Wani, a stand-alone testimony of collaboration
Peni Candra Rini's second album release of 2024 marks a new path for Javanese representation in the West.
Wani, Peni Candra Rini’s latest musical release, was released in October 4th, through New Amsterdam Records. This captivating album combines the intricate traditions of Javanese music with vibrant Western influences, creating a rich tapestry of sound that embodies a dynamic spirit of collaboration among various composers, musicians, and educators. Following her earlier 2024 release, Wulansih, which she describes as “a small encyclopedia of Indonesian music,” Rini delves deeper into the harmonious interplay of traditional sounds and contemporary reinvention alongside her long-time collaborator, Andy McGraw.
Check out 5 Things You Should Know About Peni Candra Rini and Her New Record Wulansih
This double album project gained significant recognition when Rini celebrated the release of Wani with a successful live concert at Roulette in New York City this past September, earning praise from ICIYL. Rini proudly considers herself "the first Indonesian female composer to release records as a primary artist through an American music label," a distinction that underscores her groundbreaking contribution to the global music scene.
Beyond its artistic merit, the album is a powerful medium for fostering dialogue and connections between diverse musical cultures, religions, and beliefs. Wani reflects Rini’s creativity and musical camaraderie while inviting listeners to engage with the beautiful convergence of Southeast Asian and Western sounds.
Peni Candra Rini
Dr. Peni Candra Rini is a distinguished Javanese singer, composer, and faculty member at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts. As one of the few female composers in Indonesia, she has made her mark across various genres and Indonesian traditions while embracing the performance of experimental music fusions. Candra Rini was the first woman commissioned to compose a work for the Mangkunegaran court in Central Java, and she was bestowed the court name Raden Nganten Tumenggung, which she describes as “the highest honor offered by the Raja.”
Andy McGraw
Dr. Andy McGraw considers himself “a dad, associate professor, and the Chair of Music at the University of Richmond,” in that order. McGraw received his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University and has published extensively on Southeast Asian music, music and ethics, and rhythmic analysis. He has written two monographs for Oxford University Press and has co-edited monographs for Cornell University Press and Smithsonian.
We had the opportunity to speak with Peni and Andy as they concluded their US tour. We asked them a series of questions to gain insights into their creative process and to understand the value of music collaboration on a global scale. Read their answers below!
Q: How long have you know each other?
A: Andy is the first to respond. “We began playing together in an experimental music ensemble in Solo, Java, in…2001?—a long time ago!” Peni takes a moment to emphasize how this experience with Sono Seni, the ensemble led by Balinese composer I Wayan Sadra, opened her ears “to new and exciting music, as well as collaborations with composers and performers from Indonesia and around the world” over 20 years ago.
Q: How did Wani come about?
A: “Some of the initial ideas of the composition were made by us, our teachers, and friends in Indonesia,” says Peni. Andy agrees, noting how the openness to a collaborative process allowed “a few compositional ideas from Indonesia [to] stew in the soup of…wait, can you say “stew in the soup of?”…anyway, stew in the soup of American experimentalism and avant-rock.”
Q: What's your favorite track on the album? What does it mean to you?
A: “Urashima Taro,” shares McGraw. This song, originally composed by Danis Sugiyanto, tells the story of a Japanese legend. Andy and Peni arranged it to be reimagined in a “rock-keroncong style.” He also noted that this is the track that took the longest while recording Wani. “It brings together several worlds I love.”
On the other hand, Peni won’t allow herself to pick a favorite. "The poems and melodies that I create are the crystallization of the fulfillment of my soul's need to continue to live and interpret it deeply; to benefit all the souls of humanity to continue to live.”
Q: Why did you choose NewAm for Wulansih and Wani?
A: “They curate,” both exclaim. “They prioritize interesting ideas over anything else.”
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Q: How was your experience performing Wulansih and Wani's songs live?
A: “Peni is a powerhouse [performing] live and audiences are often dumbstruck at her range,” says McGraw. “It’s always fun and challenging because she performs the works very differently every time…you have to stay on your toes.” Peni adds, “We are giving love in the form of sound nutrition for our own souls who play it, [and] to the audience who listens [to it].”
Q: What's the takeaway you hope listeners get while listening to your music?
Peni’s goal is for the audience to gain “a new experience of music born from the depths of Indonesian culture” and “build a loving respect for the diversity of new interpretations of music for a better quality of life.” As for Andy, he knows this is just a taste of what can be possible. “There is a world of sound coming from Indonesia that far too few people are exposed to,” says Andy. “Indonesian composers are down to collaborate.”
Q: What's next for you two?
“Preparing for our concerts in Guangzhou and Japan at the end of this year,” Peni shares. 2025 is also looking bright for these talented composers, who will be returning for a live concert at the Big Ears Festival 2025 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
You can check out Wani, by Peni Candra Rini, by clicking here. Make sure to subscribe to New Amsterdam Record’s Substack and support our efforts to showcase the genius composers and artists under our label.
This article was written by Kárenly Nieves-Fred, Head of Marketing for New Amsterdam Records.
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