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It’s an accomplishment unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Juicy Luicy's 2020 major-label debut album, Sentimental, became one of the decade's biggest Indonesian records after racking up at least 799 million plays on Spotify—a number that, to my surprise, keeps climbing.
Concerns about the band being a one-hit wonder were effectively shut down this year. In less than six months since its release, Juicy Luicy’s follow-up album, Nonfiksi, has nearly matched its predecessor in streaming numbers.
But Juicy Luicy’s success didn’t stop there. The band, made up of Julian “Uan” Kaisar, Denis Ligia, Zamzam Yusup Maulana and Bina Bagja, has been such a fixture on major streaming charts since the start of this decade that it’s hard to recall the last time they weren’t charting.
To top it all off, Nonfiksi received three nominations at this year’s Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) Awards, including the highly coveted Best of the Best Album.
Any musician would have been riding high after such a historic year. These guys, though, have stayed grounded. Uan described 2024 as a "shocking" year.
"But in a good way," he quickly added.
“Suddenly, it’s hard [for us] to shop at a minimart. It’s hard to go to a shopping mall,” Uan said, laughing.
“Like, what’s going on here? It’s still so confusing to process. But maybe, over time, we’ll understand. That’s how amazing 2024 has been.”
Damn...
Juicy Luicy’s fortunes changed dramatically when “Sialan”, a pop bop group featuring soloist Adrian Khalif, reached the top of Spotify Indonesia’s Top 50 chart on June 24—their first song to claim the number one spot.
Four days later, Nonfiksi was released. Fueled by other hit tracks like “Lampu Kuning” (Yellow Light), “Asing” (Foreign), “HAHAHA” and “Tampar”, Juicy Luicy has become a household name. Even more impressive, these thirtysomethings prove you don’t have to be 21 or under to be a pop star.
"It's the ugly truth. It's about what many people feel but don't have the guts to admit." - Uan
The key, according to Denis, is understanding what makes your music stand out.
“The music’s gotta be simple without trying too hard to be ‘addictive,’” he explained. “And it’s gotta click with our hearts first.”
Another edge Juicy Luicy has is their unwavering commitment to live tours and performances, a strategy that’s likely contributed to their success.
“Sometimes we’ll put our underrated songs at the start of our setlist,” Zamzam shared.
“Songs that didn’t even chart, like ‘Tanggung Jawab’ or ‘Insya Allah.’ As a result, the audience starts noticing. Even the intros to those songs can go viral afterward!”
In the Indonesian music scene, Juicy Luicy is known for its relentless touring schedule. Even with their nationwide fame, they have no plans to slow down, just like their idols, Maliq & D’Essentials.
“Maliq once did 34 shows in a month. How did they do that? They’re our influence, our role model!” Uan gushed.
When asked about the secret behind their success, the band was at a loss for words. But they admitted they’ve always trusted the process. For example, it took about a year and a half for “Sialan” to top the charts.
“We expected nothing,” Bina noted.
“None of our songs were instant hits. It could take a year or two to reach people, and we didn’t find that strange at all.”
As the saying goes: good things come to those who wait. Juicy Luicy has been grinding since 2014 and is only now getting their flowers in the 2020s.
“A friend said this on Instagram: ‘I went to college, [Juicy Luicy] was still a band. I got a job, they were still a band. I got married, they were still a band. I had a child, and they’re still a band!’” Zamzam joked.
Losers in Love
Part of Nonfiksi’s success lies in its unique perspective. The songs are told through the eyes of someone who always ends up empty-handed, unlucky or embarrassed in love. The protagonist isn’t a triumphant hero; he’s just an ordinary guy trying his best.
On paper, this theme shouldn’t feel particularly inspiring or even remotely interesting. But in Juicy Luicy’s hands, these tales of heartbreak have somehow become the soundtrack for a restless generation.
“It’s the ugly truth,” Uan said.
“It’s about what many people feel but don’t have the guts to admit. We decided to put those feelings out there, and thankfully, people found it relatable.”
Denis added, “Everyone has that embarrassing side. When they put on a headset and listen to our songs, they might finally embrace it.”
In Nonfiksi, Juicy Luicy also push lyrical boundaries for modern pop. “Lampu Kuning” equates romantic anxiety to a traffic light turning yellow. “Tampar” has the protagonist begging for a literal slap to wake him from his heartbreak. And “HAHAHA” perfectly captures the pain of faking a laugh to mask mistreatment.
The band deliberately avoided overthinking their songwriting process.
“You shouldn’t prepare too much,” Denis explained.
“Make yourself ‘blank’ if possible, then let it out. Don’t try to chase the idea because that doesn’t work.”
By the end of 2024, Nonfiksi has brought Juicy Luicy unprecedented fame. (“I have haters now on Instagram,” Uan joked, laughing.) Their hot streak looks set to continue into next year, with all signs pointing to an even bigger future.
Luckily, after years of grinding, the band now has the thick skin and mental toughness to handle whatever comes next.
“Before anyone judges us, we’ve already broken all the judgments,” Denis said. “Don’t worry, we’re not that perfect.”
Damn... these guys really are superstars.
Felix Martua is a music and film journalist who has interviewed countless artists over the years. He’s known for his signature black jacket, Ghibli collar pin, and slightly sinister grin.
