The queen of Ibiza and the Virgin airwaves who loves it funky
Interview by Dan Prince
Miss Constable, a very warm welcome to DMCWORLD.
“Hello Mr Prince – thanks for the warm welcome, can we just hug this out and milk it for a few minutes…?”
Okay a little history…you were resident DJ once upon a time at Flesh at The Hacienda in Madchester back in the day. The Gay Traitor downstairs was your domain; your Pussy Parlour friends giving you the time out ‘T’ hand signal, people securing their chairs to dance on early doors and not moving, the impossible stairs to walk down as they were so packed and the tunes…oh the tunes! For our younger readers who have only read about this night and the club itself…what were those days like?
“It’s amazing how the good ship, FAC 51 aka the Hacienda impacted my life and the lives of all who sailed in her. Being able to DJ in a place where I attended regularly and on a weekly basis – for gigs, parties and events – being asked to be a part of that was a dream job. I’ll always marvel at how that symphony in concrete / metal and wood held me musically captive in the most gorgeous way and for about 6 years all in. It was an enormous buzz working there, being able to go there in the daytime and at night, being involved in a way that I’d never really been involved in clubs before. Yet legends are created over time, through the cumulative effect of history, stories etc. so living it only felt magical – which was more than enough to keep the smile on my face. The mythical bit has come with much hindsight attached. Now the Hacienda is known as a standard bearer and a blueprint for other clubs and nights around the country (Ministry of Sound?). For a long time it was unrivalled in the North and its legacy is indisputable. ‘Flesh’ took the Hacienda’s ‘introducing’ / ‘have you ever heard anything like this before?’ musical outlook (embracing house music and disco when most clubs were indie), blended it with a ‘strictly for gays, lesbians and their friends’ policy, then bombed it with a larger than life, technicolour, flamboyant, hedonistic, leftfield, anything goes attitude. It was THE monthly midweek party that everybody made plans for, bought or made outfits especially, booked transport, synchronised watches for that kind of thing…”
You are one of France’s most popular DJs, living in Paris for a while before moving to Ibiza. Do you miss the most romantic city in the world?
“Yes I do have the occasional ‘I miss Paris’ moments – not for the romance though (moving swiftly along), thankfully those flashpoints don’t make me home or heartsick, they simply give me a fuzzy warm glow and make me appreciate it so much more when I go back. My last trip back was too much fun: I had the most amazing time, met the team from Virgin Radio at last, played the huge Inox festival, then spent time running around taking pictures on the Champs Elysées and at La Defense, or hanging out with my friends but when the plane touched down in Ibiza my heart went ‘…aaaaaaahhhhhhh * sighs *’…”
Last week I asked you this to review a record for DMC WORLD. You said “no thank you Dan, it doesn’t make me dance or happy”. With that in mind, what are the 3 records that made you dance and be happy this summer?
Groove Armada – You Got To
Patrick Topping – Forget
Mutiny UK & Steve Mac – Feel the Pressure
The people of Ibiza love a good Full Moon. You though have your own way of dealing with it…” woah full moon, you are revving up big time. My advice – step back, reconsider, go easy on yourself and … hide under the goddamned kitchen table until it’s gone.” Care to elaborate?
“I suppose I am ruled by my emotions, my 70% of water seems to have tides that are hugely magnetic so I am a ‘howl at the moon’ or ‘let’s go batshit mental to this one’ slave to full moons. I try to avoid nights out on full moons as I either get into trouble / up to no good or on the safe side just get too hammered…”
Two of your best friends in Ibiza are Andy and Dawn from the mighty Ibiza Rocks empire. What they have done for the island is immeasurable, from the heady days of Manumission and Bar M through to Ibiza Rocks, Pikes and now Mondays at Pacha. They rock right?
“Andy and Dawn certainly do rock and in so many ways. They are mavericks, creative, risk-takers with a super keen eye for good business ideas and yet are totally approachable, down to earth and really good fun to be around. They’re fully involved – back office and front of house. They don’t take themselves too seriously, are not afraid of the great God Karaoke and also make me laugh a lot.”
Andy and Dawn give you Pikes for the night. Who are the 3 DJs you invite to play for you and for what reason?
“God that’s not an easy question – every time I write the answer down I have to change it. Can I do an old skool and nu skool one? The old skool three have been chosen out of a very deep respect and love for who they are musically and personally and for what they represent in music and clubbing terms. These are the Titans, the historians, people whose musical knowledge I admire and respect and have in some way influenced or helped me to formulate my own career. The new ones are the ones who make me dance like a nutcase
Carl Cox – because I have been following him since the Zap Club days and love that he can play a party / funk set up to full on techno.
Gilles Peterson – because he can join the dots between most genres of music.
Pete Tong – because he can join the dots between most genres of house music old school soul / funk set.
And then…
Martinez Brothers.
Groove Armada.
Derrick Carter.
I still want to change them again though…”
Aside from sunset strip. Ibiza Rocks and Ocean Beach, San Antonio has had an absolute nightmare this year. Bars closing every week, the whole Gatecrasher disaster, the West End looking like a ghost town. The writing was on the wall a long time ago for the town, especially with how Bossa has exploded. Is there any way back for one of our favourite clubbing towns?
“Unfortunately just throwing money or new talent at the San Antonio problem can’t change its bad tourist image and crime profile. Moreover, whilst directing tourist attentions towards the family market pulls focus and gives it a new and healthier lick of paint, it’s only a sticking plaster as this, in itself, both stifles and suffocates the clubbing aspect of San Antonio.
Is there any way back? This year the South and West attracted the polo, yachting, Gumball, World Cup screenings, Corona Sunsets – the North had none of that. What San Antonio does not need but has got, are the kind of investors who have never run clubs before and don’t know how to promote a club properly but expect an immediate seasonal and profitable return on their money and get nervous as soon as their investment dwindles.
I think it’s going to take something sexier than a Destino or a Lio, cooler than a fun fair ride or water park but less high brow than an art exhibition to draw the big money over to the North. It will also take the kind of investor / organiser that not only commands respect from the talent and bookers so that they will place their confidence in events held on that side of the island. It will also take a creative / marketing team with the kind of vision and stamina / balance sheet that can turn around empty / stigmatised clubs and stand the huge losses that come with that for a few years until it beds back in.”
A famous quote from you…“Laidback Luke – his beats drive my heartbeat like a pacemaker, and his basslines make me dance like I have red shoes on.” Who though have been some of your favourite DJs in Ibiza this year?
“You must have dug that quote up from my 2006/7 time capsule LOLs!!!! Saying that, I was admittedly a huge fan of his music then…
The DJs who have had that effect on me this season are…
Kevin Saunderson, Derrick Carter, Tiga, James Zabiela, Ame, Locodice, Solomun, Claptone, Groove Armada, Joachim Garraud, Joey Negro, Horsemeat Disco, Carl Cox, Iban Mendoza, Eva Pacifico, Gael, Jose Maria Ramon, Miguel Garji, David Moreno, Igor Marijuan, Felix Da Housecat, Breach, Todd Terry, Dennis Ferrer, MK, DJ Ease – Nightmares on Wax, Disclosure, PBR Streetgang, Martinez Brothers, Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez, DJ Pierre, Paul Woolford, Claude Von Stroke, Guy Williams, Gorgon City, Justin Martin, Colin Peters, Graham Sahara and Doorly.
Fuck me you don’t mess around! Well, we saw you down the from with Loco Dice celebrating his birthday at We Love…last month – a monster evening. What have been your best 3 parties on the white isle this summer?
“My nights out have been limited by my own work schedule (what a party buzz killer that can be), but my favourites when I can go out are…
Obviously the Locodice takeover / Birthday Party and practically all the ‘We Love…’ at Space parties
Ibiza Rocks House at Pacha has been a total revelation – Ibiza clubbing is fun again
Solomun + 1
Underwoman / Total Femme at Veto
Early season at Zoo Project
Ibiza Rocks for live events – Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen, Rudimental, Gorgon City, Zane Lowe and Mark Ronson spring immediately to mind as ‘moments’ and W.A.R.
Ibiza Rocks House at Pikes – Rock Nights, Electric Tiger Cave, W.A.R after parties, Idris Elba’s 7 Wallace presents…
Glitterbox at Booom which developed nicely through the season
Oh yeah, that’s more than three…”
Rabbit ears? Explain…
“Alice In Wonderland is one of my favourite children’s stories and the White Rabbit always had a strange attraction for me. Rabbits are naughty little minxes. They are cute but they also eat all the carrots and ruin the garden or farm. They like to reproduce. They dig crazy warrens but don’t get lost in them. They go thump, thump, thump and for some reason, no matter where you see them you have to follow them … Consequently anything with rabbits on or involved has my vote. I have coveted the weird and wonderful Ibiza Rocks House at Pacha rabbit ears hats since the Opening Party. Since then I have tried on and tried to keep one at least once a week but to no avail – they are like performer gold and stay welded to the heads of those who own them. Finally – and after a little bit of pestering – Dawn offered to make me my own personalised one so that I too could embrace my inner rabbit. At risk of sounding completely mental, the rabbit hat is magic. You never know where you’re going to end up when you’re wearing it. My personalised hat arrives next week. She’s lovely. I am very proud.”
Moving swiftly on, Ibiza made the news for all of the wrong reasons in July when Steve Angello, Paul Oakenfold and Afrojack were interviewed on Radio 1 claiming that Ibiza had become too expensive, too VIP and had lost it’s mystique. Most of us who live on the island have different opinions on this, what’s yours…?
“Ibiza probably is massively expensive in the areas they stay in and the clubs they play in – and with their fees and DJing lifestyles they have probably, in some way, shape or form contributed to it. Since their fees are so high there is no question or hope of them playing at the smaller venues who don’t feed into that cycle and who now can’t afford them so they are stuck in a vicious ‘overpriced and over here’ non dancing, phone waving, couldn’t give a damn about who was playing or in fact what they are hearing VIP circle. Everyone gets jaded now and again but that just sounds like people biting the hand that feeds to me. Next question.”
Before our eyes the island has developed into one of the finest culinary hot spots on the planet, be it the world famous Cipriani in Marina Botafoch, the two thousand Euro a head experience at SubliMotion or the crazy acrobat cabaret shenanigans at Lio…Ibiza has really moved up a gear – there are even rumours of Ferran Adria opening up inside the Casino next year. Where are your favourite places to grab some nosh on a special occasion?
“Hostal Talamanca for beach tapas / paella vibe.
La Bodega – Ibiza Old Town
La Oliva – Dalt Villa
Marina Restaurant in San An (I know but the food is really good).”
You played a special 80s set at Pikes at the start of August. What was your tune of the night?
“Tie break between…
The Bangles – Walk Like An Egyptian
New Order – Blue Monday
Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
Cyndi Lauper – I Drove All Night
The Belle Stars – Iko Iko.”
Paris Hilton earning $200,000 a set at Amnesia this summer. Thoughts?
“There are two sides to this. Aside from her technical skills undermining her ‘DJ’ moniker wildly, if I was a personality with her global profile and had that earning power I would probably think that taking that wage was justified too. However, I’m pretty sure my conscience wouldn’t let me accept it. At least it wouldn’t until I gagged it with heavy duty gaffer tape and told it to shut up and bank the cheque…”
What is the 1 song that will always remind you of Ibiza?
“One? No chance….”
Supermen Lovers – Starlight
Silicone Soul – Alright
Guitarra G
BBE – Seven Days and One Week
Robert Miles – Children
It has been another crazy summer on the white isle, it seems every celebrity and their mother has been partying here this year; Madonna, Bieber, Rihanna and Kanye West have all been spotted out and about on the white isle in recent weeks. Is all this celebrity action good for the island or is it inevitable with all the attraction of Ibiza?
“Ibiza has always been a ‘celebrity’ island but back in the day the celebrities kept themselves to themselves, partied in their villas with their celebrity friends or at least went out without the huge media circus that accompanies even Z-list reality stars these days. Moreover they didn’t have to media-tise themselves every time they sneezed or farted, or four square themselves every 10 seconds just so the paparazzi knows where they are. It does increase the cachet of the island but it kills the mystique massively. It would be so much better if celebrities exercised a bit more dignity and decorum on the island so that their presence didn’t attract the droves of tourist rubberneckers but probably thanks to all things internet that is never going to happen.”
Studio wise, what is coming out next from you?
“I have a few studio projects in the pipeline – one noisy cheeky big room thing with a famous friend of mine that’s nearly finished. And the lovely Graham Sahara has said that I can have a dabble and twiddle with him at his studio so who knows where that could lead. Am also waiting for some song ideas from Kelvin Andrews – so if everything goes well, the winter looks like it’s going to be very musical. Also, on top of my PAULETTE GOES BANG weekly radio show (a playlist and new music – electro pop / rock / house music round up) for Virgin Radio (national) I will mostly be getting on with the following…learning how to use software and speak better Spanish with my good friend and techno Tanit Gael.”
And finally, how’s the toe?
“My toe is still very much broken and my foot is doing some delayed swelling reaction thing that is exacerbated by the 30°C heat that I’m not happy about. I am currently buying Eroski out of frozen peas. Where did you get your foot x-rayed Dan? Need the number.”
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Links…
Virgin Radio…Saturdays weekly http://www.virginradio.fr/
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www.mixcloud.com/DJPAULETTE
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