SCYLLA is an Indonesian modern alternative-rock act, SCYLLA has continued developing its identity through recent releases including “Narcissistic,” “D.E.R.N.,” “Anxiety,” and their latest single “Reverti,” released in July 2026.
For this edition of City Stories, we sit down with SCYLLA to talk about their musical journey, the evolution of their sound, the stories behind their songs, and what it means to create music from Indonesia while reaching listeners beyond their local scene.
Get to know SCYLLA (ID) as they share their story, inspirations, creative process, and what lies ahead for the band.
SCYLLA began as an instrumental solo project before becoming a full band. What inspired the transition from a solo project into a four-piece, and how did the group come together?
Initially, Wiba tried to become a soloist, because his previous band was on hiatus, then he looked for new members via social media.
How would you describe SCYLLA’s identity and sound to someone discovering the band for the first time?
We describe our sound to make it easier for listeners to get into it.
Your music combines alternative rock with modern/djent elements and electronic textures. How did you develop this particular sound?
From an instrumental perspective, progressive chords are still relatively simple, so it’s easier to include all the elements, perhaps the difference is when we play in low tunes.
What does the name SCYLLA represent to the band, and why did you feel it was the right name for the project?
SCYLLA it’s a sea creature from Greek mythology from the story of Odyssey.From the story itself, we can deduce the reason for choosing the name SCYLLA.For us ,SCYLLA is represents the dark side and conflict within humanity. We want our music to be a space to express emotions that are sometimes difficult to express directly
How has having Keita’s vocals and Putap’s drumming changed the way SCYLLA writes and arranges songs compared with its earlier instrumental beginnings?
More colorful and has more stories.
Your songs often carry intense emotions. Where do you usually draw inspiration when writing about anger, anxiety, relationships, or personal struggles?
Our inspiration for writing songs, we prioritize personal experiences or existing experiences, so it’s really raw and pure experience.
“Narcissistic” explores the anger and loss of control that can come from a toxic relationship. What personal or emotional ideas did you want listeners to take away from the song?
Because this is an experience that almost everyone feels / without realizing it, we want them to be more open, and appreciate themselves more before we love others.
What was the songwriting and recording process like for “Narcissistic”, and did the final version turn out the way you originally imagined?
It’s get better. Actually, Wiba never imagined it would be sounds like that, because initially he only took the raw riff guide.
You have also released “D.E.R.N.” and “Anxiety.” How do these songs represent different sides or chapters of SCYLLA?
The song Anxiety is purely instrumental because it was Wiba’s initial project before Scylla became a band and is not related to D.E.R.N
“Anxiety” is a particularly powerful theme in today’s world. What does the song mean to each of you personally?
For us,Anxiety is a form from the sound that appears when the mind never be silent.Since this song is instrumental, we deliberately provide a definite definition,we want listeners to feel this song with their own version of “Anxiety”.
Your latest release, “Reverti,” marks another step in SCYLLA’s musical journey. What inspired the song, and what makes it different from your previous releases?
We were inspired after listening to a song that had a powerful beat, and coincidentally the vibes connected with Narcissistic & D.E.R.N , that’s why it’s become Trilogies of The journey to becoming human.
SCYLLA’s music balances heaviness with emotional vulnerability. How important is it for the band to make heavy music that still feels personal and relatable?
It is very important for us to make music that feels close to everyday’s life
What are some artists, bands, or musical influences that have shaped the way SCYLLA approaches songwriting and production?
Periphery,Polyphia,Issues and Novelist.
When creating a song, what usually comes first for SCYLLA—a guitar riff, rhythm, melody, lyrics, or a particular emotion?
guitar riff
How do the three of you handle creative differences when developing a song? Does the best idea usually win, or is there a lot of experimentation before reaching the final arrangement?
We do. We usually debate about musical transitions, vocal tones and lyrics before the song is finished.
For Keita, how do you approach performing SCYLLA’s emotionally intense songs vocally, especially when the lyrics deal with difficult or vulnerable subjects?
Usually I imagine it first, sometimes I have to replay the memories related to the song to connect with the emotions
For Putap and Wiba, what do you believe makes SCYLLA’s live performance different from listening to the band’s recordings?
We are sure that 80% of our songs will still sound the same as the ones on the recording because we will use a sequencer and soundcard, so that the soundcard will automatically produce music that resembles the recording.Because the soundcard already contain multi-track song instruments.
Looking ahead, what are SCYLLA’s biggest goals? Are you planning more singles, an EP or album, live shows, collaborations, or perhaps a Southeast Asian tour in the future?
Absolutely. We are preparing an album, and in the future we have a dream to be able to perform live in Southeast Asian and other countries
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