interview
DJ HARVEY by Yawa Ze Some places, like some people, are special, Ibiza is one of those places and Dj Harvey one of those people, when they fit together magic happens. Difficult to explain in order of words, you have to feel it...
Promoters are selling to customers for brands or good music for people, Is the focus more on the marketing than the music? Yes, (laughs) just not in my world.
When Dj Awards asked me to do this interview I was invaded by a mixture of joy, responsibility and nerves. Today I’m in front my computer with probably one of my favourite human beings. A wave of happiness and good vibrations.
Politicians never solve problems but the inability to make a sustainable project for tourism and culture on the island are killing live music and the work of many musicians besides djs…This summer we are finding ourselves in a difficult situation, what you think about laws that are killing the environment of freedom and the local economy?
Although we still waiting for the third Summer of Love. Your last summers here have been incredible. Did you expect so much love on your back to the island?
It seems to me that air bnb and the sharing economy is really impacting the workers and people that live here seasonally, everyone is being priced out.
Hello there, thanks for taking the time out. I most certainly approached the planning of this party Mercury Rising with a lot of love, care and thought for everything that Ibiza and the Islands past meant to me, so I am overjoyed that it has been so well received. Then as a result of that it’s opened me to playing some of my other favorite venues and nights on the island at Pacha, Hi, La Torre, etc, so I’m certainly overjoyed and thankful for the love, you give love and it always comes back.
We always associate the Balearic tag with certain musical styles and sounds, always in a tropical context , but I have an endless feeling of nostalgia. Actually missing that spirit of freedom, hedonism, love and rebellion from 70’s, 80’s, 90’s... Do you think there is a possibility to draw a new future for Balearic music? I mean, beyond all the topics and thinking about high quality open-minded music made here by artists focused on the island or not? Like in the beginning, many good records were recorded here by Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd… What about the quality of music that is currently released, do you think we have a healthy market?
Recently I was talking with José Padilla about some old parties in Space. We really miss Pepe Roselló nowadays… Who was the first promoter who booked you in Ibiza and your best memory when you arrived here? My manager used to work for Ministry Of Sound along with Jim Masters and they had the idea along with Jose to bring a group of us over to Ibiza, we took over Pacha for the evening and then Space inside and outside on the original terrace for the after parties. Heidi (Lawden) had been somehow involved with Ibiza 90 and so for her it was just an update of that idea. I still think they were among the first to have this idea of taking a UK club brand (MOS) to the island and I’m happy they took me, I am a huge fan of Jose and he’s been a big inspiration to me.
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There is so much incredible music being released, new things that to me sum up the Balearic spirit and sound. so much in fact I may have to do another compilation. I arrived from Madrid 8 years ago and I never thought. I could do a musical career on the island, I thought (wrongly) that my music did not fit here, I find it really important to adapt the idiosyncrasies of the island’s clubs without losing your identity, in fact you were always like an eclectic chameleon even playing for new Mission: Impossible movie.
I would like to propose this interview like a musical approach from a local artist view. After leaving journalistic work and focusing on my artistic career and my small studio i realized how difficult it is for beginners to have visibility regardless of the quality of their work. Currently many “artists” are buying followers, any tip for young people to fight against this situation?
Is there any kind of party on the island that Dj Harvey does not dare to go?
I don’t enter into the circus of it all, I see that some people do and thats ok for them but it’s not for me or people I surround myself with, I want only authentic clubbing experiences - Pikes, Berghain, Ministry Of Sound, Horsemeat Disco, Bears in Space, just great rooms and parties with a great DJ that you go hear and lose yourself and the cares of your week. People enjoy things in different ways but that world is one thing that exists over there and we’re left with our wonderful eves over here. I like to be able to play a big festival as I just did with Arts House in London, (we were just two DJ’s all day and night) but then I still play surprise unannounced sets for friends parties and their crowd such as the one I did at Horsemeat Disco the eve after.
Although my background comes from experimental music like Coil, Cabaret Voltaire, The KLF, Aphex Twin... Dj Harvey has been one of my biggest influences since I’m living here both musically and personally. You are a reference all over the world but you are leaving a mark in Ibiza, collectives like Homies with Camilo Miranda and Christian Len or the recent Balearic Resistance, with artists like José Padilla, Chris Cocó, Leo Mas or Ben Hoo, Jay Green and many others, intend to renew the musical market on the island following the path you have started...
There is no party I dare not go to, I very quietly and without fanfare go to a lot of them, I’m always evolving, and I always want to do new and exciting things.
Thank you, they are all early influences on me through to today