Pacha’s Musical Director looks ahead to another stupendous summer at the world’s number one club
Interview : Dan Prince
Steve welcome back to DMCWORLD! Well here we go again, the new season is upon us…are you ready to roll again, I understand it’s been another busy winter at Pacha towers though…
“Hi Dan, yes truth be told we have had an amazing winter with artists like Vanilla Ace, Tevo Howard, Shaun Reeves from Vissionquest, SYX, M.A.N.D.Y., Just Be, Angel Linde, 2Villas, Riva Starr, Chus & Cebellos and many other deep-funky-tech DJs playing the club on Fridays, as well as super packed Saturday night parties from local promoters Housepital, Ten and Vintage. The club is full of islanders in winter, week by week the whole room gets to know one another and the atmosphere becomes very special, so it will be sad to say goodbye to winter on one hand but of course super happy to say hello to the summer – we have a crossover period between Easter and end of May where I program some of the major summer DJs to come play “free entry to islanders” parties, starring DJs like Solomon, HOSH, Tony Humphries, DJ Pippi, Dennis Ferrer, Reboot, MK and John Digweed. It’s a month of major warm up parties, the first was this last weekend with Solomon and HOSH packing almost 3000 people in to the club and the place going nuts like August.”
Before we get stuck into your weekly line up, have there been any internal changes to the club since we last partied at the best club on the island?
“Staff wise we are as we were in 2013 with myself as Music Director/talent booking and the same team of Pacha in place around the event department itself. As for the club, yes we have tinkered here and there and basically made the DJ booth much more of a visual focus on the night, also the palm tree in the VIP is now a metallic/crystal tree that works really well.”
2013 was the first year you had the final say on all things music, looking back now that the dust has settled…what are your thoughts on your first term in charge?
“Everything happened very fast last year, it was October 2012 right before the ADE conference that I was asked to take on the role – we took a company decision to change five nights, for multiple reasons. I had to mend fences, build bridges and re-create relationships inside the industry very quickly in order to put our program together in time to deliver by March 2013 and the WMC in Miami – one way or another I managed to do it, booking over 300 artists across 140 parties in Pacha, as well as putting together the Pacha Destino events – it was only by ADE October 2013 that I realized how much work we had done the over previous year, flying at break-neck speed, it was a minor miracle we managed to get through the season…a new team, new nights, not to mention that it was one of the hardest seasons ever in Ibiza due to the global recession.But in the end it had all been worth it, we held our own, the club retained it’s top three poll position, we hit a million facebook likes, and for the most part we got the programming right to the point where we only needed to change two events for 2014 – Mondays and Wednesdays, which we have managed to do and have great confidence in.”
Right 2014. One of the most exciting additions to the island in 2014 is the arrival of Ibiza Rocks House on Mondays with the formidable Andy and Dawn at the helm. I had dinner with Dawn in Miami and to say they are excited is the understatement of the year! How did this all happen?
‘Well working with Andy and Dawn has been twenty years in the making as they had originally asked Pacha to house Manumission back in 1994. The reason it came about was that the idea to reintroduce Manumission via Pacha was out on the table, and that was something we were interested in doing. But for 2014 we couldn’t quite get that deal over the line, but we could get Ibiza Rocks House at Pacha Ibiza over the line, and we are all super excited about how this is shaping up.”
Will the night feature the same incredible production and performers Manumission did two decades ago?
“Well Andy and Dawn are the owners of Manumission along with Mike and Claire, and if you look at what they did at Manumission, what they have done with Ibiza Rocks, W.A.R., Pikes and anything else they have turned their hands to, there is a certain flair and fun about everything they do, as well as an incredibly well oiled professionalism and team around them. So basically expect everything you might reasonably expect from this crazy troupe of visionaries.”
Who are some of the DJs you are looking forward to seeing back at Pacha towers on Mondays and will they be bringing a special playlist with them?
“Super excited that classic evergreen artists like 2manydjs, Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx are returning to Pacha after a long time away from us, also real house legends like Derrick Carter, Kenny Dope, Kevin Saunderson and DJ Pierre will be joining us. Then there’s real solid stars such as Shadow Child, Jaymo and Andy George, Green Velvet, Justin Martin, Jesse Rose and Claptone who have a funky-tech-house sound that will light up the room, live artists dOP and Fritz Kalkbrenner are incredible of course and one of the absolute highlights of the entire Ibiza season is the appearance on July 7 of the legend that is Giorgio Moroder exclusively in Pacha Ibiza. Ibiza Rocks House at Pacha Ibiza is about bringing fun and real house music to the forefront, a party for the people, interactive and a little bit outrageous, everybody welcome, every sexuality, any nationality, every one from dance floor clubber to top table VIP, there is something in this party for all of us.”
Tuesdays are once again all about DJ Piti and Flower Power. Last year you infamously told us that Pacha’s General Manager Francisco Ferrer had had to have many discussions to convince Piti to take on a weekly run again, we take it he was more than happy to come back in 2014. What makes Flower Power such a memorable night?
“It’s basically a night that lets people transport themselves in to another time and place – as a dress up interactive party it has no competition, it is truly authentic, running for 41 years with the same DJ playing the sounds of the 60s/70s classics to a packed to capacity club every week – visiting Flower Power should be on every ones Ibiza “to do” list.”
What is the 1 song at Flower Power that would get Steve Hulme up out of his chair and dancing?
“Firstly Dan – and you should know this, you will hardly ever find me in a chair inside the Pacha club, I am all over the room and always rocking to the DJs. I am a fan of everything we present, but a track from the Flower Power record box that will make me jump about, The Rolling Stones “Hey You (Get off of my Cloud)”.”
The first big news to leak out of Pacha this year was the arrival of king of the cake throwing, leader of the stage diving Mr Steve Aoki and his Dim Mak crew taking over Wednesdays with ‘Aoki’s Playhouse’. One of the leaders of the whole EDM movement from his Los Angeles base, what can we expect musically from this new night?
“If anybody takes the time to look in to the history of Steve Aoki and his Dim Mak label they will find that this is a guy who is a music freak, a visionary and a force of nature, his credentials are fully intact and musically this party will be full throttle party anthems and EDM crossover rockers. A party starring Steve Aoki, and produced by his manager Michael Theanne and the Aoki/Dim Mak team is always going to guarantee certain elements – FUN, OVER THE TOP PERFORMANCES, ENERGETIC MUSIC FOR PARTY PEOPLE AND A NATURAL DEMAND FOR SMILING FACES.
I love a lot of different styles of music and DJs and say proudly that Steve Aoki live is one of the best experiences that anybody could ever wish to experience, take a look at any photo from his shows and the whole room is smiling and involved, Aoki is simply incredible to experience live and in the Pacha room it’s gonna be another level of fun His guests for the season range across Fat Boy Slim, 3AreLegend, R3hab, Nervo, Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Lil Jon, Benny Benassi, Laidback Luke and many more top notch names usually found headlining festivals and Vegas…Steve Aoki is a phenomenon, headlining Madison Sq Garden this coming August, and in Ibiza for his first ever residency, Pacha are super happy to welcome him – his pre-sales for tickets and for VIP reserves is in the top two requested parties so far, a great sign for a successful season.”
Erick Morillo is back making music again, it would be great to see him back at Pacha one day. Is that someone who will always be welcomed back with open arms?
“Erick is my friend and I am his fan. I love Morillo, the person and the music, he has been my favorite DJ for more than 15 years, he can call me and come play a show anytime he feels up for it, anytime he wants to spin he only needs to call and ask…and truth be told I do text him and ask if he fancies it from time to time. He hasn’t ruled it out, so who knows?, I would love him to do a classic Subliminal filter disco set at Ibiza Rocks House at Pacha Ibiza on a Monday, or have him a how up as a guest one Saturday night, yes I would love that.”
We all would! Well the obvious question regarding Thursdays at F*** ME I’M FAMOUS is how the sad news of David and Cathy’s divorce is going to change the night, Cathy was such an important driving force behind the night. What can you tell us about it all and any changes this brilliant night will see…
“So far as I am aware, David and Cathy are going about their business, taking care of their personal lives, dealing with the things that need to be dealt with innate very best manner. I have no comment to make on their personal lives, only to say they are both such incredible people that for sure things will be done in the correct manner. As for the party, the party will be as incredible as ever, David has been focused on his music and the party will represent his collaborations and the new music he has ready for the world, collaborations with Martin Garrix, Showtek, Glow in the Dark, Kaz James and regular plays from his good friend Nicky Romero. Also joining for a show will be A-Trak and other great surprises – the FMIF party is gonna be as great as it has ever been, of that there is no doubt.”
My favourite night at the club last year was Insane. The sunset at Café Mambo with John Digweed and then over to Ibiza Town for some wonderful music. This year however sees the night feature with Wisdom Of The Glove with Guy Gerber who has moved from Wednesdays. Many will see this as two nights who need each other, what was the idea behind this move…?
“Insane has got such an incredible line up this year, John Digweed returns for ten shows, MK and Dennis Ferrer join for ten shows each, Tensnake in for five, Sneak returns for four, Groove Armada will also play four shows and Guy will bring in Wisdom of the Glove for four special take overs along with guests like Tiga, Martin Buttrich, Magda, DJ Tennis and others. The reality was that we couldn’t do a second full season with WOTG for many and varied reasons, but we didn’t want to put that party to bed. We are co-owners of that brand so we had to find a way to give it a bigger platform and four Friday takeovers inside Pacha Insane looked like a smart route to take. Insane was in the top four parties of 2013 season in Pacha, it grew and grew each week and established itself quite quickly as part of the clubbers “to do” list. Musically this season it a little more open to all ears and that should mean it is a viable option for clubbers who like deep-funky-tech-house music, but not too deep and not too shallow – music that is perfectly pitched in the ring groove so that it is accessible while remaining credible…we have quiet confidence in this party growing in this coming season, MK is a major signing for Pacha, retaining Digweed was a must and adding Dennis Ferrer, Reboot and Tensnake along with Groove Armada and DJ Sneak is just fantastic for the Friday night party, real house from amazing artists.”
When I saw the line ups for Saturdays Pure Pacha I immediately thought, this is Steve getting out his little black book and booking the people HE WANTS at the club! Who have you got lined up for this summer young man…?
“I am a bit like that for all the nights, as I said earlier I am a fan of everything we present, every style of music has its place and I have a capacity to appreciate and enjoy it all. For Saturdays it is great to have Martin Solveig and Bob Sinclar playing ten shows each. Guests like the incredible SJ/producer/remixer The Magician, also to welcome back individual shows from Kenny Dope and Louie Vega is great too but bringing in MAW for a return show at Pacha is amazing. Other artists coming in include Spanish superstar Juan Magan, the voice of the biggest EDM anthems of the past few years John Martin, quality artists like Sidney Samson, Shermanology and Don Diablo, as well as trail blazers like Matt Zo and Pacha legends Shapeshifters on the line ups. Put it all together and it makes for classic Pure Pacha party line ups that will keep our classic clientele super happy and on their feet.”
Solomun continues to be one of the most exciting producers on the planet. You must be absolutely over the moon about the success of Solomun + 1 last year?
“Yes indeed, he is just incredible – and getting bigger every day. He played just last night as a free workers and islanders party at the club and we were busting to capacity, he and HOSH smashed the place. If there were any cobwebs in the sound system then he blew them out and left the room on it’s knees.”
Some great guests coming down this summer for his night, Claude Vonstroke and Pete Tong stick out like sore thumbs…musically he has really stepped up a gear for 2014 huh?
“Also Dixon, Kolsch, Miss Kitten, Ame, DJ Koze, Adriatique, HOSH and others…yes musically he has tweaked it up and the party can only be even more crazy full this season…my advise is to buy tickets now to avoid disappointment, it’s gonna be hot!”
What can we expect from Pacha Recordings…
“The new compilations Pure Pacha Summer and Pacha Insane both sound fantastic, every track is on the label and the compilations reflect the flavor of the nights in the club – they are a real taste of Pacha in terms of music. Pacha Insane features a mix session by Angel Linde, the Pacha Insane resident that is mesmerizing and completely live, Pure Pacha features a mix from our young prodigy Danny Wade that is simply rockin! This year, as every year, we are reeling digital single after digital single, maybe 30 through the year and for me we have some of the very best music to be found in dance, our policy is that our artists are the true undergoing producers, famous names are not usually found on Pacha Recordings, we hardly promote our music or hype it, we simply make it available and compile it on comps across the world.”
And finally, how happy are you with the final line up for 2014…is this weekly line up moving towards the perfect Monday-Sunday roll call for you and your team?
“I think we have definitely defined ourselves better this year, the balance is feeling right, from the authentic real house sounds of Ibiza Rocks House Mondays, the classic dress up party of Flower Power Tuesdays, Aoki’s Playhouse live on Wednesdays, the worlds number one dance artist David Guetta for FMIF on Thursday’s, Pacha Insane with it’s overhauled and returned upgrades for Fridays including the four special WOTG takeovers, solidifying Solvieg and Sinclar to smash the nuts out of Pure Pacha Saturdays and the charismatic Solomon growing in front of the worlds eyes with Solomon + 1 on Sundays. Generally, I have to say it feels like in 2013 we did what we had to do and splashed about while keeping our head above water, but now our 2014 line up looks like we can do better than that and actually start to swim with confidence…we have tried to deliver what we believe our client base wants and expects from us, solid choices and some surprises, we are a club for all and our nights hopefully reflect that and our fan base enjoys the parties we have designed for them, here’s to the upcoming season…best of wishes to everyone in Ibiza, hoping it’s a great season for everybody…”
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