Curator spotlight: Durum Records

From the Turkish influences of Kit Sebastian and the Thai psychedelia of Yīn Yīn to the Mediterranean sounds of Parbleu: during Hit The City, music from all corners of the world finds its own place on the Durum Stage. For two days, Vrijstaat becomes the backdrop for artists who connect contemporary sounds with music deeply rooted in their origins. One thing ties it all together: it has to be music you can dance to.

Behind this carefully curated programme are Sander Harryvan and Timo Spijkers from Durum Records, a music label in the broadest sense of the term. A home for artists, audiences, and music that doesn’t fit into a single category.

The idea for Durum Records started during a trip through Australia, where the pair discovered how deeply music can be connected to place, history and identity.

“That really inspired us,” Sander says. “We realised there was a growing audience in the Netherlands for artists who blend influences from different parts of the world into something entirely their own. We come from completely different professional backgrounds: Timo worked in healthcare, while I came from the marketing and tech world. But we looked at each other and knew we had to do something with this.”

One year later, what began as an idea quickly grew into something much bigger than a label.
“From day one, we wanted to build an ecosystem,” Timo explains. “Booking artists, releasing vinyl, organising festivals, telling artist stories. We wanted all of those pieces to strengthen each other.”

Instead of focusing on genres, Durum focuses on artists with a strong musical identity. Many draw inspiration from their heritage, but reinterpret those traditions in new and unexpected ways. “Our ambition is to build a name that represents a certain sound and identity, like Motown once did”.
“People often ask if it’s world music,” says Timo. “But all music comes from somewhere. We’re much more interested in artists who create something new by building on where they come from.”

Looking at the Durum Records roster, you’ll find artists with widely different backgrounds and influences. Yet they all share one important thing: a strong connection to their roots. According to Sander and Timo, that is exactly where their strength lies.

“Because the music is so deeply connected to its roots, there’s often a much bigger story behind it. It’s about much more than just the music. It’s about the culture behind it, where the artists come from, and what has shaped them.”

Through interviews and conversations, the duo takes their audience into the world behind the songs. These ‘artist stories’ can be found on the Durum Records website as an extra layer to the live experiences.

The love for music and genuine passion are also reflected in the events the two have built in a short amount of time. Recently, they organized their own festival Falafelpop at Hall of Fame in Tilburg, and they will soon host their own stage for two days at Hit The City.

The reactions from the audience show exactly why they do what they do. Timo: “Recently, people came up to us at Best Kept Secret Festival asking if we already knew Falafelpop. They started pitching our own festival to us. That’s probably the ultimate compliment.”

They also heard from visitors that the festival reminded them of the Lima stage at Lowlands. Sander: “It showed that people experienced it as one big celebration. That’s exactly what we want to create again at Hit The City over two days.”

The collaboration with Hit The City quickly felt like a natural fit. “We got in touch with Robert [Head of Programming at Effenaar and Hit The City, ed.] and he wanted to give Durum’s music a place in an international city like Eindhoven”, says Sander.

That place became the brand-new Vrijstaat. Located in the heart of the city, this urban oasis perfectly matches the sunny sounds of the curated programme. With a skate ramp, outdoor terrace, and creative surprises around every corner, Vrijstaat is a space where anything can happen and everyone can feel at ease.

When curating the programme, Sander and Timo mainly focus on the flow of the day.
“You want DJs between the live acts to gradually build the vibe, so that from the moment you arrive, you don’t want to leave. On Friday you’d have to think: I’m coming back tomorrow. And next year as well,” says Timo. Sander adds: “We also try to find the right balance between local and international artists.”

Hit The City is known for introducing audiences to new artists while also bringing the favorites they already know. The Durum Stage fits that same approach. “Olkan & La Vipère Rouge is definitely an act we think people should discover. They’re a surprising duo from the south of France combining techno with French rap and Turkish saz, adding their own unique twist. One thing is certain: these guys know how to throw a party,” says Sander. “Fauna is also a really exciting emerging band from Sweden, who sometimes remind me a little of Goat. They’ll be playing with a huge band in Vrijstaat’s small skate hall, and I’m really curious to see how that will translate to the stage.”

And of course, there is one favourite that cannot be missing: “Headliner Yīn Yīn, a Dutch band that has developed international allure.”

You can visit the Durum Stage, curated by Durum Records, at Vrijstaat during Hit The City Festival on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August. The programme includes Yīn Yīn, Fauna, Olkan & La Vipère Rouge, Parbleu, Kit Sebastian, and Chica Chica. For those who want to continue dancing afterwards, Durum Club takes over listening bar Otomoto with DJ sets from artists including Arabella Memdouh, Discos Horizontes, and Radikal Rupert.