What was the inspiration behind The Heritage Project?
The Heritage Project was born about 10 years ago when I was still playing with my father DJ Alfredo at the old Space Ibiza (now called Hi). He was the man who inspired me since my beginning starting as young and inexperienced jokey in the late 90’s. In recent years I was revisiting his musical heritage and looking at it through new lenses. I feel I want to breath in the movement, different cultures and a younger more eclectic generation, representative of my travels and encounters in the past years. Also, in the past couple of years my father has had a series of health issues and I witnesses the importance of saving during your career and the importance of your body and mind. I also want to explore an educational avenue where I can make a new generation aware about their responsibility in a world where everything is fragile.
How has Ibiza’s club culture evolved through the years?
Ibiza has been evolving like an endless loop, in the sense that musical styles and fashion trends always return to their original character. When i started DJ-ing on a regular basis deep house was the way to go as many people where tired of the uplifting house sound of gospel and black music from the earlier years. Around 2005 the sound started shaping into more German and minimal sounds and everyone was about being cool playing darker more repetitive moods in after hours. About 10 years later the sound became slower in one end of the spectrum due to a new movement coming from Brazil and Berlin and much more mainstream on the other side of the spectrum with the commercialization of EDM. I personally don’t really care about musical styles anymore and that is what I want to promote through Balearic Beat. The concept is to play a house record, followed by a techno one and maybe dropping in a forbidden Lambada or 80’s synth track in the middle. As long as it gets people to dance and have a good time everything is allowed!
What sounds do you associate most with the Balearic? Talk us through that playlist.
As I said for me Balearic beats is not only a sound but a feeling of what to play at that precise moment. I have had situation where I played purely African disco and ending up with German techno and people would tell me, I love the funky sound you play! I would say that I love to play edits to get the party started. One of my regulars is a recent version of Chaka Khan and Rufus - Ain't Nobody with a new baseline to make you feel like you are trapped in the 80’s vortex but with new sounds! Another one that reminds me of the Balearic Sound is the great remix of Mory Kante Yeke Yeke by Hardfloor - Its very up to today’s rave standards :) I also play a lot of more up-tempo sound from Berlin and London producers.
What are your favorite memories of live music in Ibiza—through the years are there particular moments that stick with you?
There is so many of them, i would not know where to start. I would say that some of my most magical moments happened with my dad when we played together on the terrace of Space Ibiza for the“Carry On” after parties back in 2001. it was a joined after party between the Manumission at Privilege and the German Cocoon at Amnesia parties. On paper those parties could not be more different in sound and style but somehow everyone was dancing together and we played for 3h every week around noon every Tuesday so it was very special. The other one as playing for the 10thanniversary at Panorama Bar in Berlin, one of the most interesting sets I can remember!
More and more people are traveling to Ibiza to party, relax, get into the Balearic groove. What would you recommend to someone experiencing the island for the first time?
From the airport, most people head to Playa d’en Bossa, the long stretch of beach where the huge parties are hosted. If you want to avoid that — you should go in the middle of September or later. As soon as you get off the paved main road on the island, you are heading to serene quiet spots. Just get lost and make sure to enjoy the moment.
What’s the future of music and art in Ibiza?
That’s a tricky one. I would say it all in the hands of influencers and bigger labels. The underground scene is disappearing and most art is brand related these days. I think that some of the younger generation want to bring new sounds and art to the island but right now the scene is very competitive and saturated.
