We have been excited to see the Australian/Indonesian connection growing over the past few years, with an influx of talented musicians and DJ’s sharing their sounds for hungry audiences here in Naarm. One of those DJ’s is Potato Head resident Dita, known for her ‘Perky Club’ collective, and armed with a musical prowess crossing over Proto-House, 90’s breaks, Balearic and beyond.
Ahead of Klymax 1st anniversary and her NYE set at Potato Head Beach Club, we were honoured to ask her a few questions about her craft.
Read the interview in full below.
DITA, INTERVIEW By Elle Young
"Being a resident at Potato Head was a key stepping stone for me to be considered for the Klymax residency, and I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity.”
How do you reflect your Indonesian roots within your sets, and how important is it for you to share this side of yourself through your music?
Indonesia is home to over 17,000 islands, each with its own unique sounds and styles. It’s amazing how every region, province, and even small districts bring something special to the table. We love mixing flavours, like in Es Campur, and that same spirit inspires my sets. You’ll hear my love for distinct percussion, sweet, string-like sounds, and complex gamelan rhythms throughout.
Can you tell us more about your relationship with Potato Head and what it means to be playing Klymax?
Being a resident at Potato Head was a key stepping stone for me to be considered for the Klymax residency, and I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity.
It feels like a privilege to be able to play at one of the best clubs in the world almost every week. It’s a dream come true, and I’m just putting in the hard work to make the most of it!
"People are always eager to experience something fresh. In Europe, I really appreciate how open people are, they’ll often come up to you after a set to say they enjoyed it, which is a great confidence boost.”
You've travelled and played through a lot of Asia including Thailand, Japan, Korea and your home turf - can you tell us what you've found about the audiences there compared to your time playing in Europe?
In Asia, the audience is incredibly excited and curious about different sub-genres, which creates a dynamic and reactive energy. People are always eager to experience something fresh. In Europe, I really appreciate how open people are, they’ll often come up to you after a set to say they enjoyed it, which is a great confidence boost. Each place has its own unique vibe and way of connecting with music, so there’s no real need to compare, they’re both special in their own way.
Do you have a favourite time slot to play? If not, how do you approach curating your sets for different times, venues and festivals?
Oh, that’s a tough one! I love playing at daytime parties or festivals, they usually have such an energetic vibe. It’s amazing to see people’s faces and take in the scenic surroundings. The energy you get from the crowd and the people you meet is just incredible!
When it comes to curating my sets, I always try to keep things fresh and surprise both the crowd and even myself sometimes! I think about the vibe that would work best and translate it into the music I play. Plus, daytime gigs mean I can sleep at a decent hour and not feel completely wiped out the next day! Hehe.
Can you tell us about your favourite dancefloor moment; who you were watching and what they were doing to make it stand out as a highlight for you?
This year’s highlight has to be my Dekmantel 10 debut with Kamma. I played a track by Mori-Ra called Acid Indonesia Dari Psychedelia, which samples a patriotic song for Indonesian Independence. Playing that in Amsterdam was such a proud and emotional moment for me. Seeing the Indonesian diaspora crew in the crowd, holding up Indonesian flags on their phones, honestly brought me to tears.
That entire 120-minute set with Kamma was an emotional rollercoaster—we cried, we laughed, we sweated, and enjoyed every second of it. The energy felt unmatched, and I hope the crowd felt it too. It was, without a doubt, the best one of my life.
For the upcoming highlight, I’d say this New Year’s Eve marks the first year of Klymax at Potato Head. I can’t wait to celebrate this special milestone with the family, our community, the artists, and everyone who’s been a part of the journey.
If there was one piece of advice you could pass on to younger DJ's that you remember from learning your craft, what would it be?
People will inevitably misunderstand or misjudge you at times, but stay focused on your growth and let your journey speak for itself. Be true to yourself, and never feel the need to apologise for who you are.
