At a time where our electronic dance music explosion has taken the planet by storm with six figure DJ fees, producers selling out arenas normally associated with rock bands and then going home to hang their platinum discs on their toilet walls…’We Love…’at Space in Ibiza remains one of our most cherished of parties. Organised by promoters who grew up on the house beat back in the day, dancing shoulder to sweaty shoulder with their future clientele, this seminal Sunday session continues to pride itself in showcasing fresh and up and coming talent alongside household favourites. Dan Prince checks in with one of the people behind this seminal club as they roll up their sleeves for what looks their best summer yet…
Mark hola from a rainy UK just as you set sail on another fabulous summer with We Love…at Space in Ibiza. In a season when the likes of Guy Gerber, Martin Solveig and Claude Von Stroke have exploded onto the island with exciting new parties, We Love…has moved very nicely into 2013 with over 40 new artists making their We Love…debut. Talk us through the people you are excited about unveiling to Ibiza in 2013…
“I’m always more nervous than excited the first time a new act plays for us to be honest Dan. I’m nervous because these are acts that have made something or played a set somewhere that I have personally been really turned on by and this can on occasion not be reciprocated by critical success the first time they play on Ibiza. The room may well empty for example, so this summer as always will be filled with a little sense of trepidation when I will be stood in the DJ booth watching our new signings. I do however think that this is an essential part of what we do and I also know with hand on heart that certain acts this year are going to tear the place apart and that does give me goosebumps. So new acts playing for us this summer that I’m getting goosebumbs about? Blawan, Boddika, Pedestrian, Dusky, Jackmaster, Leon Vynehall all play very different styles to each other but I know that they are going to be amazing this summer within our programming…as are Dense & Pika and Max Cooper who are both playing live sets. The list is really long and I have only booked acts that I really like but it’s not just introducing new acts that’s the most exciting thing. Really it’s being able to bring new acts up over the years and having them playing better set times in better arenas that really feels great. I’m really looking forward to seeing both Bicep and PBR Streetgang playing peak-time sets on the Terrace after years of being tucked away in small rooms or playing warm up sets in the main rooms. I’m also really looking forward to having Ben UFO, Midland and Skudge back again this year. All acts that made their We Love…debut last summer.”
For all the We Love…newcomers reading this – tell us about the different rooms and music policies inside your Ibiza weekly festival…
“We have six ‘arenas’ that should hopefully at some point during the twelve hours feature the whole gamut of electronic and dance music available. We have two open air sections of the venue that you’re likely to hear such diverse music as Alfredo’s Balearic selections on the Premier Etage where he holds his weekly residency supported by crews like Tirk Records, Futureboogie and the Jamie Fatneck Low. Then there’s The Sunset Terrace – this is a part of the venue that totally replicates the ‘original Space Terrace’ where we have acts that best represent that feeling and sound – residents and guests such as Jason Bye, Jem Haynes, Ryan O Gorman, Crazy P, Smokin Jo, Jonathan Ulysses, Jaymo & Andy George who all play until midnight when things then take a decidedly different turn in the musical journey when Mr Doris takes control with his After Dark residency that brings guests with a more eclectic take on things. Acts as diverse as Krafty Kuts, A Skillz, Earl Gateshead, Kraak & Smaak, DJ E.A.S.E., DJ Vadim, The Correspondents and Coldcut’s Matt Black all bring something very unique to Ibiza. The two main rooms (The Terrace & The Discoteca) feature who we consider to be the best in the worlds of techno and house. We try to reference the past and the present so on any one night you will have somebody such as Derrick May playing alongside Blawan or Skudge. Disclosure playing with Carl Craig, Groove Armada and Jackmaster. You get the idea. These are all acts that have shown a love for the music they make and play, people who have stuck to their guns. We co-host these rooms with other’s crews occasionally and the same rules apply. It’s great to work with people who love what they are doing and it’s fantastic to be able to offer them the opportunity to showcase what they do on such an amazing platform. We have worked with Chew The Fat! for eight years or more and we have long standing relationships with Geddes who will be bringing his NOFITSTATE show to the terrace this year – as will Just Jack who we first worked with in a small back room a few years back. El Salon – a smaller and more intimate space that tends to cater to island residents and friends of the We Love…extended family, DJs, agents and industry bods. The music is low slung disco, funk and soul for the most part with guests and unannounced sets from a surprising disparate collection of acts who might happen to be around on the island or have finished their main set for us and want to play longer on a different tip. This year we have asked friends who run The Boutique Hostel Salinas and Lo Cura (Dave and Doozie) to host the space bi-weekly and they have come up with The Lo Cura Lounge concept with some great residents and guests of their own. El Salon really lends itself well to smaller groups who have something to shout about and this year we also have nights hosted by Crack magazine, Folk (the bar in Manchester our mate Justin owns) Bloop Festival (an arts festival from Italy), E.A.R and Little Boots who will be bringing her Littleboots Discotheque concept in September. There are rooms all over the place at Space and half the fun is finding somewhere you fit into yourself. If like us you love music there is always somewhere for you!”
I am knackered just reading that dude. Brilliant stuff. Looking back over the last decade, who have been the stand out artists at your club that you still reminisce about though?
“Well that’s very subjective and I’m sure there are people who have their own ideas or would disagree with my own choices…but personally I have always enjoyed the challenge of playing with peoples ideas and expectations of what a club night should be. Grace Jones and Aphex Twin are so far apart in the music that they make. But both caused such a stir in regards to the public opinion when they played for us that the performances had massive similarities for me. Both artists are also true musical heros of mine and it was a dream to work with them. For an artist to stand out they have to be different or exceptional at what they do – James Zabiela is both these and over the last twelve years he has never failed to impress me with his performance. Derrick May is another artist that I both love and respect hugely, the guy invented techno and still brings the noise every single time he plays for us, a metal machine music soaked with soul and funk. And then we have the curve balls. Nothing quite like watching Shackleton, Appleblim or Modeselektor tear the place apart. Ed Bangers’ first couple of years playing for us divided opinion and this is what stands out in a scene where safety sadly outweighs daring do. There are of course many, many other artists who have played for us at Space during the past fithteen years who are great at what they do, stand out from the crowd and I can only say how lucky I am to have worked with them over the years. They know who they are…”
Where else can we find We Love…around the world in 2013?
“Not enough places! Partly out of not wanting to rinse out what we do back in the day and partly due to laziness and missed opportunities. We do hold a few semi regular residencies about the place including Trilogy in Dubai plus Air in Amsterdam who hold great We Love… parties on a bi monthly basis with the next one being 19th July with Simian Mobile Disco headlining. We also have something pretty cool Off Sonar this year but I’d be lying if I said I knew anything about this! Not really my department the touring section of what we do as I’m either working on Ibiza or on holiday!”
It is no secret that Darren Hughes wanted to take on Pacha on a Sunday before signing Space. It has been an incredible roller coaster and one of the major success stories of clubland. In your opinion, why has it stood the test of time so well?
“That’s news to me Dan (the Pacha part) but I’m glad he made the right choice. We have shared a vision with Space over the years and I have to say it has been the most perfect of relationships, they have been nothing but accommodating of all of our wishes over the years and I think that we have grown well together. Starting out as a small (for Ibiza) after hours venue where we would be lucky to get 1800 people through the doors in a 22 hour period to the mega multi-roomed venue it is today capable of hosting 8000+ people. As the numbers through the door increased so did the venue itself giving us new rooms to introduce new sounds to our customers. Our customers grew older as well as in numbers, yet we were still able to cater for them in the smaller rooms around the venue creating a real family feeling within this group. Elsewhere in the venue in the main rooms the cycle continues until the young crowd of today becomes the old friends of the future. We have continued to remain interested in what we do also and at the end of the day people can see that and appreciate it.”
Last summer saw Space and Ushuaia join forces for a one off party with a two ticketed event. This was a first for Ibiza, most club owners usually look after themselves and their bank balance. What then were your thoughts on this unique party?
“What an incredible philanthropic moment that was. The meeting of two of the greatest musical minds in history in Hawtin and Luciano, coming together for all humanity. At no extra charge! I hope to see many more moments like this in my life time…well, this summer at least. Ushuaia have a free party on every Sunday with Sasha this year and I hope that we get some of their customers coming over to ours…that would be nice.”
Electronic Dance Music has taken America by storm. Club owners in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and Miami are now paying $200,000 for a two hour David Guetta or Skrillex set. How does the We Love camp feel about all these Dollars flying about – back in the day, yourself and Darren Hughes were instrumental in the whole superstar DJ explosion…
“I wish that over the last 18 years of working in this business that I’d learnt how to DJ and taken the opportunity to book myself headline slots at our events, sold my soul to rock n roll and could now sit back on my yacht laughing along with Dave and Cathy….joking aside, the guys you mention eearn a wage that directly correlates with what the venue earns by hosting them…as far as I know. We do something along those lines as do most businesses when you strip it down to fundamentals. It is a very basic business model.”
So another crazy night in August and we head back to the Broadbent villa after We Love…turns off the last record at Space. What is the All Broadbent Back To Mine you spin us to carry on the party…
“It changes on a weekly basis due to the circumstances we might find ourselves in if you catch my drift and also the company we are keeping at that moment in time. I buy a lot of music old and new, so there will be plenty of choice bits and pieces from the new stuff I’ve bought. Recently there was a lot of Hyperdub being played, Cooly G, Laurel Halo, King Midas Sound and I loved the Brain Feeder stuff last summer too…Gonja Suffi and Gaslamp Killer. But then I’ll also play really chilled stuff if I’m in the right company. Virginia Ashley takes some beating when you have had enough of pounding drums and I always end on something for the mind, something trippy and 3D – that Voices From The Lake album was pretty much perfect for that, Yo La Tengo do a range of fantastic albums for altered states…man, there’s just so much. Sometimes I find myself staring at my collection for half an hour simply not knowing what to put on, too much choice! And of course then there are the people who might have come home with me, DJs from the night before. They never fucking stop do they?!?”
Winter time in Ibiza is always an interesting occasion. Promoters, DJs and venues are always changing. What did you think of the whole Danny Whittle / Pacha / Bomba storyline…?
“I dont really know the full story so can not comment on this really. There are too many rumours on the island about all of this, but that is what they are. Rumours. I hope that Danny returns to Pacha, it was a good fit in my opinion and he did a lot of good things for that brand and I think they will struggle now that he is out of the picture. And I don’t think we need another nightclub opening on the island!”
We Love…is without doubt one of the most cutting edge nights in the world. You know Ibiza inside out, who are some of the cool up and coming DJs living in Ibiza we should be keeping our eyes on this summer?
“This is a very difficult question to answer and I’m sure to upset some people, so first I’d like to say that I am going to answer this question literally i.e. “cool” meaning people doing something unique and interesting and “up and coming” meaning somebody who has worked as a DJ for less then two years. Okay. You would think that there were simply loads of great upcoming DJs on this island wouldn’t you? And there may well be, but they are certainly not playing any place I go to. I am yet to hear anybody doing anything other than aping other people. Ibiza is a terrible place to hear new styles of music, we are fed on a constant diet of watered down tech “deep” house for the most part. Still, I am a 44 year old man so I’m probably not going to the right places anymore! Rant over! With that out of the way, I’ll plug a few people who although having been playing on the Ibiza scene for sometime now will probably not be names your readers will be familiar with. I like Mr Doris, he is an amazing selector and technically very gifted, able to switch between styles easily due to masses of practice and having a wide musical taste. I like DJ E.A.S.E. from Nightmares On Wax for obvious reasons, and he’s fucking cool to boot! Jason Bye is the best resident possible to have on your side as is Andy Baxter if you run Pacha. My Brother Andy or Big L to his followers plays perfect bar sets on a weekly basis down at Lo Cura and his mate Ian Blevins plays wicked house music. Ryan O Gorman makes and plays wicked music and Jon Woodall when not looking after things at Back 2 Basics plays some mean beats and pieces….”
Take us back to the first time you stepped foot on Ibiza. What were the clubs and DJs you first experienced?
“The first time I came to Ibiza I came to work here. We ran the promotional teams and on island business for Cream back in 1997 so there was a high level of trance going on. Not such a dirty word back then – or maybe I was just the right age to enjoy it – and I really did love it. Me and Oakey hanging out on Benirras beach watching the day come alive with a handfull of pink pills surrounded by Andy Carroll and strippers from Manumission! We worked with Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Tall Paul, Tony DeVit and all that gang – but then we also met all the old silverbacks…Alfredo, Johnny Walker, Pipi, Trevor Fung, Rocky And Diesel etc. due to them all being mates of Oakeys. Of course we went to other clubs and I made friends with people who are still friends today – Colin Peters and Griff from Manumission plus Dave Philips who used to DJ at The Rock Bar when it was at the end of the port who then went on to be a resident of ours that I’m still working with today. Cafe Mambo was an amazing place to see and meet DJs back then and you would most likely catch one of the Americans of the moment…Sneak, Doc Martin, Sanchez…all of them playing an eight hour set to workers trying to sleep on the beach out front. Crazy days that have formed my life ever since…”
Since that time – what are the biggest improvements the island has seen?
“The motorways between Ibiza Town and San Antonio. Some of the old laid back lifestyle of Ibiza has been lost to the sudden change that this brought to the island but a shit load of people lost their lives on that road every year before they changed it. Not one week went by without you seeing or hearing about something terrible happening. One day I went down to Mambo and was told that this young dude who sold tickets down there was taking his brother back to the airport with two of his other mates and they hit another cab coming the other way – with another five people in it. All dead, ten fucking people! This shit was happening all the time. It’s not a popular choice but for me it’s an improvement….“
What is the one record that will always remind you of Ibiza?
“Bocca Juniors ‘Raise’. Not easy as there are so many tunes that when I hear them remind me of a time and place on this island. But ‘Raise’ pretty much sums up what I think about being on Ibiza is all about, when you’re young, happy and in love with being on the island it makes sense and is a song that is in my all time top ten.”
If you weren’t on the dancefloor at We Love…which club would we find you at on a night off?
“I feel stupid in other people’s clubs now…I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing there. Most clubs on Ibiza are filled with young people who I find predatory and frightening. Of course they are not and it’s just me being old but what can you do? I do go to clubs off the island but I like gay clubs where I dont feel so old and I can flirt with other older men.”
You have an open cheque book. Who is the one artist you would love to book that has so far eluded you?
“Having endless cash is not the most important thing in this game. The only person who I have wanted to book and has so far eluded me is Andy Weatheral – but it wasn’t down to money. If you really want somebody and it’s only a case of the money, you can generally find an excuse to locate the money. I have booked acts in the past that I have known from the off that I would never recoup the costs for. I have also on several occasions had my hands on open cheque books belonging to somebody else with carte blanch to book whoever I so please. It’s great! Outside of Weatheral, I have successfully booked everybody I have ever wanted to.”
Favourite restaurant and beach in Ibiza?
“After answering this question from you five years ago I can no longer go to the beach or restaurant I mentioned. Ibiza is all about finding your own space on the island, there are enough places out there to discover yourself.”
The craziest DJ you have ever booked who just keeps partying on and on…?
“Jeff Mills.”
And finally, greatest ever moment at We…Love
“Far too many personal ones spent with friends and family these last 15 years to mention and I’ve witnessed so, so many outstanding performances that it’s too difficult to pick out or even remember one really defining greatest moment. But the Grace Jones show and the first time both Aphex and The Chemical Brothers played for us have got to be in the running and were all personal landmark moments. Greatest We Love… moment? Mmmm….maybe it’s yet to come…?
