White Chorus formed in 2019 when Emir Agung Mahendra (instrumentalist/producer) and Clara Friska Adinda (vocals), who connected through a mutual circle in Bandung’s creative scene, decided to explore their shared love for genres like lo-fi pop, shoegaze, and trip-hop. Emir, who was already active as a producer under the alias Analog Chorus, teamed up with Friska (a.k.a. White Skeleton), who brought both vocal skill and aesthetic clarity to the project.
They debuted with the Happysad EP in April 2019, capturing a lo-fi, emotionally honest vibe. Songs like “Stupid” and “Story of Teenage Love” established their early sound: vulnerable yet catchy, nostalgic yet fresh.
In 2021, they released FASTFOOD, their first full-length album. The project presented personal topics; love, heartbreak, uncertainty, wrapped in catchy pop hooks and easy-going beats. As Friska described in an interview, the album was designed to be consumed like "ice cream or French fries", simple but comforting. Yet beneath the pop packaging, the lyrics held weight, offering listeners a deeper emotional connection.
The album received positive feedback and later led to a nomination at the Anugerah Musik Indonesia 2022 for Best Electronica Act.
In 2022, the band started to push into more experimental sonic territory. Their single “This Feeling”—released in early 2023—leaned into UK Garage and Jersey Club influences while still carrying their trademark melancholy. Friska’s whispery vocals floated over clubby beats, signaling a darker and more mature sound direction, one critic notes. That same year, they joined fellow Microgram talents The Couch Club and BLEU HOUSE for the Couch In The White House project. The collaboration resulted in the release of the track “Throw It All” and a limited-edition merchandise line in partnership with 3.4.7.
That sound evolution culminated in LIMBO (2023), their second album. Thematically, LIMBO represented a place of in-betweenness (neither here nor there), mirroring the disorienting feelings of post-pandemic uncertainty. Take “Somerset" for example, where Friska sings “Things you said to me / Still on my head / I could never forget”, perfectly representing the theme of the release as remarked by Pophariini. NME featured Limbo as one of the 25 best Asian albums of 2023, remarking “The thrilling left-turns White Chorus take on LIMBO are testament to their supreme confidence in their abilities as musicians and curators.”.
Later that year, they were invited to perform at Joyland Fest 2023, an annual fest known for their vibrant fusion of global sounds, smart sustainability, creative programming, and inclusive atmosphere. During the festival, they shared the stage with legends of the Indonesian indie scene such as White Shoes & The Couples Company and The Brandals, marking a major milestone in their career.
In 2024, White Chorus released a new EP titled do you guys wanna listen to some electro‑pop music?, their first predominantly Indonesian-language project. It featured collaborations with artists like Dzulfahmi on “Minggu” and Nissi Wardoyo on “Bertanya-tanya”. Musically, the EP expanded their range with elements of saxophone, live instrumentation, and even influences from The Cure’s guitar style.
To coincide with the EP, they launched a visual collaboration with three creative collectives: Studio Moral, inFUTURA, and NOUV, presented during their set at We The Fest 2024. This marked their first foray into multidisciplinary territory, fusing music, fashion, and stage design into a unified artistic statement.
In 2025, White Chorus is taking their ELECTRO-POP tour across Indonesia and Malaysia, building anticipation for their upcoming EP release.
