CTM 2025: Spooky-J + Kuntari + Xiu Xiu

8pm: Spooky-J

The British electronic architect behind Nihiloxica’s rhythmic force, Spooky-J blends the raw intensity of traditional Bugandan percussion with the throbbing pulse of underground techno. The alter ego of drummer and producer Jacob Maskell-Key dives deep into the realms of solo drumming and effects processing for his performances. With roots in Amsterdam's vibrant improv scene, he evolved his sound by merging live effects manipulation and drum triggers to craft intense, doom-laden dance soundscapes. His signature style is a fierce blend of rhythm and experimentation, designed to ignite sweat-drenched dance floors.

9pm: Kuntari

Borne of Tesla Manaf’s restless defection from jazz orthodoxy and a chance meeting with the like-minded Yennu Ariendra, Kuntari slashes through conventions with raw, untamed force. Its primal-core sound snarls with the guttural echoes of mating calls and tribal Indonesian rhythms resurrected from the 16th century blended into a feral rite where roto toms snarl with clipped resonance, and Tesla’s percussive guitar transforms into an instrument of raw, thrumming power.

10pm: Xiu Xiu

For over two decades, Xiu Xiu has reigned as one of the most unrelentingly inventive acts in experimental music. Led by Jamie Stewart, their music cycles through emotional and sonic intensities with disarming ease, Stewart’s quiver-to-bark vocals strutting and shivering in Angela Seo’s kaleidoscopic production. Beloved across scenes for their prolific output, gonzo explorations of darkness and experimental ferocity, theirs is music for those gnawed-out by life’s horrors yet unable to avert their gaze.