The Lantis: Indonesia's Answer to Beatlemania

When Your Grandfather Becomes Your Band Name

In a Jakarta studio, three young musicians are living proof that rock and roll isn't dead—it's just learning Indonesian. The Lantis, named after their grandfather Ahmad Lanti, has accomplished what seems impossible in 2024: creating Beatles-inspired indie rock that's gone viral across Asia, landing them on charts next to G-Dragon and other K-pop royalty.

Their hit single "Bunga Maaf" (which translates to "Apology Flowers") has captured something rare in today's algorithm-driven music landscape—genuine emotion wrapped in timeless melodies. This isn't manufactured pop. This is three guys playing instruments, writing about real life, and somehow breaking through the noise.

We sat down with Giri (bassist/vocalist), Ravi (guitarist/vocalist), and Ojan (we assume drums, though he's too cool to specify) to talk about viral success, family legacy, and why Radiohead and The Beatles can coexist in the same band.

The Family Business

Magz: Let's start at the beginning. How did The Lantis come together?

Giri: So I'm the bassist and lead vocalist. Ravi and I are actually cousins—we share the same grandfather, Ahmad Lanti. Back in 2019, we started this project and honestly couldn't think of a name. Since we're both grandchildren of Mister Lanti, we just called ourselves The Lantis.

Ravi: We were definitely referencing The Beatles at the time. The whole "The [Something]" naming convention. It felt right to base it on our family name.

Magz: That's beautiful. And apparently "lantis" has a meaning—someone who lives in the countryside?

Ravi: (laughs) Maybe seaside would be more accurate. Our grandfather lives in Makassar, Sulawesi, near the ocean.

Giri: Some people connect it with Atlantis too, which we think is kind of cool.

Magz: So it's part family tribute, part mythological reference. Very rock and roll.

The Beatles, Radiohead, and Everything In Between

Magz: You mentioned The Beatles. Tell us about your influences.

Ravi: Giri and I definitely share that hero worship of The Beatles. They're the foundation of everything we do, really.

Ojan: I'm more of a Radiohead guy. Maybe.

Giri: (laughs) Yes, Radiohead. But when I was first learning guitar, I was all about My Chemical Romance, Blink-182, Avenged Sevenfold—that whole emo and pop-punk scene. Those were my formative years.

Magz: That's a fascinating mix—The Beatles' melodic sensibility meets Radiohead's experimentation and emo's emotional intensity. You can hear all of that in your music.

Ojan: We don't try to fit into one box. We just make what feels right.

"Bunga Maaf": A Grandson's Regret

Magz: Your current hit is "Bunga Maaf." For international listeners, can you break down what it's about?

Ravi: The song is about regret. Specifically, it's about me and my grandfather. I lived with him for seven years, but I wasn't a good grandson. Now he's sick, old age catching up, and I can't properly apologize because maybe he can't even hear me anymore. All that's left is regret. The title means "apology flowers"—flowers you give when you're sorry.

Magz: That's incredibly vulnerable. In an age of superficial viral hits, you went deep and personal.

Ravi: It's the only way we know how to write. If it doesn't mean something to us, why would it mean something to anyone else?

Competing With K-Pop Legends

Magz: "Bunga Maaf" is currently charting across Asia alongside artists like G-Dragon. How does that feel?

Ojan: Honestly? We're excited and grateful. Thank you to everyone in Asia who's been supporting us.

Giri: G-Dragon and those names—these are some of the biggest legends in the industry. To see our song competing with their tracks is genuinely shocking. These are artists we grew up listening to.

Ojan: G-Dragon. It makes no sense.

Ravi: Complete shock.

Magz: But here's the thing—it does make sense. You're offering something different in a market saturated with similar sounds. Authentic indie rock with Indonesian lyrics and universal emotions.

Giri: When you put it that way, maybe it makes a little sense. (laughs)

The Global Indie Rock Resurgence

Magz: You're part of a broader phenomenon—indie rock bands from non-Western markets finding global audiences. Arctic Monkeys gets mentioned as an influence, The Beatles obviously. Do you see yourselves as part of a movement?

Ravi: I think what's happening is people are hungry for real instruments, real bands, real songs. Electronic music and hip-hop are incredible, but there's something about a guitar, bass, and drums that's timeless.

Giri: And we're singing in Indonesian, which I think helps. People might not understand every word, but emotion translates. You can feel what a song is about even if you don't speak the language.

Ojan: Look at K-pop—most of the world doesn't speak Korean, but it's everywhere. Good music is good music.

The Indonesian Music Scene

Magz: For readers unfamiliar with Indonesian music, what's the scene like in Jakarta?

Giri: It's vibrant but challenging. Indonesia has a massive population and a rich musical tradition, but breaking through internationally has always been tough. Language barriers, distribution issues, less infrastructure compared to Western markets.

Ravi: But the internet has changed everything. Platforms like Spotify, YouTube, TikTok—suddenly we can reach listeners worldwide. A kid in Brazil can discover us as easily as someone in Jakarta.

Ojan: The local scene is incredible though. So many talented bands and artists that deserve wider recognition.

Magz: Who should international listeners check out?

Giri: Oh man, so many. There's a whole wave of Indonesian indie bands doing amazing things. But we'll let people discover them on their own. (laughs)

The Production Process

Magz: Walk us through how you create. Is it collaborative? Does someone bring in a complete song?

Ravi: Usually someone has an idea—a melody, a lyric, a guitar riff. Then we jam on it together, see where it goes. Very organic.

Giri: "Bunga Maaf" started with Ravi's personal story. He brought the emotional core, and we built the music around that narrative. The production aimed to keep it simple and intimate.

Ojan: We're not trying to make everything sound polished and perfect. A little rawness keeps it human.

Magz: There's definitely a lo-fi quality to your recordings that feels intentional. Very bedroom Beatles.

Ravi: Exactly! The Beatles' early stuff wasn't perfectly produced. It was just great songs, great performances. That's what matters.

Navigating Viral Success

Magz: Viral hits can be double-edged swords. Suddenly everyone knows one song, but will they stick around? How are you thinking about sustainability?

Giri: It's definitely something we discuss. You don't want to be a one-hit wonder. But at the same time, we're not going to compromise what we do to chase another viral moment.

Ojan: We're focused on making a great album, playing great shows, building a real career. If another song goes viral, awesome. If not, we're still making music we believe in.

Ravi: The Beatles had hit singles, but people remember them for complete albums, for evolution, for consistency. That's the model.

The Family Legacy

Magz: Coming back to your grandfather—does he know about the band's success?

Ravi: (pauses) That's complicated. His health isn't great, and I'm not sure how much he understands about streaming numbers or charts. But the family knows, and they're proud.

Giri: Naming the band after him was about honoring family. Even if he can't fully grasp what's happening, the intention was always to carry that name with pride.

Magz: That's beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Very on-brand for rock and roll.

Future Plans: Tours, Albums, and Dreams

Magz: So what's next? Any chance of touring outside Indonesia?

Giri: Hopefully we can tour Asia eventually, but—

Ravi: It's still a long way off. Still a very long way.

Giri: But we are cooking up new stuff. New songs, maybe an album.

Ojan: You can check everything on our social media—Instagram, TikTok, Facebook. Just search The Lantis. T-H-E L-A-N-T-I-S.

Magz: Dream venues or cities to play?

Ravi: Tokyo, obviously. Seoul. Maybe Singapore. And eventually, we'd love to play the UK or US, see how our Beatles worship translates to Western audiences.

Giri: Glastonbury would be insane. (laughs) But let's start smaller. Maybe a good venue in Bangkok first.

Ojan: Wherever there are people who want to hear live music, we'll go.

The Bigger Picture

Magz: You're proving that rock isn't dead, that regional scenes matter, that authenticity still resonates. What do you want listeners to take away from your music?

Giri: Just... feel something. That's it. If our songs make you feel something—happiness, sadness, nostalgia—then we've done our job.

Ravi: And don't be afraid to be vulnerable. My most personal song became our biggest hit. There's power in honesty.

Ojan: Also, learn Indonesian. (laughs) No, but seriously, appreciate music from all over the world. Don't let language or geography limit what you listen to.

The Lantis Effect

Magz: Last question—if The Lantis inspires other bands in Southeast Asia or other "non-traditional" markets to pursue international success, what advice would you give them?

Giri: Stay true to yourself. Don't try to sound American or British or Korean. Your unique perspective is your strength.

Ravi: Use the tools available. You don't need a major label anymore. Record in your bedroom, release on streaming platforms, build your audience directly.

Ojan: Be patient. Overnight success usually takes years. We've been at this for a while before "Bunga Maaf" hit.

Giri: And love what you do. If you don't love it, the audience won't either.

Conclusion: Rock's Global Renaissance

As our conversation winds down, what strikes me most about The Lantis isn't just their musical talent or viral success—it's their groundedness. In an industry obsessed with metrics and algorithms, they're focused on songs, emotions, and family legacy.

They're not trying to be the next Beatles (though the influence is clear). They're trying to be the first Lantis. And in doing so, they're part of a global shift—rock and roll being reclaimed by artists from every corner of the world, each bringing their own cultural perspective to a supposedly "Western" genre.

"Bunga Maaf" isn't just a song about personal regret. It's a statement: Indonesian indie rock can compete with anything coming out of Seoul, London, or Los Angeles. Good songs transcend borders. Authentic emotions translate across languages.

The Lantis is proof that in 2024, you don't need to be from Liverpool or Los Angeles to create music that matters. You just need a grandfather with a good name, some Beatles records, and the courage to be honest.

The question isn't whether rock is dead. The question is: are you paying attention to where it's being reborn?

Follow The Lantis:

• Instagram: @thelantis
• TikTok: @thelantis
• Facebook: The Lantis
• Streaming: Available on all platforms

Listen to "Bunga Maaf" and discover why this Jakarta trio is making waves across Asia and beyond.

SplitFire Magz celebrates music from every corner of the globe. Have a band or artist we should feature? Contact us at magz@splitfire.ai

Special thanks to Joey Chou and AsiaPop40 for introducing us to The Lantis.