This DJ label was born in the mid-1990s. They are still here to be one of the Indonesian dance floor kings. All through these two decades they never let their light of the movement fade. Lots of awards they garnered was not something they dreamt of before. But that’s not enough to describe how big the love to Indonesian dance scene this collective have. To name just a few, here’s the list of couple awards for them,  “Hard Rock FM Paranoia Award (2005)”, “Live performance from paranoia Award (2008)”, “Dedication Awards – REDMA (2010)”, and “Best Serial Event Of The Year – Paranoia Award (2012)”. Outside these institutions, this label is identical with compliment for what they do with faith (and of course with style!). Javabass Soundsystem! The only one at the forefront. The only one who still delivers a powerful bass and rolling drums in the dance music scene in the country. Two decades of making youths dance, Bass Blessed Javabass!

 

We could say that Javabass Soundsystem is the brainchild of its founder, Jerome Chandra Muda, a young man with a big passion for electronic (dance) music. He was already familiar with The Beatles, Queen and James Brown during his childhood. Even as a teenager, he played the songs from Metallica and Sepultura with his band. He was drawn to electronic music when he knew the dance floor and did the club-hopping in Jakarta during his teens. He also collected CD souvenirs from his relatives abroad for his records stack. He was so impressed with Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers at that time. In the next phase, he frequently brought turntables to campus and played electronic music to have fun. Goldie‘s “Timeless” album is a life-changing work of art for Jerome. It was during this time that he began to build a foundation and did an exploration of electronic music which later became his personal manifesto with the frontline Drum n Bass collective in Indonesia, Javabass Soundsystem. He met DJ Anton, one of key figures in the realm of Indonesian Electronic Dance Music scene, and learned from him.

One of the many triggers for the proliferation of Indonesian electronic music delivered from several independent collective events that came from the high determination of both the scenesters and the audiences who share their joy for the sake of the music and the dancefloor. Future (which has now become Future10), an Indonesian DJ collective legend, put up one of their big legacies in the mid-1990s, through many parties which they held at a club in the Central Jakarta area called Parkit. It was through their feast that Jerome increasingly found the rhythm to manifest his idea later on. During this time, he interacted with many Indonesian DJs. He acquired the energy through repertoires like FSOL and getting acquainted with Techno and breakbeats until finally found a genre that perfectly represented himself; Jungle!

1996 was a memorable moment for Jerome where he played the Jungle set for the first time. He learnt a lot from many parties and dance floors in Jakarta where he attended and spun his wax. His motivation levels up and leads him to find his own form. Three years later, he gave birth to his brainchild, Javabass! A name inspired by the spirit as a big representation of Indonesia. “Original Nuttah” by shy FX, “The Rhode Tune” by Flytronix, “Inner City life” by Goldie, “Brown Paper Bag” by Roni Size was the heavy rotation on their playlist in those early days. Their official debut party was Junglably Loud in historic clubs like Deja Vu and BB’s, then continued with Animated Arena and Artcore Nation in Bandung. Javabass also often collaborates with several labels and DJ collectives in Indonesia, including Stereowerk, Camouflage, 62bassheads, Junglizta, Oracle Soundlab, Dub Container, Echosystem crew, Original Naro and also 1945 MF. With those big names, Javabass is also involved in lots of historical events such as Higher Level, Rhythm Unity and also the Jakarta Movement. Not only in Jakarta, but also in other cities such as Bandung, Yogyakarta and Bali. It was this journey that eventually gave birth to their own signature and historical event, the series known as; PHUNKTION.

Since then, Javabass has continued to reverberate. The drum and bass nexus’ flag is flying high. Their movement has become even more solid. Started in 1999, Javabass is now turning 21 years old! Gembira Putra Agam, one of Indonesian big scenesters who is also a writer of music column in many Indonesian media told kultur that: 

“Javabass is synonymous to drum n bass in Indonesia. As a long-running collective, they become a consistent power with the best roster and production!”

 

Phunktion was first held in 2003 as the real manifestation of Javabass’ militancy in spreading and building Indonesian Drum n Bass. Came out from a simple dialectic, “Phunktion” was chosen to make Javabass an eye-catching name for their future party and become their official “brand”. Jerome explained the meaning behind the word Phunktion as the drum n bass movement in Indonesia that has been “functioning.” It resonates the spirit of punk in the Indonesian dance floor scene and phunk / funk / phat bass in drums n bass. It also refers to the funktion 1 sound system set.

Phunktion started from a venue called Mardigraz Jamz, in Jakarta. Until now, phunktion has reached its 144th series, and is now 17 years old! In that time frame, Javabass and Phunktion were vigorous and consistent in Indonesian drum n bass nexus. Not only in Jakarta, Phunktion also roams other cities like Yogyakarta, Bali and Bandung and Lampung in Sumatra.

This Javabass’ signature event, Phunktion, is full of historical value and independence. It proves that Javabass is so determined and happy to do what they love and believe. A spirit that puts them as a role model.

For 21 years of playing and sharing the joy in drum n bass nexus, Javabass has experienced various circumstances, the ups and downs. In the book “State Of Bass: The Origins Of Jungle / Drum & Bass”, Martin James writes: It was all about the subconscious sharing of those collective threads of knowledge and experience that tied people into the greater fabric of culture and community. It was about family and a sense of belonging.

These kinds of things are also closely related to Javabass, the key figures of those early days often shared and discussed fresh ideas for their moves. Kultur gets some trivia from Jerome, including the origin of the name Javabass. It was actually a suggestion from Fabi (Dub Container), one of the comrades at the beginning of Javabass’ journey. While the logo was a contribution from one of their inner circle, Ovelia.

Started as Jerome’s brainchild, Javabass now evolves into a joy for many devotees. Starting a squad with a line up of DJ Sketch, Tara, Josef, Celcius, MC Drift and of course Jerome himself. Also the support wagon with Nala, Anti, Denny Kunil, Mehdi, Damas who often help in the design division. As well as Chainsmokingbastard, Bayu Motion Ninja (RIP), Isha Hening, Global Port, Guerrilla Forests, Motion Chamber, Adi Blak, HeyTuta, and Dutu who made the visualization of the Javabass party even more colorful. Until now, the line up consists of Jerome, Random, OSGD, Muztang, Turismo Avenue, DFMC (MC Fandy), and Sinto (management), as well as Dhanny and John van der Mill from the design division. Javabass always brings joy and inspiring performance that people would always look forward to. What a Joyous squad! One of the actors from the country’s sound system culture, Mantasticmate (a man behind the Get Sub Foundation who always brings joy through his Ram Dance Selecta) to kultur he admitted that:

“The foundation of my music selection started when I got to know ‘Phunktion’ a dozen years ago. I have the highest respect for Ismail a.k.a DJ Sketch. I also owe great respect to Javabass Soundsystems who have made me a Matasticmate for what they have been running for these two decades!”

 

Neverending passion is also one of the highlights that Javabass owned. With a free spirited and an independence ethos absorbed from the spirit of punk, Javabass is the ‘punkers inna dance floor.’

They keep burning the dance floor no matter where they are. They always do a skin to skin dance party and make people dance like nobody’s watching!

Javabass has received countless organic appreciations for their commitment. ATM Mag from England briefly reviewed them. Diplo is seen deeply observing their set at a festival. Not only in Jakarta, they have traveled to several countries and brought the crowds the experience of joy. Javabass’ distinctive commitment is so powerful, an energy that never weakens. The D.I.Y attitude stays with them and never fades, Militant!

One of Javabas’ comrade, an influential veteran Techno DJ from the city of Lampung, Sumatra (who received the same “Special Dedication Awards” by redma (ravelex award) for their dedication), Ryan Madya aka phuture89 gave his words to kultur:

“Javabass is a picture of consistency from the drum n bass movement which must be emulated by many young DJs in Indonesia, (Javabass) is an electronic music fighters with passion and sincerity. Javabass is an Indonesian drum n bass’ badass”

Tons of Praises to Javabass is inevitable, even though Javabass never think about that. They still pour out their sound and power gracefully! There are so many colors in the realm of drum and bass nexus, the values ​​that are not easy to measure. Javabass never step off since 1999, with thumping bass and drums beating in the holy 170 beats per minute. Javabass always delivers the “noise” that makes the dancefloor burn ! All’a The Junglists, here comes the drums here comes the bass! Once again, Bass Blessed Javabass!
(Author:Sam, Translation Supervision: Yedi)