Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine March 2015 | Page 90

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Explore | Interview

INTERVIEW
A multi-instrumentalist,
composer and arranger from
Tyrol, Austria, Hermann
Delago has experimented
with myriad genres of music.
But something about the
music of Batak culture has
captured his heart and
like no other sound.
The melodic lure of the nationally popular
traditional Batak song ‘Butet’ caught
Hermann Delago’s ear one night in Bali,
leading him to travel to Batak country and
explore the music and culture.
It was in Samosir, North Sumatra – the land
of the Bataks – where Delago connected with
the locals at the ubiquitous roadside lapo
tuak food stalls, where the members of the
community gather to eat, chat, drink and be
merry, enjoying simple but flavour-packed
local dishes and a type of palm liquor called
tuak. This is where Delago first experienced
Batak music in its native land.
Since his first trip to Samosir in 1997, Delago
has been captivated. Having experimented
with many different musical genres in the
past, Delago says he was inspired to promote
Batak music and culture, weaving its sounds
and soul into his own musical repertoire.
“For me, it felt like a calling. I followed my
heart and my love for Batak culture,” says the
57-year-old Austrian.
© Andree Widjanto