INDONESIA—Indonesian alt-pop trio, Elephant Kind, just released a new music video for their most recent hit, “Love As,“ which was premiered by DIY Magazine, a UK publication. The imminent release of Elephant Kind’s EP Superblue, which will be released on March 31, has also been revealed.
On the cosmic elements of the music video, lead singer Bam Mastro explains, “Music knows no borders, and our journey has been a lot like aliens in a new world. We believe our lyrics and rhythm will transcend the boundaries of language and culture, bringing us closer to our new home and the people who embrace us.”
He continues, “With Rich Hall, the director, we shared a vision of creating a world where aliens are accepted and celebrated, and together we brought this vision to life through music, visuals, and pure magic. We sought to blur the lines between what is considered ‘normal’ and embrace the beauty of diversity, even if it comes from beyond our planet.” Drummer Bayu Adisapoetra adds, “I’m a big fan of sci-fi movies such as Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, and three of us had a discussion about making a music video with this theme.”
Image courtesy of Liam Maxwell
The “Love As” music video is the first video Elephant Kind shot in London, where they now reside. “It was an unforgettable experience,” recounts Mastro. “The city’s vibrant energy and creative atmosphere fuelled our inspiration, and the entire crew and team have been hospitable to bring our vision to life.”
The band is gearing up to release their EP Superblue later this week, a project a long time in the making. “This is the first record where I let go of a lot of my ego, I suppose,” says Mastro, “And I just kind of let everyone join with ideas this time. That was difficult at first as it’s hard listening to other people, but Bayu and Kevin came in with new, exciting things, and it was refreshing just knowing that our music continues to evolve when we write music together.”
“When we were younger we never saw an Indonesian band have international success, so the dream has always been there for us to break that mould,” says Bayu Adisapoetra on their decision to move abroad. “I think the best part of being successful in Indonesia is that by nature, you’re able to sustain a career longer than everywhere else in the world. If you make it there, they’re gonna love you for a very long time.”
Elephant Kind was formed in Mastro’s bedroom in Perth, Australia over a decade ago, acting as an outlet to express himself creatively, a purely introspective project that was more for himself than anyone else before moving to Indonesia. Now, the band is a three piece with four projects to their name, hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners across the globe and a firmly cemented place as one of Indonesia’s most beloved alternative outfits. Their fresh take on alternative indie has earned them critical recognition and acclaim both at home and globally, constantly building year on year as their worldwide ambition comes into fruition.
In Indonesia, the band have won big at awards ceremonies including The Indonesian Cutting Edge Music Awards and amassed a wealth of nominations at The AMI’s and The Indonesia’s Choice Awards. Their success at home also saw some of the most culturally impactful brands approach the band for collaborations, working with the likes of Gucci, Dior, Vans and Dr. Martens to name a few.
Image courtesy of Bailey Elderberry
Along with Mastro, Kevin Septanto and Bayu Adisapoetra make up the Elephant Kind trio, which collaborates to produce the genre-straddling Elephant Kind sound by fusing a wide range of inspirations and musical styles. A new writing approach that engages the whole band rather than being a solo endeavor is brought on by this new dynamic.
The group’s next EP, Superblue, heralds the start of a new era by utilizing a new creative approach to produce what is unquestionably their most cutting-edge work to date.
Watch the music video here: