Julius Brian Siswojo: On his father, family, and loyalty

“He decided to become a vegetarian probably 30 years ago, even though he only loved eating. He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he loves eating — but he gave up food for his family.” The artist continued to share how his father’s vegetarian lifestyle also influenced him: “I’m not a vegetarian per se, but I’ve been a pescatarian for the last 7 years. I gave up beef for the last 12, 13 years. That’s kind of from my dad too.”

On recounting favourite memories shared with his father, the skater shared two that have stuck with him since childhood:

The first memory was a story of wild firsts: “I remember I was 8 or 9 years old, and he was riding a motorcycle back then. He took me to get a bicycle — my very first bicycle. And because he was riding a motorcycle, he couldn’t carry the bicycle and you know, put me on the ride and all that. So he was like, ‘Why don’t you just ride your bike and follow me back home?’ It wasn’t that far but then I was only like 8 or 9. It stuck in my head because I was thinking, ‘Oh, I’m a grown-up now! I know how to ride my bike by myself on the road, follow my dad back home’”

The second memory is about a small, mundane routine he shared with his father: “My dad always took me to a barbershop in Jakarta," and divulges that this little, daily-life custom with his dad was also one of the reasons that he had set up his barbershop, Handsoem Factory, and uniquely offers father-and-son cuts — an idea that he wholly credited to his wife, Annie.

The dynamic Brian shares with mum versus the one he shares with dad is entirely different: “Traditional Chinese kid, Chinese family — we don’t really, like, talk. Me and my mum, we’re like cuddling, I’m hugging her, we’re holding hands. But me and my dad? We’re just stern, you know? He’s like, an OG Chinese-style dad: ‘it’s all inside’; never says ‘I love you’; when you’re talking on the phone and he never says ‘bye’ and just hangs up…” the hip hop legend elaborates, mirth and affection gleaming in his eyes. “But he’s a good person, he’s a great father.”

“I always tell him if there’s anything I want to say,” he says, as he ponders the words he most wants to share with dad. “I guess, ‘I love you’? I mean, It’s kind of weird in English. In Indonesian, ‘sayang’ means ‘love’, right? But even in Indonesian, I’ve never said that to my dad. It’s gonna make him go ‘What?!’”, Brian comically shares, putting on his best impression of dad. “He might throw up, I might throw up. But maybe I’m going to say it now,” he deliberates, half-jokingly. Then, in Bahasa Indonesian: “Teri makih sayang"

“So my dad is full of willpower, consistency, and lovingness,” the 24HERBS’ member thoughtfully thinks, as he mulls over the greatest lesson of all that had been imparted to him by his father. “But the most important thing as a father is to stay very loyal. That’s my life motto, pretty much. I don’t care how great you are as a man, or as a person, or whatever — How loyal a man is to his family should come first and foremost. To me, that’s how I look and see how great you are. So as a father, to all fathers: be as loyal as you can.”

When asking the star about how he would rate himself : “An 11, man,” Brian deadpans, later bursting into laughter. “I’m a very obedient kid. But you know what? I’m probably an 8, to my dad.”

A surprising number to land on, but turns out it mostly stems from his passion for skateboarding. “When I started skateboarding, my dad disagreed with my skateboarding hobby. He said no. My mom was the one that was like, ‘You know what? Go, skate. I’ll support you. You want to buy a skateboard? I’ll chip in half for the skateboard. I’ll save money.’ So, my mom played a huge part. But even in spite of the occasional disagreement or two, there’s no doubt that the esteemed performer and trailblazer is nothing but the most dedicated, loving son.

A devoted father supporting a hustling son. A myth-turned-truth in unparalleled, familial dedication. A family legend of loyalty becoming the impetus of Brian’s never-ending grind.