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Lumina Scarlet – Indonesia Underground Idol in Making?
Idols from Bandung in Action, Aiming to Debut in Japan – “Always with Our Fans”
A 5-member idol group from Bandung (West Jawa) is gradually becoming the talk of the town and beyond. The name is “Lumina Scarlet”, and in their stage show at May’s Ennichisai they attracted the spectators’ attention by covering Morning Musume’s Love Machine, among other songs. They are now focused on “realizing our dream, to debut in Japan”.”We are positive to be the biggest Japanese idol otakus in Indonesia. We really respect their (Japanese idols’) professional stance and feelings towards their fans.”
Carrying such a motto within their chests, Lumina Scarlet was started in January 2012 by gathering girls passionate about Japanese anime, fashion and cosplay.
The current members are the leader Tya (21), sub-leader Rizka (21), Litta (21), Hanifah (18) and the trainee Dinarti (16), 5 in all.
They perform dance covers of songs of idol groups famous in Japan such as “Momoiro Clover Z”, “AKB48” etc, and have been building their stage experience in occasions such as the Japan culture festival in an university close to Bandung and the Jakarta Japan Festival last September. Their sharp and powerful choreography put the crowd in a spell at Blok M during the Ennichisai.
Their road there wasn’t a descending slope though. When the group had just been formed, there were clashes of opinions concerning the group’s direction and song choices.Furthermore, as the members are 4 university students and 1 high school student, their busy school schedules made it difficult to arrange when to practice.
During all that, 2 years ago, they had their first event. The leader Tya remembers it as if it was yesterday. The feeling of rabid excitement at the fans’ cheering after they sang, the feeling of satisfaction that led her to decide that “I wanted to aim at becoming an idol group with these members”.
After seeing them perform at the Japan Culture Festival, event organizers were impressed and their participation to Japan-related events in the area increased. Loyal fans increased too, and now their fan club counts more than 300 members.
When going to Jakarta, they charter a bus and go together with their fans. The costs for the members’ transportation and costumes too are supported with any means available by fans, on a voluntary basis. “We are where we are thanks to our fans. We can only bow our heads to their passionate cheering” says Rizka with a big smile.
Lately, aiming at debuting in Japan in the future, they started studying in a Japanese Institute in Bandung City. “We do not belong to an office (with extensive resources), so to go to Japan we must not spare efforts even one day. We’re aiming at debuting in Japan from Bandung!” says Litta with a sparkle in her eyes.
With the Frustration of not Being Chosen as Motivation
Lumina Scarlet members have participated at the AKB48’s first overseas sister group “JKT48”’s audition; they were not chosen but some of them made it all the way to the final screening. Litta, about not being chosen, says with a smile that “I was really frustrated, I really wanted to join JKT48…but thanks to that I could meet these members”.In April this year, in occasion of the “Sakura Matsuri” held in Cikarang (West Jawa), they stood on the same stage as JKT48. They performed before JKT, but they could see directly in front of them the performance of the group they aspired to; Hanifah recounts that “We were happy to be able to perform on the same stage. We received a strong stimulus from them,” feeling ever more excited for their activities from now on.
Lingga (24), manager supporting Lumina Scarlet, says with fervor “I want to make them as a group that will surpass JKT48. I will give them all the assistance I can.”
Lumina Scarlet members performing at the Ennichisai
