Text: Garrin Faturrahman
Photo: Joyland Festival

You probably saw this music group’s name laid out across a t-shirt on someone’s back. If you’re wondering why it says “Jazzy Sport,” then you might just be their next member of the gang. Hailing all the way from Japan, defining Jazzy Sport as a “music label and record store” might actually understate what they stand for—from an apparel shop, a café, to a climbing gym, there is more than meets the eye with the gang in Jazzy Sport.

Back in the Joyland Festival Jakarta 2024 days, we saw them playing around, spinning their tunes down in the Lily Pad area, as they were brought here thanks to the people over at White Shoes & the Couples Company. From their friends over in Indonesia up to the philosophy embedded in the soul of Jazzy Sport, it seems the unit really do put great, wholesome emphasis on being friends with the people they’ve met along the way.

Okay, hello, so can you please introduce yourselves? 

Masaya: I’m Masaya Fantasista from Jazzy Sport—the captain of Jazzy Sport. 

Mikey: I’m a member of Jazzy Sport, Mikey Varot.

If you guys are to introduce yourself to our readers, how would you introduce Jazzy Sport?

Masaya: Basically we are a music label and record store at the beginning. Now we do many things. Many things.

Mikey: Climbing gym also. 

Masaya: Garden shop, we have a green shop. 

Mikey: Dance studio.

Masaya: Yeah, (just) trying to make some music and sports. All culturals.

Mikey: It’s a jazzy sport.

Ah, okay. Just like the name.

Masaya: Must be sporty.

And jazzy?

Masaya: Yeah. Jazzy means, you know… you cannot explain what jazzy is. Jazzy is very open-minded and free form.

I agree. So how did Jazzy Sport actually begin? And what inspired its creation?

Masaya: I used to work at a record label. A Japanese independent record label. Two years. Then, I decided to quit and started my own label, in about 2000. Twenty four years ago. Yeah, I just want to do it by myself. It’s a very independent way.

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So it’s very you, I guess. Are there any specific artists, eras, or movements in jazz, or maybe in hip-hop, that shape Jazzy Sport’s direction?

Masaya: Have you played sports?

I ride my bike.

Masaya: Yeah. Sports means groove, just like music. There is a small rule, but it’s free form. You can choose, you can judge yourself. When you’re playing sports, when you’re playing instrumental, both. Like music sessions and playing sports—it’s the same.

The important thing is make the rules, respect other members, find the strong point of members, find the weak point of the members, and then support the weak point, and then use the strong point of other members. The teamwork, yeah. It’s the same in the music sessions, same in the society. That’s Jazzy Sport philosophy. 

Mikey: A team.

You actually mentioned about being independent and I assume it’s part of your collective mindset? 

Masaya: We’re very open, you know. We’re a collective, but we are not closed. You can be (a member of) Jazzy Sport, that’s our style. Very independent but very open for everyone. I want to make one team through Jazzy Sport in the world. “Oh, you know Jazzy Sport?” OK, you are a team member (of Jazzy Sport).

Mikey: That’s why we are here. 

Masaya: Jazzy Sport has a very long history of connection with Indonesian people. We were invited in 2005/2006 to the Java Jazz Festival. We used to have one main Indonesian guy, Glen Nanlohy. He is a very important person for us, but he passed away (about) four years ago. He used to organize festivals and he knew Jazzy Sport from the beginning. He always asks us to come to Jakarta to play. We did a very fast opening party for Potato Head Jakarta. So we have a very long history.

I only know Ale.

Masaya: Ale is a very new friend of Jazzy Sport. Now he is a very close friend. Ale and Tema and Indra Ameng, White Shoes & the Couples Company. We met them in Germany, at Kassel, at the documenta fifteen, the art festival, then we became very good friends. After Glen passed away, I lost the strong connection between Indonesia (and us). But now there are new people.

That’s wholesome. I actually want to ask something. About one of your most memorable collaborations and how it came about. What is it?

Masaya: Many many. Everyone’s the same. Even. Equality. Everything is the best. We collaborated with Soph., a Japanese brand. The French shoes brand, Patrick. We did so many international collaborations, but it’s all the same.

So your collaboration actually stretches from brands to people…

Masaya: Yeah, but to be honest, we never asked to collaborate with others. Always they asked us to collaborate and then we accepted. So we don’t ask.

And because of them going to you, that means they are also part of Jazzy Sport, yeah? 

Masaya: Yeah.

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Are there any music creatives from Indonesia that you have paid attention to?

Masaya: Yeah, yeah. You have so many talented musicians and DJs.

Mikey: I really love all Asian music. 

Any memorable names? 

Masaya: Batavia, Batavia Collective. Many good DJs. Ale is also a good DJ. You know Leno Rei, right? He is my longest friend. Gibranos from Seven Speed—he’s also a good DJ. You have so many talented music people here.

And that shows how connected you are to Indonesia as well.

Masaya: Also, I love Indonesian sports, you know? I’m really following Indonesian speed climbing, world record and all. Also football, they’re getting better and better.

So, let’s just go to the last question: what exciting projects or releases that fans can look forward to in the near future, may we know? 

Masaya: I’ve been thinking about making a compilation with Asian musicians: two or  three songs from Indonesia, two songs from Philippines, maybe Taiwan, Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam—a Jazzy Sport compilation with Asian artists.

That’s nice. That should be everything.

Masaya: Nice.