The Symbolic Construction of 'Anak Senja' Identity: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Popular Indie Lyrics within Spotify's Playlist Ecosystem

The phenomenon of the 'Anak Senja' identity in Indonesia characterized by the consumption of melancholic aesthetics (dusk, coffee) and validated through indie song lyrics (e.g., Fiersa Besari, Hindia) on social media constitutes this study's research problem. The objective is to "deconstruct" how the 'Anak Senja' identity is symbolically constructed through the discourse of popular song lyrics within the Spotify ecosystem. This study utilizes a qualitative approach within the critical paradigm. The primary theories employed are the Social Construction of Reality (Berger & Luckmann, 2011) and Representation (Hall, 1997). The applied methodology is Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) using Norman Fairclough's (1995) three-dimensional model, with data comprising lyric texts and digital observation (netnography) of Spotify playlists. The findings indicate that the construction occurs on three levels: (1) The Micro Level (Text) revealed a "melancholic lexicon" (dusk, coffee, wounds), metaphors of aestheticized sadness, and passive lyrical subjects as symbolic raw material. (2) The Meso Level (Discursive Practice) uncovered Spotify's active role as a curator that "packages" emotions through playlists (e.g., "Senja & Kopi"), creating a melancholic "echo chamber." (3) The Macro Level (Sociocultural Practice) concludes that lyrics function as a "performative script" promoting the "romantization of sadness," transforming alienation into a monetized emotional niche market.