QUEENS, NY. Metal rock band Suaka welcomed the New Year with the release of their latest single, “What’s Goin On?!”, marking a long-awaited collaboration with renowned Indonesian drummer, singer, and film actor Marcell Siahaan. The track officially dropped at 12:00 AM on New Year’s Day (New York Time), serving as both a celebration and a strong statement from the band.
“It had been a long time coming,” Suaka founder Rully ‘Roots’ Rochmat shared. “This song wouldn’t have happened without the incredible support of David Kramer, Betto Andrade, and Marcell. Everyone brought something special to the track.”
Formed in 2003, Suaka made its early mark on the New York metal scene, with its first live show at the legendary CBGB in 2004. The band’s original lineup featured Rully Rochmat (guitar, vocals, percussion), Patrick “Qq” Salomo (bass), Marcell Ferdinand Ardi Ardianto (drums), with Marcell Siahaan part of the band’s early creative circle.
“What’s Goin On?!” became Suaka’s second single and was released as a standalone, digital track, with no vinyl edition planned for now. The then-current formation included David Kramer (Bloodfeast, Precious Blood) on bass and backing vocals, while Betto Andrade contributed a standout guest lead guitar performance. Marcell Siahaan appeared as a special guest drummer on the recording.
The song was written and produced in July 2025, through an international production process in multiple countries. Guitar, bass, and vocals were recorded at Betto Andrade’s home studio in New Jersey, while drum tracks were recorded remotely at Marcell Siahaan’s home studio in Jakarta, Indonesia. The project was completed via cross-border digital file sharing, with mixing and mastering handled by Betto Andrade. The final master was completed in November 2025, and finally it was distibuted digitaly from New York.
Lyrically, “What’s Goin On?!” addressed the subject of war, told from the perspective of those who are affected by ongoing conflict. The message was aimed at younger generations who longed to live in peace while pursuing their dreams and aspirations.
At the time of the release, Suaka’s lineup consisted of: Rully ‘Roots’ Rochmat (Guitar & Vocals), David Kramer (Bass & Backing Vocals) and Igor Icaza (Drummer, who is an Ecuadorian musician with a background in death metal band Ente and rock band Sal y Mileto, based between New Jersey and Ecuador).
Marcell Siahaan’s music involvement brought a personal meaning for Rully. “Marcell is the younger brother of my close friend Vincentius Bonavena, whom I’ve known since junior high school in Bandung in the late ’80s, before I moved to New York,” Rully explained on the the interview with NY Reader. “This was a project we talked about for years but never managed to finish until now. Meanwhile Suaka’s goal remained simple, to continue creating music and entertain metal fans worldwide, especially our New York fans".
“What’s Goin On?!” became available on major digital platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music. Readers were encouraged to follow Suaka on Instagram and Facebook, with live performances planned in the near future.
Interviewed and written by Amanda Tamara
