Bondan Rastika have been into music stuffs since junior high school. But back then, being a musician or having a career in musical industry was just one of his dreams. He used to record himself singing and playing guitar over songs from popular bands, like Oasis, Blur, Foo Fighters, and so on. He recorded it using a tape recorder that has a built-in mic on it. And it was pretty messy. Then He started to write his own song back at senior high school. He record them and play it over and over, trying to simulate and act like he was in a band. At college, he tried to record his songs using a desktop computer, and even now, using his notebook.

On January 2008, Bondan met IGN Adhitya Utama while he was on a trip to Bali. Adit then introduced Bondan to Rizki HT, and Azmie Kasmy. Adit was the drummer of WRD at that time, and Rizki was the bass player. It was Azmie Kasmy who offered Bondan to re-record his songs at WRD Studio. Together with Rizki, Azmie, and another bass player, Bagus "Bugs" Al-Falah, Bondan re-record 14 songs, and then after undergoing a selection process, he decided to release an EP consist of only 6 tracks. Having difficulties releasing it to the market, on 2009, he finally decided to make the EP download-able, for free.

He also uploaded his songs to an online music game called JamLegend, and surprisingly, the number one single called "Not In Love" made a big hit. The listeners came from all around Indonesia, and even all around the world, such as Phillipines, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and also from New York, USA. This has made him grow more optimism for his musical career.

After the EP was released, Bondan played in some gigs such as Sidewalk Show at Kedai, Champions League Finals and My First Exhibition at Teras Coffee. At that time, he played alone. Then he was invited to play on Sounds of Indonesia at Alun Alun Indonesia, where he asked Andang Sentanu (guitar), Ali Fajar (bass), and Paratmo Anindito (drums) to play with him. This was the only time he performed with a full band set.

Not so long after that, Bondan met Barakalla Robyn and Dado Adi. Bara was a cajonero (cajon player), and Dado was a bass player. They form an acoustic set together and played on many gigs such as Friday Showcase at Pejaten Village, Panasonic Exhibition at Mal Kelapa Gading, Dapur Fiesta and Dapur in Flames at Fakultas Psikologi UI, Komnite UI Technoture at The Green, British Rock Night, Campus Jamming Night at De Hooi, Media Gathering at Brew House Senayan City, and Stoned CollegeTour 2010 (Jakarta gig). Later, the hit single Not In Love become frequently requested on Stoned College Web Radio, and is also nominated for Best Newcomer Award on ICEMA (Indonesia Cutting Edge Music Award) 2010, along with Tribute To Delight, Sunset Groove, and the other nominees.

Bondan Rastika also shared some gig and played on the same stage with other great musicians and bands, such as The Ellise, Delay Monday, Anda and The Joints, Dzeek, Sketsa, The Trees And The Wild, Andre Harihandoyo & Sonic People, Tribute To Delight, The Dying Sirens, Luky Annash, Sunset Groove, KarnaTra, Post Blue, Dondon Harrisson, Sunday Sundae, Sunday At Twelve, Lenny The Police, and many more. You can follow his twitter account @bbondann to get to know him in a more personal way, or @bondanrastika for gig info and music updates only.

In present times, Bondan Rastika with Bara & Dado usually plays at Dewi Lounge, Kemang every Sunday night, 9-11 PM. He also hangs out at Loca Coffee Plus, Kemang every Wednesday, and usually filling in for Andre Harihandoyo & Sonic People when they are on their break session, around 10 or 10:30PM. His acoustic playing style is very much influenced mostly by John Mayer and Jason Mraz, as he also plays a lot of their songs. On mid 2010, Bondan finally decided to continue pursuing his musical career under Warehouse Music Management. With Andre Harihandoyo as the Executive Producer, he is now getting ready to work on his 1st Album, titled "Welcome To The Real World".

"If it weren't for that trip to bali on january 2008, I would have never made it "here". Thanks guys, I owe you so much. I'd spend a lifetime, paying it back. And John, thanks for being such a great inspiration and role model." - Bondan Rastika

Bondhan Rastika Tangguh Puruhita

 

Jakarta, February 17th 1984

 

Bondan Rastika with Bara & Dado

 

bondan - solo EP album, FREE Download, released February 17th, 2009

 

Pop, Jazz, Acoustic

 

Mainly guitar and piano (keyboard), and also drums & percussion.

 

Takamine Acoustic Electric

Squier Stratocaster Standard Series

Ibanez GRG 270

Samick Acoustic Nylon

 

John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Jason Mraz, Oasis, Duncan Sheik, Sheila on 7, Dewa 19, Slank

 

Radiohead - High And Dry

John Mayer - No Such Thing

Oasis - Champagne Supernova

Andre Hehanusa - Karena Kutahu Engkau Begitu

The Trees and The Wild - Our Roots

Andre Harihandoyo and Sonic People - The Breakup

Bondan Rastika - Not In Love

 

1994 (10 years old) after listening to Oasis, Blur, and Dewa 19

 

Freelance Photographer, Video Director/Editor, Web & Graphic Designer

 

One of my friends once said that my songs actually sounds better than John Mayer’s. and i just said “no freakin’ way.”

 

On one of my past performances, i had to improvise a lot when my guitar suddenly went off-tune

 

Ran out of cigarettes, hahaha..