Rockers Terrer take on religious hypocrisy with satirical debut single 'Hang Loklaq'
A week ago local rock band Terrer premiered its debut single "Hang Loklaq" and it immediately made an impact with its satirical take on religious hypocrisy.
In just over a week, more than 53,000 views were recorded on the band’s Youtube video, which features Terrer's five members in drag, wearing the baju kebaya and other assorted items while essaying some rudimentary choreographed moves.
The band comprises...
A week ago local rock band Terrer premiered its debut single "Hang Loklaq" and it immediately made an impact with its satirical take on religious hypocrisy.
In just over a week, more than 53,000 views were recorded on the band’s Youtube video, which features Terrer's five members in drag, wearing the baju kebaya and other assorted items while essaying some rudimentary choreographed moves.
The band comprises vocalist Faiq, guitarists Abel and Armaan, bassist Azlan and drummer Helmi and they have been together for just over three years.
“We started the band in late 2018, it was just me and Armaan at first then we recruited fellow friends Abel, Azlan, and Helmi. Some of us would like to say that we met in an underground water polo club somewhere in Segambut,” Faiq told Malaysiakini.
As soon as its opening rhyming couplet drops – it is obvious that "Hang Loklaq" is no ordinary song, but a clear statement against hypocrisy in our society.
“Hang kata aurat harus dijaga, hang tengok filem blue apa cerita?” (You say you have to protect your modesty, but you watch pornography, what's the story?) takes a shot at those who publicly urge that morals be tightly guarded, yet are likely to be found watching pornographic films in private.
So what prompted the lyrics for the song?
“I spent my early teenage years in Kedah, the word loklaq would be used colloquially to point out when someone would be behaving crudely or is just being straight-up perverted.
“The lyrics were inspired by those memories and also by a need to say something about the world we live in,” Faiq explained.
"Hang Loklaq" is just one of the songs on the band’s upcoming EP "Kaum Lelaki", but while the songs may be connected thematically, the music may not necessarily stay within a single genre.
“The musical influences of the band vary from punk to jazz to indie to pop etc, so you can definitely expect something different sonically in every song but I guess a connecting theme that you might find across the songs will be the experience of what it’s like to be a Malay man in our society today,” Faiq added.
Interestingly the video was actually shot two years ago, but the band decided to wait due to the Covid-19 situation. It was directed by filmmaker Liew Seng Tat, known for his collaborations with the likes of artists James Lee, Amir Muhammad and Pete Teo.
“The video was directed by Liew. I’ve always been an admirer of his films, so that’s why we approached him to make the video.
“The starting point for the idea came from the notion of the male gaze,” Faiq said.
The band knows that speaking out against religious hypocrisy could garner some unwanted attention. After all, from rapper Namewee to graphic designer Fahmi Reza and cartoonist Zunar, satire has constantly been clamped down on in the country.
“Yes, we are aware. Art is difficult for both the viewer and the artist. But we have to find ways to be brave and express ourselves,” Faiq added.
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