In the breeze wind of evening at Canggu, we spot a petite place named “Warung Nasgero” there Gerry or mostly known as Gero welcoming us with his casual Balinese style. Getting into the shop, we can smell all the ingredients and the sound of frying pan blending together compose some sort of sound. As Gero busily chopping and mixing, there he show us some sort of cooking performance. It doesn’t take long for one portion of nasi goreng sirloin serve in front of us. The perfect color of nasi goreng and smell off seasoning, giving off warmth ambience on the cold days.
How did your journey begin, where did you learn music and eventually become a DJ?
My background is actually from flight academy, I should’ve become a pilot at that time but then I got cancer. On that time, I tried to play DJ and thought it was fun! So, I decided to played DJ and just want to have fun in my life. I got cancer and I didn’t become a pilot, DJ was one thing that helped me at that time. Then around 2015 or 2016, I played together with my friends, and we end up arranged a party. I take it seriously, because it’s so much fun and I was asked by Dea and Dan Mitchell to collaborate with Potato Head. In Potato Head, there is one store named Studio Estetika. So, I started there as the employee, DJ, also bartender. So I moved to Bali in 2017. After 2 years working, in 2019 I got chance to went to Europe. Europe is like a place famous for DJ, so I really want to look how’s the DJ industry work. I met with a lot of people and also did networking there. Went back to Indonesia, then I got a chance to manage performer for Potato Head.
I think having fun really help you to get better. Are you totally recovered now?
Fully! I got cancer, I think it's around 2 years and now I have recovered
When you start playing DJ what kind of music do you play?
Basically I’m playing the same music from beginning until now, it’s disco. My friend Dea is the one who kind of inspired me. I used to listen to music a lot but I’ve never seen anyone who playing this kind of music and Dea was the one who show me and like yeah you can play this kind of music.
Is there any background story of why do you listening and playing to disco?
When I was a kid, my mom used to drives me everywhere and she always listen to disco. That’s why I listening to disco since I was a kid until now.
Have you ever feel to explore any kind of music other than disco?
Yeah, I think we always need to find another new music. I can’t say I just play disco, I do play a lot of kinds of style, like techno, progressive or house but all the music I choose has similar sound. So, it’s like how I choose the music and modify it into my style.
Being a DJ isn’t an easy work, is there any hardship you’ve been encounter before and how do you handle it?
If we say it’s a difficult work, I think it’s really not. You could enjoy and have fun from it. But, if we talk about health, the lifestyle isn’t healthy that what I’ll say. So it’s like how to balancing between night life and everyday life. Because when we are living the night life it’s possible something like drinking, drunk, not getting enough sleep happen. And that’s affect our life.
Is there any difference when you playing DJ for friends and to get paid?
So basically, I treat DJ always the same. It’s not like I am having fun, but I need to make everyone having fun so that’s the goal. Even if it’s paid or not, I always deliver the same cause I am treating it like I am playing for everyone and I want them to have fun to celebrate their life.
So when you are playing DJ, you quite pay attention to the audience?
Yes, I want everyone in front of me to enjoy my performance. I don’t want the music to be too serious. The important thing is I play for them, not only for myself. I don’t want to be egoistic.
Previously, you mention that you’ve been to Europe, did you get new insight or any difference between playing DJ in Bali and Europe?
When I went to Europe, mostly I learn more about the DJ industry. It’s like I do more networking in there and I met a lot new DJ’s friends in that time. I don’t know it’s a fate or anything, I never expect I will invite them to perform in Indonesia afterwards, like Jakarta and Bali, mainly in Zodiac or Potato Head. It’s such a coincidence, after I went back from Europe, I got a job here in Bali and that’s how it happened.
What do you usually do before performing?
Hmmm, none... hahaha.. usually If it’s a big event, I won’t talk to anyone. Because I feel nervous, I need to have some time alone.
Beforehand, you used to work at Studio Estetika, how do you select the performance in there?
Currently, Studio Estetika is already closed. So right now I am handling performance for Klymax and Potato Head. There are some aspects in choosing the performer, usually it depends on trend and the music.
When's the most memorable performance for you?
When I played all night long in Klymax! It was super fun! 6 hours performance from 10 pm until 4 am and everyone stay all night. That one, like how to say it.... memorable! I can see all my close friends who already know my up and down in Bali, they all came.
I see, being a DJ also takes a lot of time. How do you manage your time between performing and being an entrepreneur?
It’s hard to do it before, because of my full time job... Now, I already resign and being a consultant for Klymax and Potato Head, so no need for me to come to office every day. Now, I can focus more on nasgero and doing some performing as a freelance DJ.
Do you have any idea of what kind of DJ you want to be?
Hmm, none. I just want to playing DJ for fun.
How did playing DJ influence yourself?
I am a socialize person, I could say all the people I know now are because of DJ. Beside, I also have nasgero and if there are any festivals happen and I am performing, there's a chance to open a booth or pop up store of nasgero. One of them is when i was performing in Stockholm, my friends who have a restaurant told me to open a pop up store of nasgero in there. Other one is when I went to Japan last February, and did a pop up store in there. It really affected me, as the result, many people have offered nasgero to open pop up store and that’s also good for branding.
Do you have any specific country where you want to play as DJ?
I don’t have any specific country I want to visit as a DJ. Because of nasgero going stronger, it became my main core. Now, I treat DJ as hobby for having fun and maybe I don’t want the gig to be too big and if I don’t like the brand I could refuse it. I prefer playing DJ for people I value. So, if I perform in every country, I want to make a little family there.
Do you have any advice for young people who want to play DJ?
You need to know your music. Like, you need to have your own taste, because in my opinion technically playing DJ isn’t difficult to do. But the point is how do you knowledge your music and emotion . From there, you can understand what playing DJ is like.
Next, I have some question for Nasgero. Is it true Nasgero open on pandemic around 2020? What was your reason to open Nasgero?
It started in 2020, when I already work for 5 months but then on March the pandemic happened and I decided to go back to Jakarta. I thought it will just pass for 2 or 3 months, and I stayed at home, doing as many activities as I can. After 4 months, I decided to get a dog and thought to be a dog trainer, hahaha... But, soon after we can find a lot people doing transaction online, for food, drinks, and other things. That’s when the idea to sell some food came up.
Originally nasgero is a food my mom usually made for when my friends came to our home. That way, we try to develop the menu and soon after I called Bagus, one of my partner and asked him if he want to came to Jakarta so we could start our culinary business. In the beginning, we just doing pre order once a week through whatsapp and shockingly it’s quite selling. We got 100 portion of order. Next, on the 3rd week we tried to increase the amount of pre order into two or three times a week. From there, I think this business is good enough to be developed, and then I choose to take it seriously.
I see, so at that time you did the pre-order continuously?
We do open every day, and the system is like the customer oder on that day and pick up immediately. It’s been working for 3 weeks, then we try to utilize Gojek and Grab. At that time, only three of us working for Nasgero, Bagus, me and one of my household assistant. Until 4 or 5 months later, we got tired and try to looked for employee. Eventually, one of my staff who’s working with us in Jakarta, his name is Sardi has also moved to Bali and working here in Nasgero Bali. After one year, we decided to open one of our store in Menteng. Beforehand, we just maximize my house as a place to running the business. Next we open another store in Adityawarman near Zodiac resto, and then Bintaro. Our 5th store, now is in Bali, the first Nasgero store outside Jakarta.
Wahhh, that’s amazing! So, is the first store of nasgero which is in your house still operating?
Yeah, it’s! Now,the garage already turn into kitchen. Surprisingly, the sales in my house are higher than another Nasgero shop, hahahaha....
I saw the Nasgero Logo, and it’s so unique! How did you get the idea to use your face on it?
Hahahaha..... I have 2 friends whose good in design, Michael Killian and Krishna Sudarma. I told them I wanna make Logo for Nasgero. I gave them some references and I requested to have my face on it, so it will look like a legendary restaurant. Actually, both of them made a really good design, It’s funny but Michael Killian got the sense of humor I want to convey.
Any difference between nasgero and other nasi goreng?
I will say the rice, of course! We use Baspati rice. Usually, you can find nasi goreng combine with chicken meat or lamb. However for nasgero, we use beef in our menu. It’s rare to find nasi goreng mix with beef.
I Saw it in the kitchen earlier, the rice is already mixed with seasoning right?
Yes, we sometime saw some of the merchant will cook the rice and seasoning differently. You first put the wet seasoning, then rice, and last is dry seasoning. But for nasgero, we mixed the rice with seasoning and let it marinate. It makes the seasoning seep into the rice well and you don’t have to cook them for too long. The other reason, because all the ingredient we use are already calculated so there will be no change in taste. We keep the consistency!
Apart from Bali, do you have a dream country where you want to open nasgero?
Amsterdam!
Why Amsterdam?
If we look into the history, Holland people are still familiar with Indonesia because we are their former colony. There are also some people who are mixed Indonesian and Holland. So, if I open nasgero in there, it’s not something new for them. Let’s say if I would open nasgero in France, maybe not much people will recognize it. But, it’s different case for Holland, it’s easier for them to recall and accept it.
How long have you been in Bali? And do you feel any differences?
I came here in 2017 and now 2024, so it’s already 7 years. It’s clearly different; I really liked Bali during the pandemic, now it's too crowded everywhere.
Anything fun to do in Bali after working?
I rarely going out, hahahaha..... Well, sometimes walking around the beach near potato head is good.
Any recommendation for food or place in Bali from you?
If you love to party, you need come to Klymaxx! And for food, one of my favorite babi guling is Babi Guling Dobil in Nusa Dua, I will recommend that!
Written by Sekar Pradnyadari
Photo by Miyu Fukuda