Pictured Above: (On Dannqrack) Jacket, shirt, all FIFTH; Shorts, Talent’s own (On Eemrun) T-shirt, pants, all FIFTH; Hat, Talent’s own (On ADER2K) Top, Stylist’s own; Pants, shoes, all Talent’s own (On lucidrari) Jacket, top, pants, all FIFTH
There is a sense of mystique surrounding songs and their ability to nudge the emotional compass — a single track can spark lovestruck euphoria, plunge emotions into the depths of despair, or catapult moods onto a wave of pure elation. But how do these meticulously crafted melodies sway choices, tap into deepest emotions, or trigger those impulsive moments that cannot be explained? Consider that one verse from Cigarettes After Sex might have one reaching for the phone to text a long-lost “situationship” while a DJ’s set in the club transports them to an entirely different dimension. “It was not me. It was the music”, waking up the following morning after making the worst decision in life.
There is that innate curiosity to decode someone through their music taste — a universal truth collectively embraced. Music is a vessel of emotions, messages, and memories. It is why the soundtrack of someone else’s Instagram story is analysed or a deep connection is felt when a curated Spotify playlist is sent. Every song carries a vibe, a message, a story, and the significance it holds is trusted.
MidLyfe — lucidrari, Dannqrack, ADER2K, and Eemrun — is the embodiment of this musical influence. “We don’t follow a blueprint; we just create,” says Rari, who has penned hits like “GADISKU,” “LAMPU BIRU,” and “PAPERTAG.” Ader spins their sets, while Eemrun and Dannqrack are the lyrical architects. Their albums SUPERNATURAL and Hari Biasa have amassed over 50,000 listeners in a month. For this issue, Men’s Folio ask: Can we unravel the boys behind the music?
What was your first musical awakening?
Dannqrack (DQ): Justin Bieber, “Never Say Never” tour. Seriously, I had a full-blown Bieber fever.
When did the penny drop? When did you realise that music was your inevitable path?
lucidrari (LR): Inevitable? It’s always been there. Like, was there ever another option? Everything felt so natural, as if music was always a part of everything I did. I remember in high school how everyone used to hang out, watch football, or go to Mamak. My friends and I would sit at one table, and no matter where we were or what we were doing, we’d always end up talking about music or making some.
What is the earliest music memory?
Eemrun (ER): My uncles were in a band. They’d jam at our place all the time. I tried playing the guitar and making beats, but it didn’t click. Then I picked up a pen. That’s when the music started to make sense.
(On ADER2K) Top, Stylist’s own; Pants, Talent’s own
(On lucidrari) Jacket, top, pants, all FIFTH; Shoes, Talent’s own
What was the first reason you started DJing?
ADER2K (AD): Honestly, I just thought it was cool. That reason was enough for me. [Laughs] A friend of mine was doing it then, and I thought, “If he can do it, I can do it too.” It has been five years now, and here I am.
What is the most personal song you have ever written?
DQ: Probably “Mimpi” from our latest album, Hari Biasa. It translates to “dream”. It’s about this girl I keep encountering in my sleep, the only place I can see her. She’s my dream girl, literally. It’s a beautiful concept, so I wrote a song for her.
ER: For me, it’s “Terang”. It was so authentic, so real, it practically wrote itself. There was no second-guessing.
You often talk about creating a specific aura at your DJ sets. What kind of energy do you seek from the crowd?
AD: Chaos. It’s really fun to see people in their rawest energy. Everyone has this persona they have to put on every day to go out, but on my dance floor, it’s okay to go crazy. I like it more when people get crazy; I feed off that energy.
What is one MidLyfe “TMI”?
LR: “GADISKU” was almost scrapped. It was a late-night miracle. Now it’s a 7-million-stream anthem.
What is the craziest thing to happen on stage?
AD: Dude, I got flashed once, like, full-on exposed. It was crazy.
Songwriting: You or an alter ego?
DQ: I used to write from my emotions a lot, so things were very real and unfiltered, but these days, I feel more like a character when I write.
(On Eemrun) T-shirt, pants, all FIFTH; Hat, shoes, Talent’s own
(On Dannqrack) Shirt, FIFTH; Shorts, shoes, all Talent’s own
Music influences our emotions and decisions. Does it affect you?
AD: Absolutely. It’s like a mood-altering substance without the physical dependency, and that’s exactly why I steer clear of the sad stuff — no point in inviting that kind of energy.
If we were to scroll through your Spotify playlists right now, what kind of person would we think you are?
DQ: Mac Miller, Frank Ocean, and Tyler the Creator. Classic softie, 100%.
LR: I think people would be more confused than anything else if they tried to figure me out based on my playlists. I mean, I’ve got over sixty, and I listen to everything from A to Z. Good luck figuring me out.
ER: It’s a pretty standard rap rotation for me, but I think some of the stuff I listen to might surprise people. Like, P Ramlee classics and EDM? Who saw that coming?
LR: Oh, by the way, Ader doesn’t even have Spotify or Apple Music.
AD: Yeah, I don’t. Ironically, I’m pretty sure I’m the person who listens to music the least in this friend group. Even though I’m the DJ, I enjoy the silence during the day. Ambience is the best genre.
Photography Joe Ng
Styling Liew Hui Ying
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our September 2024 issue.