Mutik Nida

Mutik Nida, the 24-year-old "Queen of the Drums", is from Semarang. She began learning the drums in elementary school and gained professional experience playing with a short-lived junior branch of Nasida Ria called Qasidut (Qasidah Dangdut) during her middle school years. Always wanting to keep up with her boy classmates drumming on their school desks, Mutik kept ahead of them technically and shared a common love of dangdut music.

When I interviewed Mutik on her drive between two shows, she explained that her background in quranic recitation, qasidah, and dangdut helps her attract fans and get gig invitations. She is able to please all with danceable music as well as a modest persona. Viral on social media, the young musician often receives critiques for playing on the same stage as scantily clad dangdut singers. However, she regards her career as one that can inspire girls to defy gender expectations in the music world. In addition to her successful solo career, she designs her own apparel and fan merchandise.

I also spent time with and interviewed members of her (very active) fan club.