No new Southeast Asian nightclub has garnered more attention or interest in 2024 than Desa Potato Head’s freshly minted subterranean niterie Klymax Discotheque. 

Ever since it opened earlier this year, the hotspot has featured an impressive mix of high-profile international guests such as Yu Su, Theo Parrish and Shanti Celeste; alongside beloved Indonesian talent like Archie, Jonathan Kusuma and Dita (just to name a few).

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Darker Than Wax (@darkerthanwax)

Now you can add Singaporean faves Dean Chew and Daryl Knows and Super Enjoy’s Bongomann to that ever-growing list of illustrious names. The trio were invited to grace the lofty decks at Klymax last Saturday, 19 October - and we figured, what better time to check out the new space than with some of our favourite local selectors?

The first thing one notices is the club’s impeccable acoustics. Crafted in partnership with underground dance music icon DJ Harvey, the club’s state-of-the-art system was custom-built to the legend’s specifications by revered audio engineer George Stavro, to ensure an optimal audio experience. 

But while it is indeed a sonic haven for music heads and audiophiles, to the average partygoer, aesthetics probably matter just as much. Klymax doesn’t skimp on that end either. Its sleek wood-panelled interiors and decor - designed by Potato Head Design Studio in collaboration with Dutch architects OMA and acoustics engineer Theo Raijmakers - are visually elegant as well.

For their part, the trifecta of Offtrack staples made the most of what the room had to offer. Bongomann kicked things off with an an all new live set.

"Beyond blessed to be given the opportunity to jam live on my own material in such a premier spot," shares the Ice Cream Sundays stalwart. "Klymax is easily the best club I’ve ever played at. It’s everything a primo club should be!  Plus it’s such a win with their fantastic team running things."

Following that, the Darker Than Wax duo took over the club's lofty perch with typically excellent DJ sets that spanned everything from disco and house to Afro and R&B. Bongomann even came back later on in the night to join in for some welcome b2b shenanigans.

"It was a real honour to be invited to play at the best club I’ve ever been in. Every thing from the moment you step in is immaculate and well thought of.  The sound is spot on, clear and punchy without being overly loud. Walking around the room, there’s rarely any dead spots to be found. You are constantly engulfed by sound without any of the fatigue," enthused Daryl.

"The DJ booth is comfortable, with everything a DJ might need within reaching distance. It’s very obvious a lot of care and consideration went into the design, allowing the DJ to focus on the music without distractions."

The focus on music, without the obnoxious fuss and muss typical of other megaclubs, is something that many new attendees at the venue were impressed by as well.

"Kylmax has very big potential, and can be the mecca of clubbing in Asia. No frills, simple and dance floor-oriented," shares Leland, a Singaporean DJ who came to Bali for this event. "You can get lost in its soundsystem. The attention to detail is superb."

The DTW bossman expressed similar sentiments saying, "Klymax comes close to a true embodiment of a club space - one that deviates from the DJ as the centre of attention, and focuses on the immediacy of the dance floor and its participants. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the former Zouk club in Singapore which played a significant part in shaping who I am as a selector and student of the music.”

To cap it all off, Daryl succintly explains what makes the venue so special, "When a space is this well crafted with music in mind, it naturally attracts a community of music heads who are open to different sounds, and are willing to go on a journey with the DJ from start to end. Klymax has been a dream to play in."