Skies Are Red performing at Merdekarya. – Photo by MARINA SUWENDY/The Star
Round the corner from busy Jalan Gasing, in a neighbourhood known for its banana leaf rice eateries, lies a discreet musical gem in the heart of Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Curtained doors at the top of the stairs lead to a rustic haven for independent artistes and busy city dwellers seeking respite from Top 40 hits.
Merdekarya’s charm is a brave nod towards free-spirited independence, resilience and originality.
During the movement control order period, some businesses were hit hard with restrictions to their operations.
Running as a bar providing live music meant that Merdekarya had to shut down most of its operations during that time.
However, they took it in their stride and used it as an opportunity to give their once bare-boned venue a full interior decor upgrade that now illuminates both the scene and talent on stage.
#DiscoverGrassRootsMusic placards adorn the walls and hang from the ceilings at Merdekarya.
Gone is the need to hide behind the veil of darkness. Instead, warmly lit and proudly on display are new custom-built booths that are packed with a mixed crowd of couples and groups of friends ready to take in the night’s musical offerings.
A glance at the menus show why it’s no surprise the newly reopened Merdekarya has managed to pull in a good mix of patrons.
As explained by owner Brian Gomez, during the live music bar hiatus, they worked hard on sustaining operations through an expansion in dining options.
As part of this, they made it a point to have two separate kitchens to cater to the general public and those seeking pork-free options.
Aside from the latter, Merdekarya is also one of the few bars that offer vegan options that extend past salads and deep-fried mushrooms.
In fact, on the menu are five vegan burger choices.
Catering to their customers’ wants comes across in their drinks and entertainment too.
Merdekarya offers a distinct menu of original drinks and cocktail concoctions completely unique to the bar, which have amassed a strong following of regulars in the know.
A best-kept open secret of a truly Malaysian watering hole, the allure of the bar’s one-of-a-kind drinks is rivalled only by the pull of the original music on offer.
Merdekarya has established itself as a go-to place for musicians to showcase their talents and for music fans to experience music beyond the standard radio plays or Spotify playlists.
Bars that offer live music entertainment are not a rarity in Malaysia.
Quite a number have a resident band on weekends, or offer showcase nights by seasoned guest performers.
Some even offer aspiring artistes the occasional chance to perform through bookings.
Merdekarya however has taken it a step further by being a bar that’s driven solely by grassroots music.
All music performed at the venue and even piped through on the sound system are fully original pieces.
Placards on the walls encourage visitors to ask for the artiste’s info and this is the reason it’s garnered such a well-respected reputation in the local music and nightlife industry.
Merdekarya hosts open mic nights at least twice a week for solo artistes to showcase their music and once a week for bands, while ensuring all performers adhere strictly to the rule that cover music is not welcomed.
On the night of my visit, Skies Are Red performed and Danielle’s powerful sultry vocals filled the room comfortably as she belted out one original piece after another, showing audiences why a bar like Merdekarya is needed and should be on the go-to list of music lovers.
Merdekarya’s membership numbers (membership benefits include a waiver on entrance cover charge) have been growing steadily since its reopening and the artistic appeal of grassroots music is clearly a working formula for this intimate bar. Merdekarya, No.352, First Floor, Jalan 5/57, Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm to 1am.
