An angkot horn might not be the first sound that comes to mind when you think of global pop music. But for Indonesian girl group no na, it’s one of the many ways they’re bringing a piece of home into their music.
Baila, Shaz, Esther, and Christy have spent years training, experimenting with different sounds, and developing their identity as a group. Their debut album, island girl, blends contemporary pop with Indonesian musical influences, including gamelan and ceng-ceng, while exploring themes of friendship, confidence, and growing up.
In an exclusive interview, the 88rising group reflects on the making of island girl, their growth since debuting onstage at Head in the Clouds LA in 2025, and what they hope international audiences discover about Indonesia through their music.
The four members also get personal, revealing which songs mean the most to them and telling us which Indonesian foods best represent their personalities, from es campur and klepon to martabak and gado-gado.
(Editor’s note: This interview was conducted via email. Responses without an identified individual speaker are attributed to no na collectively. Responses from individual members are attributed by name.)
The four of you spent years training, experimenting with different sounds and eventually recording island girl in Los Angeles. What did the process of making your debut album look like, and how did the record evolve from the first sessions to the finished project?
Making island girl was a journey of discovering our sound and identity as a group. We experimented with different genres, learned from each other, and gradually became more confident in what we wanted to create. This album really reflects our growth, as artists and as four girls finding their place together.
Before becoming no na, each of you already had your own journey and identity. What is one thing from your old self that you never want to lose, even as no na continues to grow?
We never want to lose our individuality. We all came into no na with different personalities, experiences, and dreams, and that’s what makes us special as a group. Growing together doesn’t mean we have to become the same person.
You’ve used ceng-ceng, gamelan and even an angkot horn in your music. What’s one Indonesian sound, tradition or everyday detail you haven’t used yet but would love to build a song around?
Indonesia has many unique sounds that we haven’t explored yet. We’d love to experiment with more traditional instruments and regional sounds from different islands. There’s so much musical inspiration back home, and we’re excited to keep discovering new ways to bring that into our music.
The album explores confidence, friendship, and coming of age. Which song feels the most personal to each of you?
Baila – nick of time because it reminds me of how much I love and appreciate my friends. It’s a song that ncelebrates friendship, which means a lot to me.
Shaz – work because it’s such an uplifting and empowering song. I love how it encourages people, especially women, to be the best versions of themselves. Knowing that our music can have that kind of positive impact makes it even more meaningful to me.
Esther – Smooth because the lyrics resonate with the phase of life I’m in right now. It feels very personal to what I’m currently experiencing.
Christy – nick of time, it was one of the earliest songs we recorded, back when we were still figuring everything out together. Looking at how far we’ve come, the song reminds me of our friendship, our growth, and the confidence we’ve built along the way.
If each of you had to describe yourself as an Indonesian food, what food would you choose and why?
Baila – Es Campur. Sweet, a little chaotic, and a mix of everything. That’s pretty much me!
Shaz – Kue Klepon. It might look bold on the outside, but once you bite into it, there’s a burst of sweetness. People often think I’m intimidating at first, especially when I’m on stage, but once you get to know me, I’m actually really playful.
Esther – Martabak. It’s full of different flavors, just like my life. Plus, I can’t even grate cheese properly, so I think that’s pretty funny.
Christy – Gado-gado. I think I’d be a mix of a little bit of everything! I have so many different sides to my personality, so it’s hard to pick just one.
You’re 88rising’s first global girl group, which comes with both opportunity and expectations. What have you learned from being part of that ecosystem, and what have you wanted to define differently for yourselves?
Being part of 88rising has shown us that music can connect people across cultures and borders. We’ve learned so much from being surrounded by incredible Asian artists, while also finding our own voice. We want no na to represent a new generation of Indonesian artists who are proud of where they come from while making music that anyone can connect with.
You made your live debut at Head In The Clouds LA in 2025. When you look at the group that walked onto that stage versus no na today, what feels most different?
Definitely our confidence! Head In The Clouds was such a huge moment for us, and we were still figuring out what it meant to perform together on a stage that big. Since then, we’ve grown so much closer, become more comfortable performing, and learned to enjoy every moment on stage.
When people outside Indonesia discover no na, what’s one thing about Indonesia you hope they understand better because of your music?
We want people to see how diverse and creative Indonesia is. There’s so much more to our country than what people might already know, and we hope our music encourages people to explore that. We’re proud to be Indonesian, and we want to show that our culture and identity can exist in global pop music.
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