Dekmantel’s free spirit resonates with Japanese scene

Since the initiation as a local party in 2007, Dakmantel have now developed into one of the most renowned icons in the game. Having gained a foothold in Amsterdam thanks to Rush Hour, the influential promoters have expanded their operation that ranges from a beloved label and a must-go festival of the same name. Despite the broad coverage, what runs through all the activities is their DIY ethic, a pure motive for what makes life fun through music. Trusting their musical instinct in a laid-back manner without the confinement to a single style, Dekmantel have enjoyed worldwide success and proved their own free-spirit aesthetic, which surely resonates with the scene here in Japan.

Following the Japanese premiere in April, the Dekmantel party returns to Contact with its core members Thomas Martojo and Casper Tielrooij, both of whom navigates it over two nights. Day 1 features Kompakt and Cómeme artist Matias Aguayo alongside Palms Trax, whose EPs for Lobster Theremin and Dekmantel are creating stirs. They are joined by Dubby, a Japanese man behind the Ondas online record store that have unearthed forgotten gems attracting attention from international selectors, as well as Yoshinori Hayashi, who made a striking debut with an EP for Going Good. This is a night that offers a house and disco side to Dekmantel’s eclectic taste.