Jakarta-based anthemic pop band lightcraft is celebrating its 20th anniversary by revisiting one of its earliest songs, transforming the youthful rebellion behind “Like a Child” into a bright, energetic electronic anthem for a new generation.
Released on September 2, 2026, “Like a Child” is the second single from the band’s upcoming reimagined edition of its 2006 debut EP, The Modern Seasons. It follows “Waiting for the Morning Sun,” which opened the anniversary project in July.
But beneath its infectious hooks and euphoric electronic production is a deeply personal story.
From rebellion to gratitude
“Like a Child” was originally written by vocalist Imam Wisaya Surataruna during lightcraft’s earliest years. The song was inspired by a personal conflict: his parents did not want him to pursue music.
Two decades later, however, the meaning of that rebellion has changed.
Rather than simply looking back at the decision as youthful defiance, Surataruna now views it as a turning point that ultimately led to the formation of lightcraft and the experiences the band has shared throughout its career.
That shift—from resistance to gratitude—is at the heart of the 2026 version of “Like a Child.” Reallist Media reported that Surataruna now sees the song less as an act of rebellion and more as a celebration of freedom, choosing one’s own path and being grateful for where that decision eventually leads.
The old song gets a completely new life
Rather than simply remastering the original recording, lightcraft has taken a much more ambitious approach to its anniversary material.
The band is reimagining the songs from The Modern Seasons, rebuilding them with the musical experience accumulated over two decades.
For “Like a Child,” that means replacing the feel of its early-era incarnation with a contemporary electronic-pop production, driven by energetic rhythms, layered melodies and memorable hooks.
The new version draws inspiration from artists including Fred again.., Romy, Roosevelt, Jasper Tygner and Caribou, giving the track a more modern and euphoric character while retaining the emotional core of the original composition.
The production was co-produced by Edwin Zachman and lightcraft, with Zachman also handling the mixing and mastering at Tavis Studio. Vocals were recorded at Tavis Studio, with additional synth, keyboard, drum and percussion programming contributing to the track’s electronic makeover.
Why the 20th-anniversary project matters
For lightcraft, this isn’t simply an exercise in nostalgia.
The band’s debut EP, The Modern Seasons, was released in 2006, originally in CD format and never made widely available digitally. The new project gives those seven early songs another opportunity to reach listeners—including audiences who were not around when the band first released them.
Bandwagon Asia’s profile of the group traces lightcraft’s beginnings to Selangor, Malaysia, in 2006, before the band established itself in Jakarta. Over the years, the group developed an anthemic sound blending atmospheric textures, emotional songwriting and soaring melodies. Its catalog subsequently expanded to albums including Losing Northern Lights and Colours of Joy.
The band’s evolution has also extended beyond Indonesia. In 2024, lightcraft collaborated with Cebu pop-rock group Coloura and Dumaguete singer-songwriter Chelsea Dawn on “Coming Home,” an ’80s-inspired synthwave track released through Melt Records.
That history helps explain why “Like a Child” feels less like a simple anniversary re-release and more like a statement about how far the band has traveled.
From melancholic beginnings to electronic reinvention
The first single from the reimagined project, “Waiting for the Morning Sun,” already hinted at the band’s new direction.
Its original material was rebuilt as melodic electronic music, incorporating expansive synthesizers, hypnotic rhythms and drum-and-bass elements. Mave Magz noted that the transformation reflected lightcraft’s musical evolution while retaining the emotional character of the original.
“Like a Child” takes that evolution in a different direction.
Where “Waiting for the Morning Sun” leans toward a cinematic electronic atmosphere, “Like a Child” is designed to feel lighter, more playful and immediately energetic—a musical reflection of the freedom the song’s story ultimately represents.
More than a look back
The anniversary campaign is expected to culminate in a special 20th-anniversary showcase, before lightcraft moves toward another major milestone: a new full-length album.
The band is also preparing an immersive anniversary performance titled “Twenty: Full Circle,” which is scheduled to feature the first complete live performance of the reimagined The Modern Seasons, alongside songs spanning its 20-year catalog.
That makes “Like a Child” more than an electronic remake of an old song.
It is a snapshot of a band looking back at the decisions, struggles and uncertainty that shaped its beginning—and discovering that the rebellion of its younger years eventually became the foundation of everything that followed.
Twenty years later, lightcraft isn’t simply revisiting where it came from. It’s showing listeners what those beginnings sound like after two decades of growth.
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