XANDEGA steps out solo with debut album ‘IN-FLUX’

Jakarta-based artist XANDEGA, known both as a solo producer and as the bassist of indie rock outfit Polka Wars, has released his debut album ‘IN-FLUX’.

He also runs the community and club night Swanky Express, which has invited over names like Mobilegirl, Kush Jones, Evita Manji and more to the city.

Spanning nine tracks and clocking in at 33 minutes, ‘IN-FLUX’ is structured in three parts (The Dread, The Flux, and The Thrill), each marking a shift in tone and mood, representing an emotional journey from inner tension to moments of clarity and euphoria.

The sound design throughout is focused and deliberate; warm electronic textures paired with alternative R'n'B tones, plus elements that nod to local identity, like the rhythmic bounce of the kendang dangdut and the fluctuating pitches of the suling.

For those who spent their nights around the South Jakarta area over the past decade, some of the lyrics might hit with a wave of nostalgia.

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Produced by XANDEGA and BF-131131525, the album features Noni, J. Alfredo, Deathless Ramz, Will Mara, and Whiteskkeleton of White Chorus, plus additional production from Will Mara, Rimaldi, Pandu Rachmat, MAGIS, and Deathless Ramz.

“This is my first time putting myself out there as a songwriter under my own name. I’ve been in a band for 14 years, but stepping into this role solo came with a lot of impostor syndrome. Convincing myself that what I made was actually okay — and maybe even worth sharing — was the hardest part,” he explains to Mixmag Asia.

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Speaking on being a new solo act, XANDEGA shares: “What’s exciting — and also kinda wild — about being a new artist today is that you don’t have to follow trends anymore. You can carve out your own little world and call it a microtrend if you want. It’s a super liberating time to make whatever feels true to you. But the flip side is: people’s attention shifts fast. So, learning how to get that attention — and make it part of your creative practice — is just as important now.”

Listen to ‘IN-FLUX’ in its entirety below.

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

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