This article is partly taken from the Summer 2026 issue of Dazed. Buy a copy of the magazine here.

Indonesian girl group no na couldn’t have had a better start to 2026. In January, they released their fourth single “Work”, which lit the internet ablaze and quickly garnered over 10 million views, a result of its hardcore choreography and brain-scratching bassline. 

Comprising members Esther, Baila, Christy and Shaz, the band released their debut single in May 2025, but it was “Work” that introduced them to a global audience. “Honestly, everything has changed,” says Esther. “We always believed in the song because it feels fresh and different from what’s out there, but we didn’t expect it to grow that fast,” adds Baila. 

Three quarters of the group – Baila, Shaz and Christy – all met in 2022 while backstage at Head in the Clouds, an LA festival organised by US record label 88rising. Esther was the last to join the group, fresh from competing in season 10 of Indonesian Idol. Known for spotlighting Asian artists, 88rising soon asked if they’d like to form Indonesia's first ‘global girl group’ – a concept created by major labels to appeal to international audiences (see also: Katseye and Girlset). 

Since then, they’ve amassed over a million monthly listeners, despite only releasing a handful of songs. Now based in LA, they stick to a strict daily training schedule. “It usually includes dance rehearsals, vocal training, and workouts to build stamina,” says Christy. “It’s a mix of everything because we want to be strong performers in all aspects, not just one.” 

Their inspirations include Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera, but Destiny’s Child is their true GOAT. “They really set the foundation for what a powerful girl group looks like,” says Christy. “Their presence, their harmonies, their confidence.” 

Beyond the thumping pop music and acrobatic choreo, no na carry a greater purpose – “to put Indonesia on the global map through our music.” They purposefully incorporate elements of Indonesian culture in everything they do. In the “Work” music video, for example, Christy is seen playing the ceng-ceng, a Balinese percussion instrument, while wearing traditional jewellery and batik patterns. Meanwhile, in the video for “Falling in Love”, they used movements inspired by Balinese dance. 

Even their name comes from “nona”, the Indonesian word for “miss” or “young lady” – though it took them a while to settle on it. “One of the name options was ‘Nesia’, which comes from Indonesia and means ‘island’. We liked it, but it didn’t fully capture who we are as a group,” says Baila. “‘no na’ just felt right,” says Esther. “It represents us better. It feels feminine, strong, and connected to our identity. It’s simple but it carries a lot of meaning for us.” 

As a genre, they feel that “island pop” perfectly captures their essence. “It’s not just about sound, but also identity – being island girls, being connected to where we come from, and bringing that into everything we make,” says Esther. If their meteoric ascent is anything to go by, we should expect to hear a lot more more Indonesian sounds on our airwaves.