Who’s set for love?

At times, Ibiza can feel like a bubble compared to the rest of the world. While clown-like fake-tanned politicians around the world are making headlines, while gun violence is on the increase, while forests are burning and while refugees flee horrific wars, here on the white isle, life – and the party – goes on, seemingly oblivious. Perhaps that’s part of Ibiza’s global appeal. It’s the proverbial ‘place where there isn’t any trouble’, where you can live and let live, believing love will save the world. But at the end of the day, actions have always spoken louder than words (or love for that matter) and in spite of the mass commercialisation of Ibiza, there are still some amazing people here who contribute to positive change.

George Evelyn, aka Nightmares on Wax, is one of these people and today, he’s inviting us all to join him in making a difference. Set for Love is a very special one-off party with over 30 special guest artists taking place tonight at Las Dalias – from 7pm until 4am – to celebrate the closing party of Wax Da Jam’s 10^th anniversary season. But it’s so much more than that. 100% of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Last Night A DJ Saved My Life foundation, to help build water wells and deliver clean drinking water to those in need in India and Africa. Tickets are just 10€ per person, which – compared to club ticket prices around the rest of the island – is a total steal, and to think that every single cent from that investment is going to such a good cause actually shows you how easy it can be to make a difference.

Let me give you a little background information, in case you’re not already aware of the LNADJ charity. Founded in 2010, by long-term Ibiza dweller Jonny Lee, the idea was to draw on the global dance music industry and community to make a positive impact on the lives of children in crisis around the world. Check out the website for full details of the many campaigns that have been run, and are still running, and you’ll see that this is a charity with a true heart of gold. Many of the world’s biggest DJs have been involved with raising funds for LNADJ over the years, and George is known as the organisation’s number one supporter, constantly thinking of ways to contribute year after year and always tying in a conscious, charity element to his Wax Da Jam events.

Here’s a little bit more background – for those who don’t know it. While Nightmares on Wax is indeed a global phenomenon, Wax Da Jam is a party that was born in Ibiza and very much created for the local people of the island. When George Evelyn relocated to Ibiza more than a decade ago, he’d been feeling burnt out, lost and almost ready to throw in the towel on touring. Connecting with Ibiza, and the people here, gave him new motivation and he was inspired to create an event that went back to what making and performing music had originally been about for him – bringing people together.

The party’s first home was at the now defunct Aura and the party was the stuff of legend. People from all corners of the island would congregate in the north, and it felt more like a house party than a club. George described is as people turning up as individuals and leaving as one. It was a really special time in Ibiza’s party history, and when the venue eventually closed down, Wax Da Jam needed a new home. Las Dalias – home of the hippie market, but also to Ibiza’s oldest nightclub (celebrating its 65^th anniversary this year) – was the next step, and the party evolved to include more live music elements.

What was once a free party now had a door charge – which is understandable to cover production costs – but George was conscious that if you’re paying to party, some of that money should go to a good cause. This is when he became affiliated with the organisation – the dawn of a whole lot of good donations (clocking up to over £100k so far). In addition to raising money through his events, in September 2018, George and a crew climbed Kilimanjaro to raise money for LNADJ and perform the world’s highest DJ set. Afterwards, George could see the ripple effect his fundraising deeds had on people around the world. While he cites the physical challenge as the hardest thing he’s ever achieved, he also became aware that it is easy to make a difference if you have an avenue through which you can raise awareness. Music, of course, is the perfect platform. In 2019, Wax Da Jam moved to Pikes – the location of the ultimate house party – and while the party was free, guests were asked to make a donation. But George still wanted to do more.

The ten-year Wax Da Jam milestone needed to be celebrated and George had the idea to throw one final party at his old stomping ground of Las Dalias. Another event that could bring together locals – those who felt the party scene was changing, or those who felt priced out of the party scene due to the VIP culture – and friends under one roof, feeling one love. His idea was to invite all the resident DJs, musicians and performers of Ibiza under one roof to celebrate – and to ask them to perform for free in aid of the charity. To do it for the love. “There’s a lot of taking going on in this world,” said George in a recent Instagram video. “I think we need a lot more giving.

Let’s set an example. Actions speak louder than words. Let’s bring artists together, have a great time and we can STILL raise money and supply people with clean water. “ Which brings us back to tonight. In an amazing feat, George has gathered together a group of 30 artists who will be performing in four different locations throughout Las Dalias over a nine-hour period. There’s the open-air garden, the chill-out space, the club area and an all-new basement space which will be showcasing Ibiza’s most up and coming talent. In addition to seeing Nightmares on Wax (of course), you’ll also be treated to live performances from Ben Westbeech, Lovely Laura, blondewearingblack and long-time NOW collaborator, Wolfgang Heffner.

The DJ line-up reads like the who’s who of Ibiza: Acid Mondays, Andy Baxter, Andy Carroll, Andy Wilson, Banana Boogaloo, Buckley, Clara Da Costa, Dave Lubin, Davina Moss, Doorly, Eli Rojas, Geogre Solar, Graham Sahara, Lisa Chadderton, Mr Doris, Milou, Mo Love, Noisy Neighbours, Phat Phil Cooper, Pippi and Tatler (Real Gang Ibiza). You can pretty much guarantee this is going to be the highlight of the summer party season in Ibiza – and you certainly don’t need to be a local to be welcomed to the event. In fact, you don’t even need to be in Ibiza to make a difference – if you can’t be at the event, but would still like to donate to the cause, you can purchase a ticket via Resident Advisor and be assure every last cent is going to LNADJ. Or of course, you can also donate directly via the LNADJ website.

I hope Nightmares on Wax, and the Set for Love concept serve as inspiration to all clubs, all promoters, and all artists in the future. This truly is a chance for the people of Ibiza to get together and show the world that that just because we live in a bubble, doesn’t mean we can’t make a difference to those in need – see you on the dance floor tonight! Photography by Elliot Walsh

Artistically complete

There are many routes into music. Some find a hero and dedicate their lives to replicating them, others fall in love with a sound and vow to learn everything about it, and then there are the lucky few who simply happen to be born into musical families. For those fortunate folk, their lives are marked by classics from an early age – first steps, first day at school, first kisses – these momentous life events unfold to a soundtrack chosen by their parents, who just so happen to be discerning music connoisseurs.

That was very much the case for Michael Canitrot, a DJ who continues to count his blessings for the environment he grew up in. “I grew up with music everywhere,” the Parisian DJ explains. “Every day, we were listening to music. My father was a DJ on a French radio station and my mother was a big fan of black music – everything from Marvin Gaye to Earth, Wind and Fire.” Consequently, it was no surprise to the family when at the tender age of eight years old, Michael started DJing. “I really wanted to play for everyone,” he smiles. “Whether at birthday parties or at home, I started to understand how to connect with people musically.”

Over the following years, Michael was diligent in his pursuit of perfection. He learnt to play the drums, got behind the decks as often as possible and was given music lessons every weekend by his father. “He introduced me to all the biggest bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin,” Michael says. “He would explain everything to me, about what they did and how they made music.” He guzzled up the knowledge and applied it to his own playing style, and it wasn’t long before he’d blagged himself a gig at Paris’ (then) most legendary club, Les Bains Douches, run by none other than David and Cathy Guetta. “I was so nervous about that gig because to get it, I told them that I’d already been DJing for many years, when in actual fact I was only 17 and it was my first time in a club!” Michael recalls.

It went on to be the first of many performances, and also laid the foundations for his longstanding admiration of other French DJs. “I met Bob Sinclar in Paris,” he explains. “Throughout the entire party I stood behind him, trying to understand what he was doing.” Ever the student, Michael was always taking notes. “Laurent Garnier is also the kind of DJ who can transport you from midnight to 5am and take you on a real journey,” he says. “I really like this kind of DJ.”

Naturally, there are other elements Michael has taken from his home scene, which he’s now transported to Ibiza – this summer he’s playing on selected Tuesday nights this summer for his Pop Art residency at Lío Ibiza. “In France we always like to create something artistically complete,” he says of the concept. “The music is one part but there are other components we can touch on. That way, we create something new and fresh for people.”

With that in mind, his musical home for the season makes perfect sense – the Marina Botafoch club is renowned for its glamorous production. “Pop Art is very much a Parisian party with an artistic angle and beautiful visuals that we’re bringing to Ibiza,” says Michael. “We started off playing deep house but now we cover everything from house to soul to funk – the idea is always to surprise people.” He admits too, that the VIP nature of Lío Ibiza keeps him on his toes musically. “It can be tricky to make people dance when they’ve been everywhere in the world and heard everything,” he muses. “They know what they’re looking for in a party, and that means I really have to capture them.”

This is a theme he’s noticed at many Ibiza clubs over the years – from the very first time he visited the island right up until now. “On my first visit to Ibiza, I was able to see people really connecting with the DJ and that made the atmosphere really impressive,” he says. “I was also so interested to see how they promote the nights here. It’s not just about the party, it’s about the parade, the communication, and the production, and that was just a whole new level for me.”

Needless to say, the production at Pop Art fits seamlessly into the Lío Ibiza aesthetic, and is providing the perfect backdrop for Michael’s concept – it’s the kind of party that keeps people dancing long after the cabaret has stopped. Michael has recently been testing out a new tune called Way Down, made in collaboration with Duvall from DISCIPLΞS, that’s been going down a storm on dancefloors. And as far as dancefloors go – Lío Ibiza’s has been packed to the rafters since the Pop Art opening party this summer, with the party proving hugely successful with the clubbing community on the island, in addition to those clubbers who jet in from all over the world. If you haven’t yet discovered it, add Pop Art to your list of must-dance places this summer – it’s a fresh new vibe in Ibiza, from a fresh international talent, that looks set to be one of the soirees of the summer.

Dinner disco pioneers

Going out for dinner is an evolving experience these days. The spectacle around getting ready and the anticipation of planning where to go are all part of the process, including reading all the online reviews of where you and your friends might be thinking of, and then checking the feeds to see who else has been there of course. And when it comes to restaurant culture, it’s impossible to deny the significance of Instagram and #foodporn in general. Any search for STK Ibiza after only a couple of seasons reveals an extraordinary amount of posts and images from this exciting Ibiza restaurant well exceeding its intimate size, and proving just how popular and well-loved a destination it has become.

The secret is down to the unique concept that STK Ibiza Operations Manager Marco Nuccio calls dinner disco. “People want to eat, but they want to have fun too,” he explains. “We offer entertainment throughout the night and from 11pm onwards, the atmosphere starts to take on more of a disco element, not unlike that of a club. First we eat, then we dance.” The performances are interactive, involving the diners from the first instance, so that the lively vibe can easily evolve as the night progresses, bringing everybody to their feet by midnight.

From the first steps down the red carpet to the enormous – and extremely Instagram-friendly – flower-wall that marks the entrance to STK Ibiza, there are signs that this will be a night to remember. Sleek and smiling hosts are ready to greet you and guide you to your allotted table, either a dimly lit booth around the main stage area, or a LED-lit dining area alongside the bar, both offering views of the giant artworks suspended above and the elaborate and decorative wall feature that dominates one end of the restaurant.

Group of glamorous girls gather around tables – according to Nuccio, 80% of the restaurant’s clientele are female – attended to by a fleet of waiters, while a cool soundtrack is just loud enough to hum along to. Dinner begins with a cocktail, with all the usual classics on offer at the STK Ibiza bar. Signature cocktails include the zingy STK Martini, made with Belvedere, blood orange, passionfruit, grapefruit, lime, sugar and bitters, or the favourite STK Bubbles with Belvedere, vanilla, pink bubble gum and Moët Chandon. For a special occasion, or perhaps just because, you can supersize your cocktail and order a 1.5 litre Espresso Martini or Frozen Fruit Daiquiri, with extra straws optional for the table to share. Certainly one way to get the party started early.

The global STK brand is known for its steakhouses, but as the STK Ibiza location has evolved, so has the varied menu, which now includes gluten-free options such as a deliciously tangy Hamachi Tiradito with aji amarillo and mango dressing, or a vegetarian Chickpea Falafel with raw tomato fondue. The Compressed Watermelon salad with creamed feta, cucumber, olive and mint is intense and fresh, and the popular LIL’ BRGS are miniature USDA beef burgers with truffle sauce on sesame-seed buns that are great for sharing. But as you may expect, many are still here for the meat, and as far as that goes, it would be hard to improve on. 

STK Ibiza Head Chef Matteo Bartaletti uses USDA certified and imported prime steak, simply cooked with sea salt and cracked pepper, on an American style broiler. It’s a mouth-watering and juicy way to cook such quality meat that lusciously melts as soon as you eat it. The lean fillet is consistently best selling, but Matteo also recommends the Ribeye, for its marbling texture and flavour. You can choose between small, medium and large depending on your appetite, and of course there’s an extra-large option for anyone looking for one kilogram of Porterhouse or dry aged Tomahawk steak. Sauces and toppings can be added as desired, in classic American style, nothing is too much trouble when it comes to your order.

Pescatarians are well catered for at STK Ibiza with a delectable seared salmon, cooked on a cedar plank to give it a rich smoky flavour, or a light Spanish cod served with sautéed spinach and a saffron alioli. A thorough selection of sides include crispy sweet potato fries, a delicate heirloom tomato and basil salad or giant Parmesan truffle potato chips that are incredibly moreish, as well as a richly indulgent mac and cheese. If there is room for dessert, the Isla Blanca fuses tequila and coconut in a light mousse with a lime sorbet on the side – just the thing to refresh after your meal.

As you dine, a steady succession of performances gently builds atmosphere, from an outrageously attractive contortionist who pops out of a teensy tiny trunk on the stage to a hugely talented saxophone player, who casually flirts with each table as he passes. A Vegas-style cabaret singer performs The Pointer Sisters, whilst a suited magician moves about the room dazzling small groups. By the time dessert comes around, and it’s time for another cocktail, the DJ has picked up the music a notch and most of the room is swaying or tapping their toes. Smiles spread around the room when the drummers come to the STK Ibiza stage, and before long the infectious beats lead everybody to their feet. The dinner is over and the dancing has begun…

The who’s who of Hï Ibiza

With opening parties signed, sealed and delivered and summer well into its groove, Ibiza 2019 is shaping up to be quite the memorable season. And nowhere more so than at Hï Ibiza, the Playa d’en Bossa super club that’s switched up an already stellar line-up to include even more of the most revered names in electronic music. With slick production, a slew of innovative spaces to explore, and a selection of some of the most anticipated events of the summer, every trip to the white isle should include a sojourn to the island’s shiniest new club. Take heed of what’s coming up and then prepare for a dancefloor all-nighter – no trip to Ibiza is complete without it. One of the biggest pre-season announcements this summer came with the news that international superstar David Guetta would be moving his F*** Me I’m Famous party from Pacha to Hï Ibiza. No doubt lured by the opportunity to breathe new life into an Ibiza classic (after almost a decade, this party still sells out every week), Guetta now takes the Monday night slot at the club, where he not only unleashes his underground alias, Jack Back, for a spin in the Club room, but is also joined by Idris Elba, man of eclectic musical taste and potential future James Bond. Leaving clubbers shaken and stirred, no doubt.

Another eagerly anticipated collaboration comes in the form of a three-pronged dancefloor attack headed by Solardo, CamelPhat and FISHER, a trio of acts brought together as residents for the first time at BODYWORKS. Taking place every Tuesday night from June 25, 2019, expect a gaggle of bouncy, underground tunes and the kind of young, popping dancefloor that breathes life into even the tiredest of feet. Speaking of magical hook-ups, Hï Ibiza mainstay Black Coffee is bringing a whole host of South African talent to the island this year too. He’ll be joined by Da Capo, Culoe de Song, Black Motion and Themba across various Saturday night dates, adding a different dimension to the maestro’s tribal flecked house sound. Those more inclined towards a laser-led, euphoric experience will be delighted by the news that on Wednesday July 31, 2019, bona fide trance legend Armin van Buuren is set to take clubbers on soaring synth journey with an exclusive all night long set, which is sure to leave anyone with a pulse and blood pumping through their veins reeling. Meanwhile, inimitable German DJ and producer Boris Brejcha has signed up for two exclusive shows at the same Hï Ibiza party, taking over from van Buuren’s spinning duties in the Theatre on Wednesday August 14 and Wednesday August 21, 2019.

And the not to be missed, one-off appearances at Hï Ibiza don’t end there. London’s hottest female rapper Stefflon Don is leading the charge at RICHBITCH on Monday August 5, 2019. Having shot to fame with her single ‘Hurtin’ Me’ featuring French Montana back in 2017, she’s widely considered the UK’s very own version of Nicki Minaj, a comparison worth checking out for yourselves in person. Elsewhere, and Virgil Abloh – artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, fashion designer, DJ, and man with seemingly endless talents – is set to lay down some tunes alongside Black Coffee on Saturday September 21, 2019. Wear your finest garbs for that one. In other news, some of the world’s most revered female DJs are maintaining Afterlife’s foundations as one of the biggest parties on the planet. Belgian DJ Amelie Lens stops by Hï Ibiza on Thursday July 4, and September 5, 2019, so expect thunderously wild beats from her; Nina Kraviz takes over the Club on July; Tijana T takes control of the Theatre on August 8; ANNA rolls in with her usual thumping sass on August 22; and much decorated techno queen Ellen Allien lines up alongside Rachel Lyn for Afterlife’s penultimate party of the season on September 26, 2019.

Last but not least, it’s worth noting that Glitterbox, in all its sparkling, sequinned, feel-good glory has now moved from Friday nights to Sunday nights at Hï Ibiza, polishing off the week with the kind of giant, shiny disco ball it deserves. Headliners include the usual bunch of disco and house loving legends – Dimitri From Paris, Simon Dunmore, Kenny Dope, Basement Jaxx, Todd Terry, Roger Sanchez, Nightmares on Wax, and Armand van Helden are all regulars, but the date to really look out for is the closing party on Sunday October 6, 2019, when superstar of the scene Louie Vega digs deep into what’s surely a never-ending collection to see out the season with a bang. Expect a tapestry of beautiful old school sounds for this one. A diverse selection of parties fronted by some of the most musically talented individuals from all around the globe – Hï Ibiza’s summer 2019 schedule has something for every musical taste. Bounce around to house, lose yourself to techno, shake your stuff to rap and reggaeton, and in the process discover what clubbing in Ibiza is really all about.

Music Against Animal Cruelty

We CAN make a difference! When you look at the photo above, it’s hard to imagine any association with say… lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). Or rhinos, elephants, great apes and orang-utans. And yet tomorrow – Thursday September 13, 2018 – that exact same open-air stage is going to be the location of an amazing wildlife conservation fundraising event. The first event of its kind in Ibiza, MAAC (Music Against Animal Cruelty) presents WILD at Ushuaïa Ibiza, where ALL profits go towards wildlife conservation. ALL. Not 5%, not 25%, not just the spare change collected on the door or donations from VIP patrons. 100% OF ALL PROFITS. On top of that, all DJs – and there are some serious heavy hitters on that line-up – are performing for free, which equates to less expenses for the venue, more money for the animals. WINNING.

In case you didn’t know, MAAC is a non-profit organisation founded by Jonny White of Art Department, founder of Pulse Global Wade Cawood and founder of Tears for Tigers Jack Baucher. The three amigos shared a very common passion for animal conservation (you can read more about their journeys here) and see the foundation as something that can grow into a hugely important and influential movement. “This isn’t just techno against animal cruelty,” says Jonny White. “The bigger picture is garnering support of the music industry at large, the same way the industry has been successful in the past with initiatives like LIVE AID.” Who needs Bono when we’ve got these huge hearts at the helm?

The first event draws on the dance music sector, with MAAC ambassadors Adam Beyer, Art Department, Bedouin, DJ Sneak, Ida Engberg, Lauren Lane, Nitin and Tiga set to perform, plus very special guest Black Coffee and an unannounced major league guest who will be revealed on the day. You don’t need to be an activist, a conservationist, a campaigner or even a vegan to get involved. All you need to do is turn up and have a good time (just think – the more you drink, the more you are donating! Not that I’d promote irresponsible service of alcohol of course… but one for the road might not hurt) and you will be actively contributing to the greater good of the animal kingdom.

Now – if the epic line-up and thought of partying for a good cause isn’t quite enough to get you there, please let me share some un-fun facts I learned from MAAC that will tug on your heart strings and quite possibly bring you to tears. (And I should know – I cried my heart out when researching this blog.) 20% of the world’s seven to 15 million species could be gone in the next 30 years. Excuse my French, but WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? This rate of extinction is unprecedented since the disappearance of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. And the major difference is… human beings are directly responsible for this. The trade in illegal wildlife is estimated to be worth over $15 billion USD per year. WE DID THIS. I mean, not you, and not me, but humans as a species. And I think only humans have the power to stop other humans from creating such shameful situations and circumstances.

Every single day, human beings create 3,500 lives. At the same time, every single day, we lose one or more entire species of animal or plant life. As a matter of fact, we lose 27,000 species per year. For anyone who wants to use the survival of the fittest argument… I dare you to go into the jungle and try to kill a tiger or an ape with your bare hands before you open your mouth. I doubt you’ll be last man (or woman) standing. But hey, at least you won’t argue anymore! I digress – back to the facts. 97% of the world’s wild tiger population has been destroyed in the last 100 years. That means only 3% are left. THREE PERCENT! 50% of African lions have disappeared in the last 25 years. 30,000 elephants are slaughtered per year for their ivory. 3,000 apes are being taken from the wild each year. 90% of the world’s rhinos have been killed in the last 40 years. Just this year, the world’s very last white rhino died in Kenya. And please don’t watch this video about orang-utans if you don’t want your heart to break.

Animals don’t have a voice. Animals don’t have money. Animals don’t possess weapons to fight against man-made bullets, spears, knives and machines. Animals cannot control the situations human beings put them in. But we can. We have voices – let’s use them. We have money – let’s donate it. Events like MAAC presents WILD at Ushuaïa Ibiza – these are our weapons. We’re fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, in the easiest possible way we know how. All you have to do is dance. The idea of a world without lions and tigers and bears: oh my… GOD. It’s just unthinkable. Let’s join together and make sure it doesn’t ever become reality. Not on our watch.

Music Supper Club

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word Ibiza? Is it music? Parties? Beaches? Sunshine? Friends? Holidays? All of the above? For most people around the world, the image of the white isle is glamorous and glitzy; fun and fabulous; bohemian and luxurious. And for the most part, that is indeed what life can be like here. But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find – like any hip global destination – some darker undercurrents. Some well reported, others swept under the rug, such as homelessness, which is definitely not something associated with this beautiful, magical island. Until last week, I was extremely unaware of how serious the issue is in Ibiza – possibly because, well, it doesn’t cross my path in day-to-day life, perhaps because I had been unaware (out of sight, out of mind), or maybe because it just doesn’t ever get talked about. So how did the topic finally come my way? I was having a lovely Sunday roast at Pikes last Sunday when I met a warm-hearted soul named Selina Ingram, who was in the process of launching an initiative called Music Supper Club to raise money for Ibiza’s homeless, launching with a special fundraising dinner in the same location on Thursday.

If you’re anything like me (and I am confessing this honestly with my hands in the air right now), I often daydream about doing lovely things for charity, helping the less fortunate or volunteering for a worthy cause. But… in the end, I don’t (aside from the odd raffle ticket or charity dinner). I have some amazing friends who do and I really admire them for it. Selina Ingram is one such amazing person – selflessly feeding around 30 homeless people (which is the tip of the iceberg) on a daily basis, out of the kindness of her own heart. Her own experiences have allowed her to see inside this increasing problem on the island, and gave her inspiration to launch Music Supper Club, which is a way regular people, like you and me, who would like to help in a small way, can come together and make a big difference. So what is Music Supper Club? It’s a pop-up event at Pikes, where Selina and her team of volunteers take over the kitchen for the night, three-course menu that takes you on a global spice trail while some of the island’s best DJs and entertainers donate their time to entertain guests. Forget notions of stuffy, traditional supper clubs: this was a good old fashioned Ibiza knees up, in one of the island’s most authentic party destinations, with 25-percent of all proceeds going towards Ibiza’s homeless. The beauty of it is, if you like eating, drinking and dancing, you don’t even have to change your lifestyle for even a minute.

With that in mind – plus the plight of the community of homeless people Selina told me who are living in tin sheds and chicken coops in between two bastions of decadence, Pacha and Destino – I booked myself onto a table at the event. For just 50€, we received a welcome cocktail, kindly donated by the good folk at Absolut, the aforementioned three-course menu (and let me tell you, it including the best damn jerk chicken I have tasted this side of Notting Hill Carnival – I would have paid double!) plus a lovely glass of dessert wine. This is what I call a win/win situation. Dinner with your friends, amazing food and you get the bonus feelgood buzz of doing something good for others. Just to set the scene… we arrived as the sun was going down over Pikes. It’s truly a magical hour on the hills there in San Antonio as the sky changes above changes dramatically in a swirl of psychedelic colours. Speaking of psychedelic, sitar player Devanagari was setting the scene for diners with his beautiful, sometimes haunting music. A little bit exotic – a taste of things to come, no pun intended of course. The tables were filled with the who’s who of Ibiza big business, which made me feel happy. It meant perhaps I wasn’t the only one who had been running about life being so ‘busy’ and unaware of the problem, and who was happy to find a little way in which to help, that could easily slot into their lifestyles. A round of applause for the guests please…

Selina herself was bobbing back and forth between tables, often with a tear in her eye, as she was touched at the turnout, and the offers for additional donations and services for the homeless in question. She took us into the Bwell Chillout Zone, where holistic therapies were on offer for a charitable donation, including acupuncture and a Chi machine, which promised to oxygenate all your muscles and organs – 15 minutes on the machine is all you need for the equivalent of a full day’s oxygen apparently. It was so zen in there I made plans to go back later for a post-dinner nap! Pretty trays of cocktails in jam jars were being sent to each table as they took their order. The set menu included delicious options for vegans and vegetarians as well as the staunch meat eaters like myself, and the smell of sizzling spices permeated the air and made my mouth water in anticipation of things to come. Taste buds were not disappointed, with the aforementioned mind-blowing jerk chicken, a lamb khari and chapel minced angus beef kebabs. I may have also stolen a few of the vegetarian Halloumi chapals… and found myself scooping seconds (and thirds) of Selina’s ‘magic potatoes’ – delicious crispy spuds fried with red pepper, garlic, red onion and a zingy Scotch bonnet! I may have had tears of sweat under my eyes from the spice factor afterwards, but I can’t say they didn’t warn me!

The event was operating under a zero waste policy, which meant any leftovers on diner’s plate were being scraped into a big bucket to be donated to the animals at MOJIS the next day (feeding bellies, not bins according to Selina) – a lovely finishing touch, when you consider how unconsciously wasteful so many of us can be when it comes to finishing three courses. There were certainly no leftover desserts however – after one bite of that habanero cinnamon chocolate brownie with tequila cream, I would have gone around to every table and fought any animals for the leftovers myself! Ainsley May provided the dinner time beats, then later on, the action moved inside to Freddie’s Suite, where Acid Mondays and Deep City Soul kept the crowd dancing til the early hours (and all donated their time for free). There are two more Music Supper Clubs planned at Pikes this summer, July 27 (that’s very soon folks! Book your tables now so you don’t miss out) and September 7, operating under the same ethos and with Selina at the helm. Selina also has more fundraising initiatives in the works, and hopes the Pikes dinner is the start of something big.

We don’t have to be one of the Selinas of the world to make a difference (though I imagine, the more the merrier). As she explained to me, the art of giving is not about time or money (though of course, they would be helpful). It’s about an abundance of humanity. If we all pitch in and do our little bit, amazing things can happen as a result. And if we can laugh, eat, drink and dance in the process, well, doesn’t that sound like a wonderful way to be? Photography by Ibiza Photography

Wine, music and romance unite

Every summer the co-owners of Ibiza’s revered Italian fine dining restaurant return from unique fact-finding missions, looking for delicacies and deliciousness to add to the Can Domingo experience. While Chef Giuseppe Vivacqua spent time refining his skills at the Europe’s only Michelin starred vegetarian restaurant, the two front of house maestros Andrea Sanarica and Alessandro Barni Spadacini turned their focus to Italian wines and French Champagne. This year the pair were able to set their sights on expanding their wine list, thanks to an ingenuous mechanism that allows guests to enjoy a glass of wine without removing the cork from the bottle. “We have regulars who come just to see what we have brought back from Italy,” says Alessandro.” With the Coravin system, they can enjoy a high-quality wine without having to buy the whole bottle.”

An American medical inventor developed the Coravin system in 2013. The simple machine has the appearance of a fancy corkscrew. A medical grade needle is carefully inserted into the cork while a gas capsule is employed to help draw the wine into an internal canister. A lever gently releases the wine into the glass. The elasticity of the cork allows the tiny hole to reseal almost immediately, protecting the wine from oxidation, keeping it fresh and clean until the next glass is required. “Our clients love to try new wines,” adds Andrea. “This system means people can enjoy something they might not ordinarily order. They can treat themselves to a quality wine.” And because the Coravin allows the integrity of the wine to be maintained for longer, the Can Domingo team have been able to expand the wine list to include drops from Italy’s most exciting regions.

As well as a suggested list of 20 wines by the glass, diners are free to choose from any bottle on the menu, which includes drops from Piedmont, Alta Adige, Tuscany and other Italian regions plus a selection of Spanish and French wines. “At the moment, I like the 2015 Schweizer Pinot Noir from Alta Adige,” says Alessandro. “The 5 Stelle from Valtellina is also lovely.” When it comes to whites, he says the Terre Alte from Felluga is beautiful. “It’s the best region for white wine in Italy,” he explains. The team is clearly excited by the prospect of continuing to develop Can Domingo’s carefully curated cellar. The Coravin system is opening new opportunities to delve deep into wine culture. “We love to discover new wines ourselves, and to be able to bring that experience to our guests is a real pleasure,” says Andrea.

Can Domingo continue its role as Ibiza’s unofficial patron of jazz, blues and soul music in 2017. What better way to enjoy quality wines by the glass than accompanied by the honeyed tones of jazz? Until the end of August, the Can Domingo resident band takes to the terrace on Saturday nights from 9.30pm. Vocalist and Alessandro’s wife Chiara Croce serenades diners with a selection of classic jazz in the vein of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. Tuesdays from July sees the highly regarded Muriel Grossmann Quartet spread their cool tunes across the gardens. Muriel is a multi-talented saxophonist, singer and composer. With Radomir Milojkovic on guitar, Salvatore Licitra on the double bass and Uros Stamerkovic on drums, Muriel plays tracks from her latest album Momentum in addition to a selection from her eight previous releases.

The terraces and gardens of Can Domingo form one of the most romantic venues on the island. Andrea has lost count of the number of marriage proposals they have helped to arrange. There is something about the feeling of being tucked away in secret garden, sitting under the stars, listening to beautiful music, eating fine Italian cuisine and supping on the best wines available that bring out the romantic in all of us.

Paris Hilton – 24 hours in Ibiza

“I first heard about Ibiza when I was 15 years old,” Paris Hilton reminisces. “I told my dad I wanted to go in the summer and he said it was OK, but then he went to the concierge – we were living in the Waldorf Astoria at the time – and asked him to help with booking tickets. The concierge said, ‘Mr Hilton, you do NOT want her to go there – it’s a party island and she’s a teenager!’ So I wasn’t allowed to go until I turned 18.” Of course, nothing makes a teenage girl more determined than her father saying no, so a young Paris became obsessed with the idea of the white isle, jumping on that first flight once she reached the magical age of 18 with her girlfriends. They stayed at Jade Jagger’s bohemian chic villa – complete with disco balls over the pool and teepees in the garden – in the island’s north and fell in love with the island lifestyle. But it was her first visit to a foam party that really made the holiday complete. “I had never been to any party like it – I was just blown away. It was awesome!” she says. Today, 20 years after the island first appeared on her radar, Ibiza is Hilton’s summer home. Over the past four years she’s gotten to know it like a true local – though at times, due to her notoriety, this calls for her to wear a brown wig, a baseball cap and glasses so she can truly enjoy the experience. When asked if this is liberating, Paris thinks carefully. “I like going undercover when I want to shop, have fun, and have some time to myself to really experience something,” she explains. “But it’s not always like that – in Ibiza, people respect other people and there’s a good energy here. It’s not like Hollywood with TMZ. I don’t mind if people ask me for a picture. Why not make people happy?”

Come Saturday nights at Amnesia, happy people in their thousands flock to see the star DJ perform in the main room of the award-winning club. Paris is now in her fourth season as resident DJ at the club, hosting her own Foam & Diamonds party every week throughout the summer season. 2016 sees the club decked out in amazing hanging floral décor – which Paris herself also helps to design, along with her own costumes and the many looks of the dancers, the artwork, visuals and more. She’s not just the face of the party – she’s also the brains behind its success. Music is undeniably Paris’s number one passion, and having just finished writing a new single – which she says will be recorded here in Ibiza this summer – she also sings during her performances, which culminate with the immensity of the foam party experience that takes place after she steps off the decks in the early hours of the morning. After a quick costume change – a girl can’t fire a foam cannon in any old sequined dress after all – Paris and her ‘girls’ head up to the VIP deck where a customised pink glittery cannon awaits. As she excitedly counts down the ten seconds prior to firing the foam, you can catch a glint of the 18-year old Paris in her eyes, no doubt thinking back to that very first foam party that inspired it all. And while you may think a celebrity fashionista like Paris Hilton would not let her six-inch Louboutins get wet as she aims the foam at the crowd down below, you’d be wrong. Paris is the first to get in and amongst it, covered in the lemon-scented foam from head to toe within minutes – though she does admit to having a pair of waterproof ballerina flats close to hand for a quick non-slip switch when it’s needed!

How do you feel as you step off the plane onto the tarmac? Just free and happy. There’s nothing like it. When you land in Ibiza, even if you’re tired, you immediately feel energised as you breathe in the air. What’s always in your suitcase when you come to Ibiza? Everything – I have about 20 suitcases! A lot of swimsuits and clothes, I love to showcase my fashion designs as well as my music, so I have a lot of outfits I’ve designed and had custom made and crystallised for DJing – it’s very me. I love dressing up and I think my fans love all of the outfits too. Does Ibiza feel like work or holiday to you? Both. It’s not like I just work one night a week at Amnesia – I have 17 different product lines that I design and promote. Plus I am touring around the world to DJ and I make sure every set I play is different. I really do put a lot of time and effort into picking out my perfect songs because I want everyone to have the best time ever. Who do you mostly spend time with on the island? My friends and family from everywhere fly in all the time, my brother is here a lot, and usually my sister and I come together – though she’s just had a baby so she might not be coming for a while! What is your favourite part of the island? Can I say Amnesia? No, really… I love Formentera. What is your best Ibiza memory? I have so many memories, but looking back at the 2016 opening party of Foam & Diamonds at Amnesia… it was incredible. Playing on that stage, there’s nothing like it. How do you feel when you’ve got to start packing to leave? Tired! But sad too, I just miss it and look forward to it all year long. I was actually here a lot last winter too, in October, November and I spent my first New Year’s Eve here and we went to DC10. It was the first year I turned down offers for other gigs, I just wanted to take it off and have some fun – and it was awesome.

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You have 24 hours on the island – tell us your favourite places to…

HAVE BREAKFAST I love Croissant Show, they do a really good breakfast at any time of the day.

GO FOR LUNCH La Escollera is phenomenal – at any time actually. I really love paella and it’s so good there.

EAT DINNER There are so many places, but I guess I would have to say Cova Santa or Cipriani. I recently discovered El Rincon del Puerto too and I love it there too.

DRINK Usually I’ll just have a drink at home before I head out, or in whichever restaurant I’m having dinner in first.

DANCE Amnesia, no doubt. I love going to Marco Carola’s night.

DJ Foam & Diamonds! There’s nothing compared to playing in that room. I play all around the world, I do shows everywhere, but the energy and the people at Amnesia, I love it more than anything. Everyone comes up to me and says they’ve never seen a DJ have so much fun while they’re playing – I think I burn like 20,000 calories every show! I am always jumping and dancing and really feeling it. I like to party with people and have the best time. I live for this. When I look into the crowd and see so many happy people, I literally get tears of happiness in my eyes.

PARTY Honestly – Foam & Diamonds. It’s the funniest party in the world. People really come here to have fun, it’s not about trying to be cool, or putting sparklers in bottles. No one cares about that here. It’s not like Vegas. People just love the music, they love to dance and have a good time, and I love being around people like that.

SHOP I like going into the old town and just walking around and shopping. There are so many nice little boutiques where you can find vintage pieces and wonderful dresses. And I love the hippy market, where there are all these handmade things you can’t find anywhere else in the world, it’s so cool.

BEACH I love all of the beaches I’ve been to in Ibiza, but I especially love Formentera.

ESCAPE Always Formentera.

RELAX At home – otherwise it’s impossible! I like to hang out at home so I can recharge.

Paella at La Escollera

Paris and her ‘girls’ arrive at Amnesia

Marco Carola’s Music On at Amnesia

Ibiza’s sister island Formentera

Paris in DJ mode

Music and the food of love

Italian fine dining restaurant, Can Domingo, have perfected this trio of life’s joys by hosting live music every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights from June until the end of summer in their beautiful garden space in the hills of San Jose. The band performs a selection of classic jazz standards, the work of Italian singer-songwriters of the 1960s and rhythmic improvs, riffing off timeless funky beats of yesteryear.

Tuesdays see Chiara take the mic to serenade the stars with songs from some of her jazz idols such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Julie London. The ambience couldn’t be more suited for this homage to the dames of jazz. On Thursdays the band take Can Domingo on a journey through the pantheon of Italian singer-songwriters. Be romanced by the likes of Paolo Conte, Mina and Gino Paoli. Saturdays is when the band let loose in a free styling improv based on ageless funky.

Chiara had little choice but to let music into her life. Her grandfather was in the chorus at the world famous La Scala Opera House. Growing up was a melange of family sing-a-longs and from a very young age she had music in her soul. “We sang together always,” she says. “Classical, vintage, all the music I love is old. It must be my grandfather’s influence.” Her first visit to Ibiza was in 1995 and from the moment she touched down she wanted to live here. It took a while to make the dream come true. She met her husband, Alessandro Barni Spadacini, in their hometown of Milan, fell in love and created three beautiful children. They both had the dream to one day live in Ibiza and finally the dream came true. Can Domingo was born when Alessandro teamed up with Beppe Vivacqua and Andrea Sanarica to craft Ibiza’s most romantic fine dining Italian restaurant.

There was a band already providing ambient music a couple of nights a week and Alessandro, having witnessed Chiara’s talents encouraged her to join in. “Alessandro said to me, ‘This is a family business, sing with them!’ so I overcame my shyness and now it fits so perfectly. I love it.” The jazz and blues scene in Ibiza is a small eclectic community of excellent musicians and Chiara was soon enveloped within the local music scene. This year the Can Domingo house band is made up of pianist Luis Garcia Lillo, a child prodigy who has worked all over the world, Giovanni Perez, a bassist who brings a sultry sound from his Cuban homeland to the island and Fabio Capelli, saxophonist and composer whose work has featured in film scores and well-known ads.

For Chiara and the Can Domingo team music is something that envelops the ambience and complements the experience. Science tells us that smell, taste and music are essential in creating memories. We all have songs that invoke a moment in our lives and the foodies among us can recall meals of importance at the blink of an eye. “It has to be somewhat refined, like the cuisine. Music that is in tune with everything else, the wine, the food, the atmosphere. Nothing matches a fine wine better than Ella Fitzgerald,” says Chiara. We think The First Lady of Song would definitely agree.

Paris Hilton – Making people happy

Ever since she launched her Foam & Diamonds residency in Ibiza in 2013, everyone in Ibiza has had an opinion about Paris Hilton. Love her or not, there’s no denying her love for the island is authentic, her enthusiasm for music is genuine and her desire to have a good time is infectious. It’s practically impossible not to feel happy when you arrive at Amnesia on a Saturday night, surrounded by fluorescent glow-sticks, blown-up portraits of her dog Peter Pan on the walls, pink carpets, chandeliers, and bubbles blasting out of a giant foam cannon onto the dancefloor! Sure, the serious techno-fest that is Carola’s Music On it is not, but this is a girl who has created a persona and knows exactly what her fans want. Making people happy makes Paris happy. You can see it in her eyes, and in the way she reacts to the crowd from her DJ booth (from where we can officially report, yes she does mix for herself) and when you meet her, she exudes a warmth that many other overly media trained celebrities lack.

What may surprise people however, is that this is also a girl who knows her music, technically, and figuratively. When asked her favourite artists she is quick to reel off Carola, Nicole Moudaber, Hawtin and Adriatique and when speaking about her own music and DJ sets, software and equipment like Native Instruments, Traktor and Ableton roll off her tongue like designer labels would have in the past. Having been trolled by ‘haters’ since day one of her DJ career, it’s never been easy for Paris to be taken seriously in the music world – a fact she blames herself for. “You know, it is hard,” she says. “But in the beginning, that was my fault. About five years ago, I was asked to perform my new single at a festival in Brazil to 30,000 people. J.Lo was performing, I was supposed to be closing the show and then the producer I was working with didn’t get me the finished song on time. Literally two days before the show, the promoters wouldn’t let me cancel and they said I had to do something else, like DJ. So I had two days of training, flew to Brazil and did the show…” She shrugs sheepishly – it was clearly an experience she learned from.

She may not have been the most technically perfect artist at the festival – hence the trolling – however Paris was exhilarated by the overall experience. This was a girl who was used to being on television, on red carpets, at photo shoots or at parties, but being up in front of such a huge crowd was a new inspiration for her. “Being up there in front of all those people was such an incredible feeling,” she says. “When I got home, I hired two of the best teachers in the business, and I trained and studied, for eight hours every single day. I can understand why people didn’t ‘get it’, but it all happened by chance. It was supposed to be one performance, I ended up loving it, and so I learned it. I think I’ve proven myself now and I’ve come really far. I’m producing my own music, making my own remixes, I’m loving Traktor, I’m working on Ableton, and now I’m learning to use Stems on Native Instruments. I love it, it’s a lot of fun.” In her third year as a resident DJ at Amnesia (“It’s always been my favourite club in Ibiza.”), Paris says she never plays the same set twice. “I tailor everything to the crowd, and my sets are really energetic. I find a lot of amazing hits, like old songs you wouldn’t expect to hear and I’ll do remixes of those and add them in when I see what the crowd is like.” While you may expect the booth to be packed with Hollywood A-listers, in fact, it’s quite the opposite – Dubfire, Richie Hawtin, Adriatique and Skrillex have all popped in to the party. Does that make her nervous? “I love to surprise people and prove people wrong,” she says with a mischievous glint in her eye. “So many people have misconceptions about me, that when they come behind the booth they can be like, ‘Oh my God, you’re playing live!’ Yeah, I am!”

Music is clearly a huge passion in her life – one that started with playing violin and piano as a little girl – and no matter where she is in the world, Paris likes to immerse herself in it. “I’m always researching, at every festival or club I go to, I’m shazaming or talking to my friends who are DJs, or at home I’m always on Beatport Pro finding certain remixes or new artists.” It’s not all electronic – she admits her guilty pleasures are old Michael Jackson and Madonna tunes at home. Home, in summer 2015, is Ibiza, where she resides full-time with her new boyfriend (or her “love” as she prefers to call him), Swiss businessman Thomas Gross. “I first came here about 15 years ago,” the loved-up heiress says of her Ibiza history. “I just totally fell in love with the island, I thought it was the most incredible place in the world. I’d always loved going to St Tropez, but Ibiza just blew everything else away. I came back every year, and now I live here with my boyfriend.”

In previous years, it was all about jetting in and out on private jets, playing in different countries every night but this year sees Paris experience a more authentic Ibiza lifestyle. “I was always doing a lot of travelling, but now I am with my boyfriend, and he has a house here, we mostly stay in, or go out on the boat. He knows a lot of the locals and we go to places they tell us about – I am experiencing a whole new Ibiza, it’s so different to what I am used to, but I love it.” She also spends a lot of her time on the island working – yes, really. “With technology, I can do my job from anywhere in the world, it’s amazing. During the day I’m handling my business – I have 17 product lines, so I might be promoting one of my stores or a new product. Then at night, it’s like my alter ego comes out – I practice my DJing and work on my music for hours. My boyfriend has a club set up in the house, with lasers and smoke machines, and the sickest system ever.” She’s also been spotted – looking super low-key in black jeans, tank top, trainers and a baseball cap – doing her musical homework at places like Music On and DC10.

As opposed to her hometown of New York, or Hollywood where she has previously spent a lot of time, Paris finds the laid-back ‘live and let live’ attitude of Ibiza locals refreshing. “There’s so much good energy here. People know I go out, and I like to have a good time but I never get bothered. It’s not like Hollywood where TMZ are everywhere you go. In Ibiza, people respect people. Everyone just wants everyone else to have a good time too, and experience this magical party island. Sure, people ask for pictures with me, but why not? It’s nice to make someone smile and give them a memory, if that’s what they want. I could never be mean to anyone.” Foam & Diamonds with Paris Hilton continues at Amnesia until September 12, 2015.