In pictures: Asia KolektifA marks the rise of collective-based festivals in Jakarta

“Three stages, two days, one region”. When these few words first came out from an enigmatic Instagram account under the name Asia KolektifA, at first not many were too keen on giving it a follow. After taking a closer look at their following list, however, you could tell this was an account worth keeping updated with.

Turns out Asia KolektifA is the brainchild of Tripo 3000 (the events division of the Jakarta-based 3000 Group) — a Q4 festival they teased to us back in July and successfully managed to keep tight-lipped about until a month before the event.

The two-day festival was held at 3000 Group’s very own A3000 Creative Compound, making use of its sectioned-off spaces for three separate stages where a total of 1,500 people partied across two days, from 3 pm to 3 am. Performing at those stages were none other than a specially curated line-up of 31 eclectic talents which included Saigon’s Taku Hirayama, Singapore’s Muto and Bangkok’s Sunju Hargun along with local producers and collectives from Bali, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Aceh.

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As eager ravers scurried among the corridors and open spaces of the venue, you could hear the words “Elephant!”, “Tiger!”, “Panda!” echo in the air. Those were the animals chosen as stage names, and with good reason. “Asia is known for being a region with the richest nature and wildlife variety. Along with this blessing comes the challenge of combatting illegal hunting, poaching and trade,” mention the members of Tripo 3000. So how does a first-timer festival lend a hand to such an issue?

Welcoming you at each stage is a sign with a QR code. Scan it, and you’ll be lead to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) page to learn more about the highlighted animal and directly donate to their conservation.

Speaking of stages, those patient enough to stop and take a breather in between the running to and from ‘Elephant’, ‘Tiger’ and ‘Panda’ were lucky enough to experience the ‘Mushroom’ stage. A hideaway from all the hustle and bustle, ‘Mushroom’ was a smaller space for ravers to chill out on pillows and beanbags, accompanied by ambient sounds and a huge screen with hallucinating visuals. “Sometimes a multi-stage event can demand a high level of energy. That’s where Mushroom comes in, for you to recharge and reset your vibe,” mention the organisers, who claim to be inspired by the San Francisco rave culture film ‘Groove’ from 2000.

Like any first-timer festival, there are always going to be first-timer obstacles, weather being an unescapable one. Raining quite heavily for the first part of Day 2, the outdoors ‘Panda’ stage’s schedule got a little pushed back, but still wasn’t lacking in enthusiasm. Crowds sat down and huddled underneath canopies, fervently waiting for the skies to clear. Eventually braving a mildly puddled dance floor, attendees brought the ‘Panda’ stage back to life and let out all their pent-up energy as the weather finally cleared; just in time for the nighttime lasers to light up.

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Name any genre off the top of your head and you’ll most likely find it being played at Asia KolektifA. When we asked Tripo 3000 what was a highlight of the event, unanimously they answered Prontaxan — a crew from Yogyakarta playing a genre known as ‘Funkot’ (Funky Kota). How to describe the music? “Fast-pumping dance music originating from Indonesia that combines Eurodance and trance synths with rhythms from Dangdut koplo.” You’ve got to hear it to believe it.

To “reconnect and unite electronic music enthusiasts”, especially after a pandemic that affected the entire world, sounds like a typical objective put out by most post-quarantine events. However, every single detail presented by the Asia KolektifA team during their first-ever, two-day, regional festival did just that. Not only a celebration of talent from around the region, Asia KolektifA was also a shared experience in bonding over what makes Asia prominent; its sonic diversity.

With a bigger and better gathering planned for next year, make sure to follow Asia KolektifA's Instagram here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Editor, follow her on Instagram.