We recently connected with Dadi Setiadi and have shared our conversation below.

Dadi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My Musical Journey: From First Strum to Experimental Soundscapes:
It all began in elementary school. I felt a powerful pull toward music, and since the guitar was the most affordable and popular instrument where I grew up, it became my first gateway. Over time, music evolved into my primary medium for self-expression. Even as I explored other creative outlets—like drawing and collage—music always held a special, dedicated place in my heart.
The real turning point came during my late teens, around the ages of 16 or 17, when I was first introduced to experimental music. It was 1993-1994, an era defined by a massive surge of diverse musical genres. That period sparked a serious commitment to my craft; I began experimenting deeply with guitar textures, vocals, and effects pedals.
From that moment on, music became an inseparable part of my life. My dream of becoming an experimental musician took shape as I formed several bands and began blending traditional instruments with modern guitar techniques and signal processing. I’ve never stopped learning or listening—constantly refining my “feeling” for sound and translating it into unique melodies and compositions. This evolution continues to this day.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

HEUP! is an experimental noise musician and multi-instrumentalist originally from the vibrant creative hub of Bandung, Indonesia, and currently based in Baltimore, USA.
With a career spanning over three decades, HEUP!’s sonic journey began during the explosive musical wave of the early 90s. What started as a childhood fascination with the guitar has evolved into a sophisticated exploration of sound, where the boundaries between heritage and avant-garde technology disappear.
The Sonic Philosophy
The core of HEUP!’s work lies in the tension between the traditional and the industrial. Deeply rooted in the cultural textures of West Java, he integrates the rhythmic complexities and spiritual depth of Sundanese elements with the visceral power of modern noise. His compositions are a dialogue between:
• Traditional Lineage: The evocative resonance of Sundanese traditional instruments and philosophies.
• Modern Dissonance: High-gain experimental guitar textures, intricate pedal chains, and manipulated electronic signals.
Evolution & Journey
HEUP! spent his formative years in the Indonesian underground scene, forming various bands and refining a signature approach to “feeling” sound. His transition from the lush, volcanic landscapes of West Java to the gritty, industrial atmosphere of Baltimore has further sharpened his aesthetic. This migration is reflected in his current compositions—a fusion of ancestral echoes and the raw, experimental energy of the American East Coast noise scene.
The Craft
As a dedicated gear enthusiast and technician, HEUP! approaches his instruments with surgical precision. Whether he is modifying a circuit or blending traditional scales with harsh noise walls, his goal remains the same: to translate raw human emotion into a complex, immersive auditory experience.
Highlights:
• Origins: Bandung, Indonesia (The “Paris van Java” underground scene).
• Current Base: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
• Genre: Experimental Noise / Ethno-Avant-Garde.
• Instruments: Modified Guitars, Effects Pedals, Traditional Sundanese Instruments, and Signal Processors.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The Mission of HEUP!
The driving force behind my work is the desire to build a sonic bridge between two disparate worlds: the ancestral echoes of West Java and the industrial grit of modern experimental noise. My mission is defined by three core goals:
• Deconstructing Heritage: I aim to take the “deep meanings” and spiritual philosophies of Sundanese culture and translate them into a universal language of frequency and vibration. By integrating traditional elements with harsh, modern textures, I preserve the spirit of my roots while pushing them into the future.
• Exploring Dislocation: Moving from Bandung to Baltimore has created a unique “in-between” space in my life. My creative goal is to document this journey of migration—how the serenity of traditional scales survives and adapts within the chaotic, electronic landscapes of the West.
• Emotional Resonance through Experimentation: Beyond the technicality of pedals and circuits, my mission is to find “the feeling” within the noise. I strive to prove that experimental music is not just about dissonance, but a powerful vessel for raw, human expression that transcends language and borders.
Through HEUP!, I am not just making music; I am creating a living dialogue between my past, my present, and the infinite possibilities of sound

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One defining moment of resilience in my journey occurred during my transition from the familiar creative ecosystem of Bandung to the starkly different landscape of Baltimore.
In Bandung, I had spent decades building a reputation and a specific setup. When I moved to the United States, I didn’t just leave behind a city; I left behind the physical and social infrastructure of my art. I arrived in a new environment where I was a “blank slate,” carrying the heavy spiritual weight of Sundanese philosophy and my experimental dreams in a place where I had no immediate community.
The true test of resilience came when I had to rebuild my “sonic laboratory” from scratch. I remember a period of troubleshooting—not just the technical failures of a 24V power supply or a stubborn guitar circuit—but the challenge of cultural integration. There were moments when the traditional melodies of my childhood felt worlds apart from the gritty, industrial noise of the Baltimore underground.
Instead of choosing one over the other, I chose to persist in the synthesis.
I spent late nights hunched over my Fender Jaguar, meticulously testing resistance and soldering connections, treating the technical repair of my gear as a metaphor for repairing my own creative path. I refused to let my traditional roots become a “museum piece” and refused to let the modern noise drown out my identity.
Resilience, for me, was the act of sitting in that Baltimore basement, bridge pickup in one hand and a lifetime of Indonesian memories in the other, and deciding that they must coexist. That persistence allowed me to transform the struggle of “starting over” into the birth of HEUP!—a project that doesn’t just survive in a new land, but thrives by creating a sound that has never been heard before.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heup.exp?igsh=MTY3NTVtMnU0YjF4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cdw7htHjt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ljkyEx886DY9TVRJf3gcJ?si=UkoBlmbURY6PUACCGWbFWA

Image Credits

Eva ervina