing music but also holding discussions on all sorts of topics with our guests,” Facil adds. “It won’t be entirely about music, but we do realise music becomes the glue that holds us all together.”

Without spoiling too much, we have it on good authority that RRO’s programming will be as diverse as it is in-depth; from a special session dedicated to Brazilian music to collectives, labels and individuals of the scene sharing about events, ventures, vinyl releases and more.

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The ‘Grooving Now’ launch party for Radio Rumah Oma’s online radio is set to take place this Friday, July 28 and will go on for a full 24 hours.

A 13-strong line-up of beat purveyors will feature in the event, which comprises a talk show and sets at the RRO HQ before inviting attendees to continue dancing the night away at Ding Dong Disko — conveniently only a few steps away.

Won’t be in Jakarta for the festivities? Not to worry; all will be broadcasted live via the newly-launched Radio Rumah Oma website; stay tuned here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.