Weird Genius, an Indonesian music group, released a song titled “Lathi” in early 2020. In this song, Weird Genius, consisting of Gerald Liu, Reza Oktovian, and Eka Gustiwana, created Lathi by collaborating with a singer named Sara Fajira.
From Local Hit to Global Phenomenon
Released at the end of February 2020, Lathi gradually gained popularity. Spotify data indicates that its popularity began to rise throughout March and April 2020, specifically when the song was included in several popular local playlists such as Lantai Dansa and Top Hits Indonesia.
Lathi successfully led Weird Genius to break a Spotify record as the longest-reigning local song at the top of the Indonesia Top 50 chart. The song held the number one position on the Indonesia Top 50 for a total of six weeks, from May 10th to the end of June.
Its success wasn't limited to Indonesia; Lathi also managed to enter several charts in other countries, ranging from Singapore (number 1 on Singapore Viral 50 in June 2020), Malaysia (number 1 on Malaysia Viral 50 in May 2020), Hong Kong, to Taiwan.
The song even entered Spotify's Global Viral 50 chart and peaked at number 2. Ultimately, Lathi was included in one of Spotify's global playlists, Teen Party, which has over 3 million followers worldwide.
The success of Lathi even spawned a trend on TikTok called #LathiChallenge, which became a phenomenon both in Indonesia and globally at the time. This challenge involved transforming an elegant appearance into a spooky one, accompanied by the song Lathi.
The success of Lathi also led Weird Genius to perform at various local and international events, including Viral Fest in Bangkok, the SHVR Festival in Jakarta, FanFest Indonesia on YouTube, Soundrenaline in Bali, and even performing live with Yellow Claw and The Chainsmokers in concerts.
Furthermore, thanks to the song Lathi, Weird Genius was featured on a videotron in a notably important area of New York City, USA, namely Times Square. The faces of the Weird Genius members graced a large billboard in Times Square, celebrating the achievement of Lathi reaching 100 million streams on digital platforms at that time. Now, as of April 18, 2025, the Lathi music video has reached 151 million streams.
What Lies Beneath the Song? The Philosophy of Lathi
The lyrics of the song Lathi illustrate how someone's words can reveal their character. Weird Genius directly incorporates the Javanese saying "Ajining diri ana ing lathi" (one's value lies in their speech) into the track. The song emphasizes that self-respect is tied to what one says. Words are presented as commitments that become obligations and reflect a person's image.
People will form opinions about us based on our verbal communication. The lyrics draw inspiration from the Javanese proverb "Ajining diri ana ing lathi, Ajining raga ana ing busono" (one's value lies in their speech, one's physical appearance lies in their attire).
Credit: Screenshot from the Lathi Music Video on YouTube
The song incorporates several aspects of Indonesian culture. Lathi includes the sounds of traditional instruments (gamelan) and Javanese phrases. The choreography features a puppet master (dalang), a leathered horse (kuda lumping), a traditional dance (tari gambyong), and shadow puppets (wayang kulit), all used as meaningful symbols of life.
The Javanese culture chosen for the song was effectively presented and integrated with modern music. The figure of the dalang suggests that life is like a play, with many characters influencing our experiences. Like puppets, we must confront life's possibilities. Lathi itself carries a profound meaning about the importance of keeping promises and using kind words in communication.
Reza Oktovian, one of the personnel of Weird Genius, stated after the success of Lathi, “I’m now more certain than ever that if you create music with your full heart it will go well, to a point that I’m confident that any kind of music can make an effect on the global stage, no matter who you are,” he said, as quoted on rollingstoneindia.com (July 3, 2020).
References:
- Anggraheni, D., Fuadhiyah, U., & Sutopo, B. (2022). When Traditional and Modern Culture Collide: Analysis of “Lathi” Song. Applied Linguistics, Linguistics, and Literature (ALLURE) Journal, 2(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.26877/allure.v2i1.10738
- Nasution, M. A., Azhari, M., Ramadhani, A., Sazali, H., & Dalimunthe, M. A. (2022). Representasi Bahasa dan Budaya dalam Music Video Lathi. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 6(2), 1. https://jptam.org/index.php/jptam/article/download/4719/3992/9005
- KompasTV. Lagu Lathi Mendunia, Weird Genius Terpampang di Times Square New York. https://www.kompas.tv/entertainment/93336/lagu-lathi-mendunia-weird-genius-terpampang-di-times-square-new-york
- Universal Music Group. Astralwerks Asia Announces Strategic Appointment and Signing of Weird Genius. https://www.universalmusic.com/astralwerks-asia-announces-strategic-appointment-and-signing-of-weird-genius/
- Rolling Stone India. Hear Rising Indonesian EDM Group Weird Genius’ Seismic New Song ‘Lathi’. https://rollingstoneindia.com/hear-indonesia-weird-genius-new-song-lathi/
- Liputan6. Weird Genius Tak Sangka Lathi Mendunia Hingga Terpampang di Times Square. https://www.liputan6.com/showbiz/read/4304811/weird-genius-tak-sangka-lathi-mendunia-hingga-terpampang-di-times-square
