The Struggle of an Indie Band Without a Label: The Story of HOUSEOFJOY

 

The Struggle of an Indie Band Without a Label: The Story of HOUSEOFJOY

Many assume that being in a band is all about glamour: bright lights, loud music, cheering crowds, and an easy life. But our journey began quite the opposite.

HOUSEOFJOY was born in a cramped, sweltering room our vocalist Dymaz Redric’s bedroom. It wasn't a studio, not even close. Yet, that's where all our songs came to life from scratch.

Imagine this: drums, sound monitors, amplifiers, guitars, microphones, cables, hard cases, even stage equipment all crammed into that tiny room. We practiced and recorded there. Preparing for gigs meant hauling equipment from Dymaz's house; his place had everything we needed. While the gear wasn't top-of-the-line, it was sufficient for rehearsals and recordings. We improvised everything—from recording techniques to emergency stage setups. Forgot a guitar strap? Iyan's belt became the substitute. Rizky's snare drum got wet? We dried it with a defogger. Our band vehicle? Dymaz's old 1993 sedan, often breaking down but still our reliable ride.

A bed in Dymaz's room? None. He slept on a thin rug layered with worn-out cloth, using two old pillows he folded and set aside each morning to make space for work.

Dymaz taught himself everything: recording, mixing, mastering all self-taught. He watched videos, read forums, and experimented until dawn. Then he'd head to his retail job to earn a living for essentials like food, cigarettes, and drinks. After work, he'd return straight to the "studio." This cycle repeated endlessly.

Sometimes the sound was off; sometimes it failed. But we never stopped because we knew no one else would do this for us.

Many of HOUSEOFJOY's songs originated from Dymaz's ideas and production. But afterward, we all collaborated, building the sound together. Dymaz is like a "madman" in music a relentless warrior without compromise. Yet, together, we transformed that madness into reality.

Dymaz is somewhat of a "world ghost" with incredible digital connections foreign friends, international relations, fellow underground musicians, editors you name it. It's puzzling how he knows so many, especially considering he lives in a small town with limited surroundings. His ambition is extraordinary and unwavering. Rizky and Iyan have always been his support system.

Iyan is equally remarkable, with numerous musician connections, including international ones like Colombia's "Twenty Eight," who eventually collaborated with HOUSEOFJOY on the album Don't Follow the Trend: Deluxe Edition. 

B.I.G Iyan has been a partner since day one.

He’s not just rapper he’s the one who keeps everything grounded.
When Dymaz gets lost in his wild experiments and intense ambition,
Iyan shows up with calm, grounding energy:
organizing things, hyping us up, helping with production, pushing promotions,
and most importantly  he believes.
Iyan’s trust in Dymaz and in this whole project has never wavered.
And that’s what keeps this whole thing alive.

Rizky Tampani, our drummer, now lives in Bali to make a living.
But distance doesn’t stop him.
His passion for music burns strong his soul is locked into it,
just like the beats he plays that hold our music together.
He’s not just into drumming  his mind is wild,
his curiosity goes far beyond rhythm.
But in this band, he’s the groove master.
His job is to lock everything in place and tie it all into one solid unit.

We're not label kids. No industry connections. No promotional budget. No management. Just one thing: a crazy drive to make real music. For us, music isn't a product but an escape and honest expression. We experiment, seeking sounds that make people feel something raw and alive.

Kamartengahrecords is our label not a company, not an institution, just a name we carry as a small flag.

In 2025, we officially partnered with Future Asian Music (FAM), a digital distributor led by passionate individuals in the Asian music industry. Some call them "88rising 2.0," and rumors say Sean Miyashiro is starting to notice this wave. We don't know what our future holds, but we're sure of one thing: we're walking the path we've chosen ourselves, not one prepared by others.

Our journey isn't easy. We just want to be heard as we are. We've never gone viral. We don't ride trends. We don't seek praise for being 'idealistic.' From the start, our intention has been clear: Brings Asian rock music to the global level, Bring Asia's Culture, Special Identity (Indonesia) to the Global Eye, Perform All Over the World!

HOUSEOFJOY is the voice from the margins. For those without a place. For those often underestimated. For those who feel alone in the crowd. And this voice, we believe, will reach you slowly but surely.

Listen to our journey on:

Spotify Page
Youtube Page
Apple Music
Bandcamp

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We're not a podcast. We're not a church. We're not an old album. We are HOUSEOFJOY. A band. A voice. A rebellion.