Raised between the shores of San Diego and the vibrant streets of Jakarta, Monty Hasan has been immersed in a diverse tapestry of cultures and sounds. This unique upbringing has shaped his distinctive musical style, one that seamlessly blends soulful house with global influences.
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As the co-founder and music director of Jakarta’s Bebop bar, Monty is no stranger to curating unforgettable experiences. His sets often feature a fusion of house music with Latin rhythms, while also venturing into the realms of afrobeat, dancehall, and amapiano.
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Beyond his musical pursuits, Monty is passionate about sustainability. His eco-conscious headwear brand, Topiku, reflects his commitment to environmental preservation.

house

Sound Traveler

Sound Traveler | Monty Hasan

A champion of 45 RPM records, Skeme Richards is also the mastermind behind <a href="https://nostalgiaking.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nostalgia King</a>, an online experience aiming to spotlight DJs producing analog music. It also serves as a platform for filmmakers, visual artists, photographers, and not to mention, foodies.
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As an ambassador of art and culture, Skeme was recently presented with a Citation by the City Council of Philadelphia. He has been immortalized in a mural that pays tribute to the city’s hip-hop culture.
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We’re delighted to have him bless us with a Soundtraveler guest mix series and an exclusive Q&amp;A.
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Globetrotter Lab: What does being a sound traveler mean to you? 
Skeme Richards: Being a sound traveler to me ultimately means sharing and spreading the love of culture through music on a worldwide level. It could be traveling to various cities and playing amazing music for audiences on the dance floor that takes them to another place and oftentimes a spiritual level, or it could be touching them via the airwaves on a radio show that reaches a global audience. The three largest connectors of people are food, drink, and music, and as DJs or sound travelers, we have the power to connect those dots while connecting people from all walks of life.
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Globetrotter Lab: What inspired this set? 
Skeme Richards: Whenever putting together music, I first think about the audience and what I want to convey to them in the given amount of time. The DJs&#8217; number one job is to educate the listener while giving them a little bit of what they want and a lot of what they didn&#8217;t know they need. I always try to balance things out with the familiar, but not overly played or cliché songs mixed with the &#8220;Oh wow, what is that!?&#8221; Dig in the crates a little deeper selections because it&#8217;s about taking people on a journey and the unexpected is always the most enjoyed. The other thing that inspired this set is also the drive to be different than other DJs. What separates DJs is always our particular crates and no two should ever be alike because we all have different ears and tastes. I&#8217;m a vinyl guy through and through and having certain rare records means less of a chance that another DJ will work that into their sets.
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Globetrotter Lab: Your love for 45s 
Skeme Richards: My love for 45s comes from my love of Deep Funk and Sweet Soul because most of that music was only available on 45. Many of the regional independent labels back in the 1960s and 1970s were working on a budget so it was cheaper to do a 45 single than LP. Also, much of that music is more rare than say what would be on a 12&#8243; or LP, which was pressed in higher numbers, so as a DJ and collector you stand out by having certain records that others don&#8217;t have. But at the end of the day, I&#8217;m a vinyl guy through and through. I love both 12&#8243; for the extended disco versions and I love LPs for those cuts that weren&#8217;t singles but need to be heard and played.
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Globetrotter Lab: As a sound traveler, what’s your favorite city to dig for records and to play in? 
Skeme Richards: As a sound traveler, the city I love the most to dig in would be Amsterdam (The Netherlands in general). There&#8217;s just so much amazing music and pressings of songs that were never pressed elsewhere. It probably comes as a shock to most people that I didn&#8217;t say Japan, which is my favorite place in the world but that&#8217;s because Japan has pretty much every record you&#8217;re looking for right there, and to me that&#8217;s not digging; that&#8217;s shopping and there&#8217;s really no discovery. In Amsterdam, I might get shipped to a particular Dutch modern soul record one day and some crazy jazz the next day.
But when it comes to the city that I love to play in the most, it&#8217;s definitely Tokyo. I&#8217;m pretty much a local in Tokyo at this point because I&#8217;m there so much but really a local in the country as a whole. They call me Magma Taishi there and whenever I land, I know that the room will be packed and people will be tuned in to what I&#8217;m going to play.
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funk

soul

world

Sound Traveler | Skeme Richards

Chicago&#8217;s premier sound curator and Globetrotter&#8217;s resident DJ, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/djseanalvarez/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean Alvarez</a>, returns with a new episode of &#8220;Past, Present &amp; Future&#8221;.

afrobeat

hip hop

Past Present & Future

Sean Alvarez

Past, Present & Future with DJ Sean Alvarez | Episode II

We first met Bahrain-based DJ, producer, beatmaker, and experimental visual artist DUST last year at Sole DXB in Dubai, who, as he tells it, fell in love with hip-hop after starting his journey as a dancer at a young age. When he&#8217;s not busy making beats, DUST, who is also a member of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.dmt.experience/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the D.M.T Experience</a> band and the founder of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theredantsarmy/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Red Ants Army</a> crew, is on a mission to learn, share, and exchange his passion and experiences with others.
DUST showcases his groovy sounds, soulful selection of rare gems, and fresh cuts in his mix for Globetrotter. From chill vibes to midnight madness, DUST knows how to vibe in any atmosphere.
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Sound Traveler: DUST.

We’re thrilled to welcome Chicago’s own DJ Sean Alvarez (<a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz notranslate _a6hd" tabindex="0" role="link" href="https://www.instagram.com/djseanalvarez/">@djseanalvarez</a>) as our new resident DJ on Globetrotter Radio!
In this inaugural episode of &#8220;Past, Present &amp; Future&#8221;, Chicago&#8217;s premier sound curator and Globetrotter&#8217;s resident DJ, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/djseanalvarez/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean Alvarez</a>, takes us across eras.
His new monthly show, “Past, Present &amp; Future,” dives deep into the sounds that shaped him: from classic soul, disco, funk, house, techno, afrobeat, hip-hop &amp; jazz.
Sean&#8217;s passion for music and the culture fuels his sets, taking listeners on a journey across genres and timeless sounds. He is also known for his diverse sets &amp; unwavering commitment to quality music. Get ready for a journey through time with a master curator!

Past, Present & Future with DJ Sean Alvarez

Bergas Haryadita, hometown favorite, has been bringing Funk, Jazz and Disco education to Jakarta since his return to Indonesia from the US. A pioneer, he&#8217;s the founder of Pleasure (a DJ collective, and event management company with its own clothing line) and is a Music Editors for Whiteboard Journal, where he curates selections for the online magazine. The seasoned pro has worked with many of the world&#8217;s best groups (Japan’s FreeDisco, Rong Music, and London’s LaserMagnetic Crew to name a few). Here he curates a special playlist for Globetrotter Soundsystem.

boogie

classics

disco

Sound Traveler 001: Bergas

A producer &amp; DJ based in Jakarta, Django started it all back in 2013, when he ventured into multiple endeavors with well-known names in the local dance scene: Ashram, Goodnws, and Trash Tapes, to name a few. He’s also active under the label/collective Divisi62 &amp; Deadrec. Django have been sharing the deck with renowned acts like: Thris Tian (Boiler Room/Worldwide FM), Fantastic Man (Fine Choice), Untold (Hemlock), Louisahhh!!! (Bromance). His craft behind the deck is enrichened by holding down residencies in his Jakarta base and playing arcane club nights in various cities across Indonesia. His set is dynamic and diverse, spanning from warm exotic grooves to bleeping club bangers. He’s always forward in offering a wide range of energy levels. Styles upon styles.

beats

electronica

Sound Traveler 004: Django

Number 003 of our Sound Traveler series welcomes the man with many hats, Funk Bast*rd, the co- founder, A+R, and creative mastermind behind fast-rising Singapore-based label Darker than Wax.

Sound Traveler 003: FUNK Bast*rd

Number 002 of our Sound Traveler series welcomes Chicago&#8217;s finest by way of Baton Rouge and one of our very favorites, DJ Tess.

Sound Traveler 002: Tess Kisner

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Our Sound Traveler mix series returns featuring Jakarta&#8217;s soul music champ, DJ/producer Leno Rei. Fresh off our Blackup Jakarta talk, we tapped the Jakarta native to bless us with some feel good black music.
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Sound Traveler 006: Leno Rei

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LADY FLiC reps the best in underground music, whether spinning balearic vibes under the coconut trees at sunset or rocking dancefloors from NY to NZ, LADY FLiC has supported legends such as Snoop Dogg, Roy Ayers, Derrick May &amp; Kevin Saunderson, Karizma, Fatboy Slim, Oddisee and Mr Scruff, and had personal props for her DJ skills from the likes of John Legend, Mark Ronson, Kurupt, King Britt, Osunlade and Maurice Fulton.
In 2020 she is based between Bali and NYC, and she is moving with the crazy times, diversifying and moving into the online space, staying true to her passion for elevation of all kinds, and helping other creatives to build and leverage their personal brands. 
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Sound Traveler 007: LADY FLiC

A special treat for you all the way from windy city Chicago, the birthplace of Globetrotter Lab (for those who don’t know).
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Join us with pleasure as we welcome a dear friend to the Lab, your favorite DJ’s favorite DJ, the southside smasher saving the world from mediocrity since 1972, the one and only Mr. Jaytoo (the DJ your mama loves) <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/thedjyomamaluv">@thedjyomamaluv</a> as guest #008 of our Sound Traveler mix series.