Klymax is a love letter to nightclubs of the ‘70s and ‘80s, when the emphasis was on music and rooms were built around sound systems, rather than vice versa. As time went on, and as dance music evolved, spaces became more commercialised. “Fundamentals like acoustics, or how sound reacts to materials, were forgotten,” says Mitchell. “It’s a real art and like many crafts, it’s become something of a dying art.  It’s become less about the substance of sound and the aesthetics of, ‘let’s build something cool’,” says Mitchell. 

To build Klymax, Harvey tapped esteemed audio engineer George Stavro, who combined vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge technology to build a custom sound system; as well as design firm Oma and Desa Potato Head’s in-house architect Ade Herkarisma to design its sleek, wood-heavy interior. Thoughtful details include sprung floors—similar to those found in gymnasiums—to ensure guests’ comfort as they dance the night away, and a floating DJ booth so the sound from the dancefloor doesn’t bleed into the booth. 

That said, Mitchell and Harvey did not cut corners when it came to the roster of DJs at Klymax. Alongside the occasional international act—Harvey himself plays fairly regularly—the line-up is emblematic of Mitchell’s commitment to fostering local talent. 

“Potato Head is an Indonesian company, and when I came in 2014, I didn’t want to come to Bali just to create a foreign concept,” says Mitchell. “There are really amazing people, and amazing things happening here. So I thought, how do I use my knowledge growing up in England, and bring that sensibility here and infuse that with what’s happening locally?” 

The club’s resident DJs include the likes of Seabass, Archie, Gero and Dita—who recently opened for Jamie XX. “They are fantastic DJs who we’ve seen grow since their first ever set,” says Mitchell. “Our goal has always been to elevate local talent—especially the youth—to take their work to the next level and leave a legacy.” 

Cultural incubation is an important part of Desa Potato Head’s own legacy, from local talent to nurturing the environment. In 2016, Akili and Mitchell made it their core mission to go zero waste, ultimately establishing Desa Potato Head’s “good times, do good” philosophy. 

It recently opened its Waste Centre, which Mitchell described as a “monumental project”. Here, waste collected from all over Bali is cleaned, sorted and then recycled into products found throughout the property—from coasters to menus, in-room rubbish bins to chairs—designed in collaboration with revered British artist and designer, Max Lamb.

"[Lamb] always lets the material guide the design—making the most of what the material gives you. A lot of designers want a perfect material, but the fun part of using waste is what you’re going to get is unpredictable, it’s all different colours. Essentially, a new aesthetic has emerged out of the challenge of waste."

One chair, for example, is made from the recycled waste of 833 plastic bottles.

“Sustainability used to be a bit of a downgrade. From the beginning, we knew we were not going to make change by making people compromise or downgrade the way they live,” says Mitchell. “It has to start with great design and great functionality. By seeing the object and thinking, ‘that’s beautiful, I want that’, then looking closer and realising it’s made from waste… we have to lead with good times, because if it’s not a good time, no one’s going to be interested. So we decided, let’s create the best experiences and the best products, and if they want to learn more about it, we’re excited to share that.” 

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