{"id":399191,"date":"2025-04-04T17:39:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/?p=399191"},"modified":"2025-09-28T08:50:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T00:50:55","slug":"indonesian-dj-archie-dennis-talks-grooves-community-and-his-return-to-sunda-festival-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/indonesian-dj-archie-dennis-talks-grooves-community-and-his-return-to-sunda-festival-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Indonesian DJ Archie Dennis Talks Grooves, Community, and His Return to Sunda Festival 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With roots in Indonesia\u2019s punk and experimental scenes and a groove-focused approach that spans house, hip-hop, and beyond, Archie Dennis has become a vital voice in Southeast Asia<\/a>\u2019s music community. Known for his unpolished, soulful sets and collaborative ethos, he\u2019s equally at home jamming in a band, running underground parties, or dropping stripped-back gems behind the decks. As part of City Nomads Radio<\/em><\/a>, <\/strong>our ongoing series spotlighting regional DJs and musicians, we caught up with Archie ahead of his solo debut at Sunda Festival 2025<\/strong> to talk about his journey, musical philosophy, and why Southeast Asia is having a moment.<\/p>\n

While you’re here, hit play below to catch an exclusive mixtape Archie recorded just for City Nomads.<\/p>\n

<\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"909\" data-end=\"1000\"><strong>Let\u2019s start simple: How would you introduce yourself? Both as a person and as an artist?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1663\">That\u2019s always an interesting question, because I\u2019ve never really separated the two. My personal and artistic selves are very much the same. I\u2019ve been collecting music since I was really young <em>(records, tapes, whatever I could find)<\/em> and I guess it just evolved into this. Being a DJ was never a \u201cplan.\u201d In fact, growing up in Indonesia, there’s this general belief that it\u2019s tough, even unrealistic, to live as a musician. So it\u2019s not something I polished or consciously pursued at first. It happened really naturally, just step by step. And over time, I found myself in this position, playing regularly, getting more involved, and realising this is what I do now.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1670\" data-end=\"1751\"><strong data-start=\"1670\" data-end=\"1751\">What were those early steps like? When did you know it was more than a hobby?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"2246\">It honestly started with DJing, even though I didn\u2019t see it as that in the beginning. I used to be in a punk band and spent a lot of time around experimental gigs, noise shows, things like that. But at the same time, I was already collecting records. A friend of mine had one turntable, I had the other. We started messing around, just trying to mix things for fun. It wasn\u2019t like, \u201cI want to be a DJ.\u201d We didn\u2019t even know the genres properly. I was just curious about how sounds could connect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2542\">Then over time, you start recognising the sounds. Like, oh, this is deep house, this is jungle, this is boom bap. And eventually, I realised, I\u2019ve been playing a lot. I\u2019m playing parties, I\u2019m building something with this. That\u2019s when I thought, yeah, maybe it\u2019s time to take this more seriously.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2542\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-399293\" src=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_02.jpg\" alt=\"an image of archie at a metro station\" width=\"1100\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_02.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_02-767x628.jpg 767w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_02-1024x838.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_02-98x80.jpg 98w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_02-768x628.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 959px) 688px, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2549\" data-end=\"2733\">You\u2019ve gone from punk gigs and underground house parties to becoming a mainstay in Southeast Asia\u2019s club and festival circuits. How has that journey shaped your identity as an artist?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2735\" data-end=\"3280\">Massively. Back in the day, being part of those raw, underground house parties really shaped who I am now. Those gritty, unfiltered spaces helped me figure out what kind of sound I was drawn to. I wasn\u2019t into the commercial stuff. I wanted something deeper, more soulful. And being immersed in that scene taught me a lot. It built endurance. Playing late, adapting to unpredictable crowds, and staying grounded in the energy of the moment. All of that carried through to the way I DJ today.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3287\" data-end=\"3484\"><strong data-start=\"3287\" data-end=\"3484\">Your mixes go beyond genres, from soul and hip-hop to experimental and house. In a scene where DJs often stick to one lane, you seem to do the opposite. How do you define your approach to sound?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3486\" data-end=\"4012\">I still describe myself as an open-format DJ, but my approach is specific. I gravitate toward the stripped-down versions of things. For example, if it\u2019s hip-hop, I want that raw boom bap\u2014not the glossy, over-produced stuff. If it\u2019s house, I focus on grooves with strong basslines and not too many layers. I avoid what we call in Indonesia <em>\u201cramai\u201d <\/em>which means crowded or noisy. I think the more I listen to music, the more I crave simplicity. I don\u2019t see genres, I just hear music that feels good to me. That\u2019s what I go after.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4151\"><strong data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4151\">You\u2019ve been involved in several collectives, from SCRUBS! in Jakarta to Fraktal and Tantra in Bali. What draws you to these kinds of projects?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4153\" data-end=\"4652\">For me, music has always been about community. SCRUBS! was a baby project we started in Jakarta. A mix of older DJs, younger heads, just people who wanted to share interesting music with no ego. We weren\u2019t chasing trends; we were just playing sounds we liked. When I moved to <a href=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/best-beach-clubs-in-bali-sunny-vibes-great-food-and-better-music\/\">Bali<\/a> in 2016, I met the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tantrabali_\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tantra<\/a> crew, and they had a similar vibe. They were throwing parties, building venues, running a radio station called <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/paddygrooves.radio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/paddygrooves.radio\/&source=gmail&ust=1743391122290000&usg=AOvVaw3Rj1r6-CWvDBJRJey8l0Yt\">Paddygrooves Radio<\/a><\/strong>. We just clicked. It kept me grounded and gave me new energy to create.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4654\" data-end=\"4990\">I also formed a band called Fraktal with some friends from different collectives. It started as a jam session, then someone offered us a gig, and it just grew. Now we\u2019re putting out our first vinyl release, a remix on an Australian (Melbourne) label l called Lunatic Music. Even though it\u2019s a remix, it\u2019s meaningful because it\u2019s our first physical release.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4654\" data-end=\"4990\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-399295\" src=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_04.jpg\" alt=\"an image of archie dennis against a concrete wall background \" width=\"1100\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_04.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_04-767x628.jpg 767w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_04-1024x838.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_04-98x80.jpg 98w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_04-768x628.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 959px) 688px, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4997\" data-end=\"5085\"><strong data-start=\"4997\" data-end=\"5085\">You mentioned earlier that you were a drummer. How does that influence your DJ sets?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"5087\" data-end=\"5610\">Being a drummer taught me to listen differently. I naturally hone in on rhythm first. The drums, the groove. That\u2019s the anchor for me. But I\u2019m careful not to overdo it. I want the drums to be interesting, not overwhelming. That mindset of stripping things down, of letting each element breathe, definitely comes from my time as a musician. And that influences how I structure my sets too. I don\u2019t plan every track. I just group tracks by mood: low energy, high energy, closing moments. Then I read the room and go from there.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"5617\" data-end=\"5728\"><strong data-start=\"5617\" data-end=\"5728\">You\u2019ve shared stages with legends like DJ Harvey, Lefto, and Onra. Any gigs that left a lasting impression?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"5730\" data-end=\"6165\">Yeah last year, I opened for Wata Igarashi. I never really knew techno could sound like that \u2014 his set completely blew my mind. It was groovy, not hard or industrial, just this hypnotic flow. I remember thinking, \u201cIf I ever play techno, this is how I\u2019d want to play it.\u201d That night really expanded my musical horizons. It reminded me that even within a genre you don\u2019t usually vibe with, there\u2019s always something new to discover if it\u2019s done right.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6172\" data-end=\"6246\"><strong data-start=\"6172\" data-end=\"6246\">Let\u2019s talk Southeast Asia. How do you see the regional scene evolving?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"6248\" data-end=\"6772\">It\u2019s an exciting time right now. There\u2019s so much talent across Southeast Asia. Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines. And people are starting to pay attention. The growth is organic but also powerful. You\u2019ve got collectives, DJs, producers, all doing their thing with their own distinct voices. In Indonesia, you have the GMO crew doing a lot of experimental projects, you\u2019ve got experimental projects, live bands fusing traditional instruments with electronic music. It feels like the perfect time to harvest everything we\u2019ve been planting.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6779\" data-end=\"6868\"><strong data-start=\"6779\" data-end=\"6868\">You\u2019ve lived in Malaysia, Jakarta, and Bali. How have those places shaped your sound?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"6870\" data-end=\"7405\">Each place added a new layer. In Malaysia, I lived in a quiet town called Cyberjaya\u2014there wasn\u2019t much going on except one 7-Eleven and a gas station. That\u2019s when I was deep into progressive and psychedelic rock. It was a time of introspection. Then I moved to Jakarta, and boom, urban life, hip-hop, fast pace. Bali gave me something else entirely. It\u2019s a blend of both. I like to say the sound in Bali is \u201ccosmic.\u201d You can play downtempo and also play something more of high energy, yet still sound cosmic. It lets you merge different influences, and that\u2019s really special.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6870\" data-end=\"7405\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-399294\" src=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_03.jpg\" alt=\"an image of archie dennis wth trees and nature in his background\" width=\"1100\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_03.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_03-767x628.jpg 767w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_03-1024x838.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_03-98x80.jpg 98w, https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Archie_Interview_03-768x628.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 959px) 688px, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"7412\" data-end=\"7546\"><strong data-start=\"7412\" data-end=\"7546\">You played at Sunda Festival last year with Fraktal, and now you\u2019re back solo. What does it mean to be part of the festival again?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"7548\" data-end=\"7894\">Sunda is different. It\u2019s not just about music. It\u2019s about community, creativity, wellness, and cultural expression. That really resonates with me. My first set there was with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fraktal___\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fraktal<\/a>, which was super organic and personal. This year, I\u2019ll be DJing solo, but I still want to keep that same vibe, intentional and organic. That\u2019s how Sunda feels to me.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"7901\" data-end=\"8083\"><strong data-start=\"7901\" data-end=\"8083\">This year you\u2019ll be playing the Fred Perry Nomad Stage, designed in collaboration with Vietnamese studio Culm-Innate. Do those kinds of stage elements influence your performance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"8085\" data-end=\"8359\">Absolutely. Visuals, design, the physical environment. It all affects the energy. The Nomad Stage being made from bamboo, designed so intentionally, it connects with the natural setting, and that influences how I\u2019ll play. I want to respond to the space, not just play over it.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"8366\" data-end=\"8473\"><strong data-start=\"8366\" data-end=\"8473\">Sunda is also family-friendly. How do you adapt your set when the crowd includes kids and first-timers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"8475\" data-end=\"8764\">I think of it as an experiment in connection. The goal is still celebration, still fun. But I want to be present with the crowd and see how we can vibe together. So I\u2019ll keep it playful, rhythmic, and warm.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"8771\" data-end=\"8841\"><strong data-start=\"8771\" data-end=\"8841\">What\u2019s coming up after Sunda? Any releases we should look out for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"8843\" data-end=\"9138\">Yes! Fraktal\u2019s remix drops in June on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lunaticmusiccc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lunatic Music<\/a>. It\u2019ll be our first physical release. And I\u2019m also working on my own solo music. That\u2019s been more challenging because you\u2019re basically debating with yourself, wondering if a track is \u201cgood enough.\u201d But I\u2019m committed to pushing it out this year.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p data-start=\"8843\" data-end=\"9138\"><em>Catch him at Sunda Festival, happening on 18-19 April. And if you loved his interview, don\u2019t miss the exclusive City Nomads Radio mix. Stream it above and let it soundtrack your day. Use our promo code “CITYNOMADS” to get a 10% off your tickets. To stay updated on Archie Dennis’ upcoming gigs or music, follow him on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mr_mdrfkr\/\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ra.co\/dj\/archiedennis\">Resident Advisor<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/scrbs.bandcamp.com\/\">Bandcamp<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/archiedennis\">Soundcloud<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With roots in Indonesia\u2019s punk and experimental scenes and a groove-focused approach that spans house, hip-hop, and beyond, Archie Dennis has become a vital voice in Southeast Asia\u2019s music community. Known for his unpolished, soulful sets and collaborative ethos, he\u2019s equally at home jamming in a band, running underground parties, or dropping stripped-back gems behind … <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/indonesian-dj-archie-dennis-talks-grooves-community-and-his-return-to-sunda-festival-2025\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> “Indonesian DJ Archie Dennis Talks Grooves, Community, and His Return to Sunda Festival 2025”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":399292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[522,5,4050],"tags":[7444,7188],"class_list":["post-399191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-nomads-radio","category-culture","category-interviews","tag-archie-dennis","tag-sunda-festival"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=399191"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":399416,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/399191\/revisions\/399416"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/399292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=399191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=399191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=399191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}