Indonesian DJ and producer Whisnu Santika continues to cement his status as one of the best in the international electronic music scene with his new music.
After teaming up with two of Asia’s most exciting music powerhouses: DJ-producer Dipha Barus and hip-hop queen RAMENGVRL on fiery and explosive offering “IYAIYA,” the refreshing talent has continued to keep up his musical momentum with confident offering “Yalla Habibi.”
While “IYAIYA,” encapsulates the hustle to find joy amidst the chaos of daily life, “Yalla Habibi,” unfurls a personal narrative of love – with both tracks showcasing his signature energetic Indo-bounce musicality.
Taking decisive and impressive strides, Whisnu continues his journey of taking Southeast Asian dance music to the global stage. Speaking to Earmilk, he delves into how his sound has evolved, what genres he’d love to experiment with, the rewards and challenges of making music the most surreal moments of his career and more.
Tell me a bit about your new single ‘IYAIYA’
‘IYAIYA’ feels like Jakarta in a song. It shows the reality of living in the city where you are always hustling to survive but also finding joy and laughter in the middle of it all. Musically it blends Indo Bounce with dangdut, baile funk, and Baltimore club. The track carries the chaos, color, and spirit of the culture I grew up with.
How would you say your sound has evolved over time and where do you see it going from here?
In the beginning I was just experimenting and making whatever came to mind. Over time I found more confidence in my sound and developed Indo Bounce as my identity. Right now I am exploring ways to bring more Indonesian elements into it while keeping it global. My goal is to keep pushing the sound so it represents where I come from but also resonates anywhere in the world.
You teamed up with Dipha Barus and RAMENGVRL for this track. What was the experience like?
It was a great experience because we all brought something different to the table. Dipha has this very spiritual and soulful approach, while RAMENGVRL is bold and fearless. Working with them was natural because the energy was there from the start. The song came together with ease and it felt exciting to create something that represents all of us.
Personally, what’s the most rewarding part of the music making process for you? And what’s the most challenging part?
The most rewarding moment is when I play a new track live and see the reaction from the crowd. That is when I feel the music really comes alive. The most challenging part is letting go because as a producer I always want to add more or change something. At some point I have to stop and trust the process.
What’s been the most surreal part of your journey so far? And what’s on your bucket list?
Playing at Tomorrowland was surreal. Seeing people from all over the world respond to Indo Bounce in that setting was something I never imagined when I first started. On my bucket list is collaborating with more international artists and eventually doing a world tour. I want to represent Indonesia on every stage possible.
If you could experiment with genre or sound in future, what would that be and why?
I want to experiment more with the Indo bounce sound and explore how it can be blended with other genres. There’s so much character and energy in those rhythms, and I think they can be paired with different musical styles in a way that feels modern and unique. It would be exciting to create something that brings Indonesian culture into the global spotlight in a fresh way.
Finally, if someone was tuning into your music for the first time – what 3 words would you use to best describe what they can expect?
Energetic because the music is designed to make people move, cultural because it carries Indonesian roots in every track, and boundary-pushing because I always want to blend styles in a way people haven’t heard before.
Connect with
Whisnu Santika : Instagram
