For over 15 years, Jungle by Night has been carving out a unique space in the European music scene. What started as a young band inspired by afrobeat has evolved into a powerful, genre-fluid collective blending krautrock, electronic textures and global rhythms into something entirely their own. Rooted in friendship, curiosity and constant reinvention, the band is now entering a new chapter — one where their sound expands even further, and for the first time, their own voices take center stage. We spoke with Tienson about origins, evolution, and what it means to keep moving forward as a band that refuses to stand still.
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Introduction
What does the name ‘Jungle by Night’ mean to you?
The name goes all the way back to 2009, when we first started. As kids, we used to visit the zoo in Amsterdam, and there was this nocturnal exhibit called “Jungle by Night.” That place really stuck with us. The sounds, the atmosphere, the feeling of hearing things you don’t fully understand yet. Sounds that come from different countries and you don’t hear on the street around you. At the time, it felt like a perfect name. And over the years, it has grown into something much bigger than that original reference. We don’t think about jungles or nighttime anymore when we hear it, it’s just who we are now. But the feeling behind it, that sense of discovery and unfamiliar sounds, is still very much part of our music.
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard you before?
Right now, we’re an instrumental band that blends influences from krautrock, electronic music and global rhythms. We started out heavily inspired by afrobeat, but over time we’ve shifted more towards repetition and hypnotic structures, think bands like Talking Heads or Kraftwerk. Our music is very beat-driven and often builds into a kind of trance. Repetition plays a big role, both in rhythm and melody, with horns often leading the way.
What themes return in your music?
They do, but in different ways. A lot of our older work tells stories more through feeling and titles. For example, we have a track called Hangmat (Dutch for hammock), and it really captures that laid-back, floating mood. But with our upcoming album, that’s changing. For the first time, we’re writing and performing our own vocals. We did that with guest artist before, but for the upcoming album it means we’ll be telling stories more directly through lyrics as well.
Can you share what those stories are about?
We’ve been talking a lot as a band about what we actually want to say. Topics like climate, friendship, and connection play a big role. Especially the bond you build when you’re on tour together for weeks. We’re also exploring themes like equality on the dancefloor, and even masculinity – questioning what it means to be a man today, and reacting to figures that represent toxic masculinity. We’re not trying to be overly political or preachy, but we do want to reflect on the world around us in an honest way.
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Roots
Where do you draw inspiration from today?
A mix of different things. Bands like Talking Heads are a big influence, especially in how they combine music with themes and storytelling. We also look at artists like Air, The Whitest Boy Alive and LCD Soundsystem. At the same time, a lot of inspiration still comes from digging for music, especially outside of Western traditions. There’s so much richness and history in music from other parts of the world, and that continues to inspire us.
Your music doesn’t sound typically Western, where does that come from?
That really comes from our own taste and curiosity. Many of us collect records and actively look for music from outside Europe. There’s so much incredible music out there, and a lot of the roots of modern genres actually come from outside the Western world. Naturally, that influences what we make. We also use instruments connected to those traditions, for example, West African percussion like djembe and Cuban percussion like congas alongside more Western instruments like synths and drums. We also use an Akai EWI, which is an electronic flute from Japan. It’s all part of the blend.
What does “fusion” mean to you?
For us, fusion is about freedom. The freedom to combine different influences and create something new that feels like your own. It’s not about mixing genres for the sake of it, it’s about finding a sound where everything comes together naturally. In the end, it still has to sound like Jungle by Night.
Do you see yourselves as bridge-builders between cultures or genres?
Maybe, but we don’t think about it in those terms too much. What we do try to do is offer an alternative to show that instrumental, non-mainstream music can still reach big stages and connect with large audiences. If that inspires other artists or opens people up to new sounds, then that’s something we’re proud of.
Live
What do you want people to feel during your live shows?
Connection and fun, above all. We have a lot of energy and fun on stage, and I think people can feel that. We want people to feel like they’re part of it, like the distance between band and audience disappears. There’s a real sense of energy and interaction, and that pulls the audience in. After shows people often approach us and say that they can see how much fun we have, and that everybody gets a lot of room for experimentation on stage.
What live moment stands you’ll never forget?
Playing Fuji Rock Festival was unforgettable. Being so far from home and seeing a huge crowd in Japan fully connect with our music – with so much attention and respect – was incredibly special. Another big one was playing the Alpha stage at Lowlands Festival. Standing there in front of thousands of people after years of building towards that moment, that was emotional. A real sense of pride and release.
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Inspires
What’s next for Jungle by Night?
A new album, a new phase. We’re now a six-piece instead of seven, which changes the dynamics and forces us to rethink how we play and perform. We’re redistributing roles on stage, experimenting with new setups, and building a new live show around the upcoming material. It’s exciting, but also a bit scary, which is usually a good sign. And we’re releasing a new single on the 26th of May. We’re really excited to get it out there!