Dangdut Essentials

Named after the sound of the rhythm-keeping tabla or gendang, dangdut takes its cues from Hindustani, Malay, Arabic and other musical styles and represents the sonic melting pot bubbling up from Indonesia's streets. The style first popped up in the early '70s and quickly gained a footing with well-established artists, who started to release their own dangdut tracks. Beware—the beat's infectious.