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Known as "Antrabez" in Indonesian, the band was formed behind
the bars of Kerobokan Prison in July, bringing together six men
and two women serving sentences of three months to four years
for drugs.
"People out there can say that we're the garbage of society,"
said the band's founding member and guitarist Oktav Sicilia, 35,
who is serving three years for marijuana possession.
"But sometimes, garbage is useful - when we recycle garbage,
sometimes we create a better product."
The prison's rehabilitation program, mandated under Indonesian
law for people caught with small quantities of drugs, provides
the band with their instruments.
Authorities hope their success will showcase the benefits of
such programs in a country with strict penalties for
drug-related crimes, including the death penalty.
Finding time to practice as inmates in a mixed gender group is
difficult, Sicilia said, with the band sometimes performing
without all members.
During a concert at the jail on Saturday, the band performed for
fellow inmates, prison guards and media without their bassist.
But despite the struggles, the band continues to push forward,
looking to raise enough funds to release their album “Time To
Change".
They recently released two music videos, one titled "Be Grateful
For Your Experiences" featuring a black and white montage of
prison life.
The video's director, Erick Est, said he was contacted by the
head of Kerobokan Prison, Slamet Prihantara, to help the group.
"When I first studied their songs, they were really nice, very
touching and all about their real stories," he said.
(Writing by Yiming Woo; Editing by Natasha Howitt)
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