Jack Glass and Chris Stracey, known as the Bag Raiders, are one of Sydney’s best electronics artists, with tracks like “Shooting Stars” growing to define the past decade. Founded as an alternative dance band in 2006, the school friends have released two full length albums while touring the world. One of the places they have toured is Bali, calling the Island a second home. Now in 2020, the Bag Raiders have announced a new residency at Mrs Sippy from April 11th to June 27th, which is looking to be the biggest of their long careers. Backyard Opera was able to talk with Jack Glass and discuss their music, their favourite residencies and their love for Bali.

“This is the first time we’ve done like a massive, every weekend for three months, type of residency,” said Jack. “We know the club and the venue and the people and the area well, so there’s no unknowns there. I think it’ll be really special.”

Bag Raiders’ music is a blend of house and disco in an accessible pop form. Jack used the unintentional pun of a “mixed bag” to describe the eclectic sound. This has always been a defining feature of the band, going right back to their first EP. The duo went around “raiding” their friends’ and families’ record collections in order to draw on as many influences as possible for their debut release. While Jack specifically named Prince, Daft Punk and Earth, Wind & Fire, it was the raided bags of vinyls that not only gave them their sound, but also their name. 

“We really try not to write to formula or write what we think will be popular,” said Jack. “We just try and get in the studio and go with the flow. Whatever comes out, comes out. To me, the stuff we release is really disparate and different and there’s lots of different flavours and vibes in there.

One of the reasons Bag Raiders have remained so enduring is their ability to take the upbeat, dance music that they make in the studio and both recreate and add to it in live performance. Employing a third member to go on drums, the multi-instrumentalists change certain elements of their songs, so that they can be realised in a live setting, and add new elements, so the experience is unique and fresh. These stellar performances have allowed them to tour across the world playing at parties, clubs, festivals and most importantly, playing at their own residencies. 

“In terms of what it feels like when we’re up there,” explained Jack, “it’s really different to DJing because it’s harder, there’s more pressure, it’s easier to fuck it up. I think it’s kind of more special because we play all our own music and so people are there just to see us. Not to say I don’t love DJing, but live for me is a better representation of the music we make.”

Jack’s favourite show was a hometown performance at the Sydney Festival First Night on January 10th, 2009. Joined by names like A-Trak, Ajax and Santogold, he described the blocked off College St scene as “mayhem of a kind that sadly doesn’t exist in Sydney anymore”. Crowds were overflowing through the streets, kids were climbing over the walls and Bag Raiders were playing to the chaotic energy. This show remains a special and poignant memory for Jack, but Sydney itself is an important chapter in their career. Citing residencies at clubs like 77, which is the only one from their early days that’s still open, and the Bang Gang parties, this period wasn’t just where they made their name, but also where they developed their skills as artists.

“We started making little blends and bootlegs and stuff and we’d just burn it on CD,” said Jack. ”They trusted us enough to know it wouldn’t be a stinker so those parties were really massive for us. It was like school for us. Party school.”

After becoming global artists, Australia wasn’t the only island that defined Bag Raiders. First visiting when Jack finished high school, Bag Raiders have been to Bali more times than they can count. The two’s love of hoping on a motorbike and exploring the Island has meant that they now have close friends, favourite venues and a whole lot of memories associated with the place. The two of them even speak a little Indonesian. Now they are returning to Mrs Sippy for the sixth time, with three months to spend in their second home of Bali.

“(Mrs Sippy)’s definitely one of our favourite spots,” said Jack. “It’s got this big pool and beach area that turns into a dance area. You get there during the day and it’s really chill, everyone’s having cocktails by the pool. Then as soon as the sun goes down, everyone crowds the dancefloor and the party begins.”

With plans to set up a studio while they’re there, Jack hopes their love of the island will act as inspiration for some new music. Bag Raiders begin their three month residency in Bali on April 11th, with Jack urging everyone to make the trip. 

“If you haven’t been to Bali, do yourself a favour and get over there,” said Jack “If you want to come and have a bit of a party and a boogie with us on the weekend, we’d be stoked for that as well.”

Website | Instagram