Hailing from the luscious town of Bandung in West Java, Indonesia. Midnight Runners is a label and collective that has been providing us with some of the most exciting dance music of late, blending synthy, funky and smooth sounds into highly listenable records. Indonesia is not somewhere we know a lot about in general, nor its music scene, so we are thrilled to invite Munir, who both heads up Midnight Runners, and releases his own productions, to tell us all about his home of Bandung and make us a 100% local mix. Indeed the mix is dazzling, packed out with divine selections of smooth, soulful and funky tracks that will give you some of that Island bliss.
Munir has two EPs forthcoming on No Bad Days and Darker Than Wax later this year.
Check out the map above and interview below for Munir’s favourite spots, while you listen to a 100% Bandung mix.
Favourite place to buy records?
There are many record stores here and I will describe some of the stores most interesting to me.
DU 68 Vickry: This store has many of Indonesian’s obscure and rare cassette records. They always haveloads of rare Indonesian LP records from previous collectors and clearances from local radio stations. It’s a bit of a hassle to check the store each time or day, so you will need to contact of owner. You could also find International artist vinyl and cassette recordshere too, you just need get your hands dirty and squat little bit.
BHANG Records: Mostly rock stuff but you could find rare south east asia records and RARE 12” single disco/boogie funk there, which has never been touched by anyone because no one can understand it. They got nominated best store of world by Vinyl Factory (Australia). Overall they know how to handle records and categories it.
KEEP KEEP: A new record store in town, which is mostly few Japanese records and brand new LPs from the International music scene. It’s a nice place to hang out because the place is so neat and comfortable witha bakery & coffee shop.
Koh Yayang Store: It’s not the official name of the store, but the owner’s name is Mr. Yayang. You can find this place around the market called Cikapundung Market, near a place of full TVs repair shops and through an alley. He will serve you nicely and he will unload all of his obscure local and International music collections but sadly, he can’t speak English, you need an Indonesian speaking friend to come there with you.
Favourite live music venue?
Dago Tea House and Saparua Sport Indoor Arena have my favourite live music, but Saparua is now forbidden to have events there. Those venues are the local venues which made the music scene and industry in the 2000s. Dago Tea House is mostly for electronic music acts and Saparua is for hardline of rock, metal and punk music venue.
Best soundsystem / favourite club?
I don’t have a clue because here we don’t really quite know about how good club sound is. I have only one favourite club called Maja House, which is not club i think, its kind of a bar & lounge. Club here don’t really support the underground dance music scene which is too bad and stupid, the club scene here is not so honest and open even though there is so much potential and producers/DJs in this city need to play their own style of music.
Best party in the city?
PUSH/PULL party people, organised by my friends, each time they make a unique party and event. They always make themed parties. It’s the best party!! Last time they invited Kauro Inoue and Bell Towers to come here.
Best view of the city?
Bukit Moko for a City view
Bukit Keraton for a Nature View
Kawah Putih/Tangkuban Perahu for a Natural Crater View
Best spot for a picnic?
Bumi Sangkuriang and Kiputih Satu
Favourite Cafe’s and Restaurants?
I remember when my friend from JiwaJiwa Record came to Bandung and we went to Two Cents. It is a good cafe and don’t forget to visit my friend’s cafe called Kiputih Satu. Really good bakery and cafe.
Indonesia is rich in cultural tradition; and there are many of types of food culture here in Bandung, I have a few favourites, which are Rumah Legoh (Manado tradition food), Bu Imas (Sundanese tradition food and Kehidupan Tidak Pernah Berakhir (Vegetarian Food)
What are the best local dishes or street food?
Martabak is like a pancake but with a chocolate or fruit topping, in a big sizde portion, like pizza and the most delicious one is at Martabak Canada. Batagor is a food like a fish stick but with tofu and the best is at Batagor Kingsley
Is there somewhere you like going to escape the hustle and bustle and take some time away for yourself?
I always love to hike whenever I need time to get a break from everything, an easy hike is one to my friend’s place on the hillside by Bukit Keraton and a hard one is the hike and camp to Burangrang Mountain.
Best place to experience something unique to Bandung?
When you first time come here, you always experience something unique here like you will never find in your own home, but if you walk to Braga Street and Cikapundung street, you will find something unique like living in an European apocalyptic world.
First thing you miss after leaving Bandung?
Food, quietness and mostly weather, brcause Bandung is a surrounded mountain area, which makes it feel like Spring all the time
Best place to see another medium of art other than music?
Selasar Sunaryo Art Space and Lawangwangi Art Space
What are your favourites shops for things other than music?
Storn Repair & Synth shop, through an alley and you will find a synth haven there, they have been open since the 2000s.
Are there any markets in your city worth checking out?
Setiabudhi Market is the best place for food, ingredients and even electronic products. The Art & Vintage market is in Cikapundung Market
If we had to buy one local thing from your city to take back, what would it be?
The hardest thing for me to answer. One of the oldest cultures here is Sundanese culture, so buy a Sundanese artefact like the Angklung music instrument or Batik Sundanese clothes.
Where will you find the friendliest, most interesting locals to have a chat with?
People in Bandung are the friendliest, as long as you are not in downtown, which is Bandung’s outsider. Coffee shops have the best locals to chat with, like in Blue Doors Coffee shop or just Two Cents Coffee or just go to a “Warung Kopi” (small illegal convenience shop).
What’s the best and worst thing about living in Bandung?
Best thing is the weather and beauty of the nature in this city, which are best for making you productive. Worst is that everything is always slow, whether the economics or people. Bandung’s income is mostly from tourism and the creative industry.
Who’s doing good things for Bandung music right now, who you’d like to shout out?
Midnight Runners, Joni, Yordan, Yasa, Raka, Cahya, Ngangah, Dawan, My ex-Mentor at OPENLABS Community, Legendary DJ Niskhra & DJ Egga, Dina & Dea Homogenic, Bu Uci, Elang Eby of Capslock, Rekti Yoewono of Bhang Records, Adi Dharma of Flow Like You Know, Evan & Babams from Storn Labs for making good synth repairment and studio. Push/Pull for make great underground party every time, Offset people for teach young people knew what underground music culture is, Funkbox for always true on Black Music, KeepKeepMusik always support local music Industry here, Bandung Soul Club for party like a real dancer, This That Media for opening Electronic Music School in Bandung. Aural Archipelago music for incredible discover and images. UPI Music Student.
Are there any interesting organisations/charities/projects involving music in your city?
I’m involved in an interesting project, which my friend established, called Aural Archiepelago. It’s about archiving traditional music from each island around Indonesia. Shout out to Palmer Keen from California living in Bandung doing this for almost 5 years!
Who are some of your favourite up-and-coming DJs/producers/musicians bubbling up in Bandung right now?
Johny Indo, not many know of this man here. He is such a wild musician and DJ. I include some of his creations with me, on the mix.
Could you tell us about the mix you’ve made for us? Where and how did you record it, what was the idea behind it and are there?
This city pioneered electronic music by the legendary Harry Roesli, which he made in 1978-1983, everyone will knowhis electronic music, so I mixed electronic local music starting from 2000 to current day. Bandung is one of the most creative cities in contemporary electronic music since 00s, but no one knowsit. Well, I take it, we are invisible from Indonesia’s music scene. It’s like Bandung isn’t part of Indonesia.
And finally, what’s on the horizon for you in terms of live dates or releases we should look out for?
Probably on tour in November to EU, look out for my two EPs out on No Bad Days in May/June and an EP for Darker Than Wax Singapore as MUNIR myself. Shouts to Gabe (Boiler Room), Hollick (NBD boss) and Dean Chew (Darker Than Wax boss)
Tracklist
Grace Sahertian – Sun of Hope
Ikkubaru – Brighter
Ngangah – Lollipop Girl feat. Awfi, Fabiandre, Joni & Munir
Johnny Indo & Munir – Moluccan Juice Strut
Munir – Hanging in Halmahera with Johnny Indo
Raksur – Sanskrit Dance
Maritime Disco Cult – Trading Spice since 1888
Polyester Embassy – Blue Flashing Light
The Monjets – Hazy Mushroom Day
Homogenic – Kekal
Rock N’Roll Mafia – Pride
Munir – Feels Around You (Forthcoming on No Bad Days)
Sattle – The Turtle
Adam Chini & Midnight Runners – Untitled (forthcoming 12″ Single)
Munir – Ashitaka No Dansu
Array – Ultra Energy
Madflowa – Nitekrawla
Awfi – Tolikara
Johnny Indo – Ambon
Darso & Detty Kurnia – Jalma Dengki (Disco Mix)
Malik Yakin – Untitled #2
Homicide – Terra Angkara
