Printed across the glass walls of the shop is a simple phrase: “Albums still matter.” For Double Deer co-founder and KimoKal member Kimo Rizky, Medium Format is an invitation to spend more time with music, whether through vinyl, CDs, cassettes, or listening sessions held at the space.
Beyond its selection of physical formats, the shop encourages visitors to experience them firsthand through listening stations and audio players available throughout the room. A window into the adjoining event space offers a glimpse into another side of Medium Format, where listening sessions and intimate performances regularly take place.
Visitors are welcome to test albums on the players available throughout the shop. Alongside Bluetooth and AUX connectivity, the devices range from portable options to home listening setups. Among them is Medium Format’s own MFCD X-100, housed in a transparent shell that reveals the spinning disc while it plays.
That same spirit carries over to the cassette and vinyl players available at the shop. The NINM Lab Portable from Hong Kong retains much of the tactile appeal that continues to draw younger listeners toward analogue formats, while adding practical features suited to everyday use. For those looking to build a listening setup at home, Medium Format also carries turntables by Syitren. Their straightforward design makes them approachable for first-time buyers curious about exploring records beyond digital streaming.
The devices around the shop offer one way to experience albums, but the space itself opens up another. While the shop itself occupies a relatively compact space, Medium Format extends into the adjoining room, where listening sessions and intimate performances regularly take place. The setup allows visitors to move naturally between browsing records, having coffee downstairs at Little League, and spending time with the artists whose music fills the shelves. In many ways, it reflects Medium Format’s broader efforts to support musicians beyond simply releasing their work.
“I’ve experienced firsthand that making a living from music isn’t easy, said Kimo. “That’s why this is one of the ways we want to support fellow musicians through their physical releases.”
Having spent years working across different corners of Indonesia’s music industry, Kimo is quick to point out that there is no single way to enjoy music. Rather, Medium Format encourages listeners to spend a little more time with the albums they love, whether through records, CDs, cassettes, or the communal experiences built around them. At the same time, the shop serves another purpose: creating a platform where artists can continue to earn from physical releases. As such, Medium Format represents another way for Double Deer to contribute to the sustainability of the local music ecosystem.
