•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

The underground art-noise collective known as Space Records has over the past few years become a hub for the country’s left-field musicians.

Aside from holding annual events at which underappreciated artists can show off their talents, it has also released albums in both physical and digital formats for a range of acts as diverse as horror-punkers Kelelawar Malam (Night Bat), dreamy electro artist Svarghie, glitchy chiptuners Curah Melodia Mandiri and others. This Saturday, the label will be throwing another off-the-grid party at Hotel Ambhara in conjunction with the release of the Komodo EP.

Along with Quirk It! Sound System, an equally admirable DJ collective dedicated to promoting underrated artists, Space Records has also played a crucial role in developing a left-field clubbing scene that provides an alternative to the usual rave-style club music found in Jakarta’s clubs. Saturday’s event will be a prime example, billed as “Music Akamady” — a reference to a mispronunciation of the word “academy” by legendary DJ Lee “Scratch” Perry.

“Music Akamady” is also the name of the first track on the label’s latest release from DJ Gerhan Ferdinal, known in the scene simply as Gerhan, in which Space Records has again pushed the boundaries of electronic music.

In “Komodo EP,” Gerhan mixes dub music with disco and house in a whirlwind of danceable music that is nevertheless more than demanding than the usual club fare.

Ridwan Susanto, from Quirk It! Sound System, describes Gerhan’s “disco-dub-house” sound as a new form of music.

“You can say it is a modern form of dance music with the feel of reggae, disco grooves, and house tempo,” he says.Ridwan describes “Musik Akamady” as a “lounge-oriented” disco number. The single’s B-side is the more dance-styled “Up and Down.”

Gerhan, who is also a resident DJ for Quirk It! Sound System, started off as a session guitar player for a variety of recordings, before deciding to embark on a solo career at the start of this year. He spent many years as a musician honing his skills in the San Francisco music scene.

Quirk It! Sound System paired up with Space Records for Gerhan’s single release due to their similar take on progressive electronic-based artists. Quirk It! has regularly hosted similar shows since 2006, and is involved in DailyWhatNot.com, a Web site with similar ideas.

“[Our events are] devoted to local heroes, pushing the sound of underground dance music for the past 25 years,” Ridwan says. “Dub, left field, disco, house, music with no boundaries.”

Also performing on Saturday will be the Jakarta-based eclectic duo Space System, whose mix of minimalist and left-field electronica has garnered praise from the underground music community. The “space” in their moniker is based not in the context of “spacey” music but having a large room full of ideas. The duo, Jonathan Kusuma and Aryo Adhianto, were introduced by their now-manager Pattra, who saw how the two previously solo musicians would fit each other’s sound.

Despite coming from vastly different musical backgrounds, jazz-loving Aryo and rock-fan Jonathan quickly established common ground in writing and performing their unique brand of electronica.

“People identify rock ’n’ roll with loud guitars, but right now we’re expressing things through different avenues,” Jonathan says.

“The sound could come from a different instrument, such as an organ or a synthesizer, but the intent remains the same.”

Ridwan promises that the event will provide a unique glimpse into the local music scene.

“The biggest contrast this event has with other club parties is that it is based on underground dance music, which builds itself around an incredible variety of genres, ranging from disco to punk, Balearic, reggae, dub, house, or anything else that fits the moment.”

Both Pattra — who works for Space Records — and Ridwan agree that their biggest goal is to promote Indonesia as a worthy music hub for eclectic artists.

“Most known dance music comes from America or Europe. Through ‘Komodo EP’ we will be able to offer a different color and interpretation from an Indonesian perspective,” Ridwan says.

“This will hopefully put us in the global dance music universe.”


Quirk It! Sound System
& Space Records present music by
DJ Gerhan aka Komodo
with Space System DJ set/Space Records
and opening set by
Belda/Imaginary Voyage

Saturday, July 2
D’Barons, Ambhara Hotel,
Jl Iskandarsyah Raya No 1, South Jakarta

Door opens at 10 pm.
No cover charge