Channel: Resident Advisor

Category: Music

Description: The past few years have seen a wave of listening bars opening across Europe. Taking inspiration from Japan's culture of audiophile venues, these spots put a unique twist on a long-standing tradition, creating an environment for discovering music that appeals to hi-fi obsessives and casual listeners alike. The Rise of Listening Bars: Doka "Around the world you see a new kind of bar coming up that really focuses on sound quality," says Axel van der Lugt of Doka. "We felt that Amsterdam is ready for a similar place with these qualities." The result is Doka, a listening bar located in the basement of Amsterdam's Volkshotel. The crew behind this intimate venue aim to create a space for people to "unwind or unleash" while DJs play well-chosen records. Right now, however, the future of Doka—like most music-focused venues the world over—is uncertain. We didn't think that when we went to film at Doka earlier this year, as part of our ongoing series celebrating a new wave of listening bars in Europe, that the Amsterdam venue would soon be facing an existential threat. With the latest round of curfews and restrictions in the Netherlands, Doka's opening hours have been cut back to just three a day, with a 30-person capacity. Axel and his team remain optimistic. Once it's safe to do so, they hope to have people once again stopping Doka to "unwind or unleash." Produced by Resident Advisor in partnership with Asahi Super Dry Beer. Visit the series home on RA: ra.co/listeningbars Japan's hidden listening bars We are exploring Japan's rich culture of listening bars and audiophile venues. It's a culture rooted in the joy of discovering music, and listening to that music in the best possible environment—that means precision-made speakers, amps, turntables and mixers. Tucked away in basements, back-alleys and high-rise buildings, these bars come in different shapes and sizes, but they are united by their pursuit of quality, with owners endlessly fine-tuning their audio setups to create an enriching experience for anyone who visits. These are wonderful settings for people to share their love of music, serving as a "third place"—somewhere to unwind in between their time at work and home. Though they're the result of long-standing traditions, listening bars offer a glimpse into progressive Japan, one of the world's most vibrant places for music discovery. Music in order of appearance / Kamma - Timbana Masalo - WAVEWORKS004 Julien Chaptal - Seagulls Production credits / Director - Patrick Nation Editor - Matt Crocker Colourist - Matt Crocker Sound Mixer: Matt Crocker Executive Producers - Laura Akam, Kate Mullins