Usman and The Blackstones

Jakarta-based rock band Usman and The Blackstones was formed in early 2023 after Usman Hamid and Kelana Halim met at Mekel Music Studio.

Formerly called The Blackstones, which was formed by Usman and Denny Setiawan in 1994. Usman returned to music after 20 years of political-legal human rights work. They switched from punk rock to rock ‘n roll and are now exploring their own sound. Usman tries a new lineup with Kelana Halim, Dwi Yudha, Kis Winarko, Estu Pradhana and Rama Moektio.

The band mixes hard metal with political advocacy on freedom and social justice.

In March 2023, they released their first single “Sa Kong Sa”. The song described the 303 Consortium, a secretive gambling gang with high-ranking police personnel.

The Jakarta Post stated that Usman “takes a swipe at the string of abuse-of-power cases among state officials and law enforcement authorities that have plagued Indonesia.”

Two months later, they release an EP named "Terlepas" to honor Indonesia's 25th anniversary of democratic revolution. It includes four songs: "Deprived," "Olygarchy party," "Satu Per Satu," and "Kanjuruhan," dedicated to the 135 victims of tear gas shootings by police at a football match in Malang.

Four months later, the band and vocalist Once Mekel released “Munir” to honor the 19th anniversary of Indonesian human rights activist Munir Said Thalib's assassination from arsenic poisoning on a flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam on Sept. 2004.