Ibiza DJ Solomun talks a decade of his +1 residency as legendary club Pacha Ibiza celebrates over 50 years of iconic parties
As Ibiza season comes to a close, Solomun tells us about a decade playing on the White Isle
By Ben Jolley
When it comes to Ibiza’s club scene, Solomun and Pacha Ibiza are the perfect match. Regarded among the most popular artists and venues on the island respectively, the Bosnian-German DJ and producer – who has been a mainstay on the White Isle for more than a decade – pulls a dedicated crowd to his long-running +1 residency every Sunday night.
With just one other artist invited to, as he puts it, “take care of the night, together”, it’s the antithesis of club line-ups stacked with huge names. “I know from personal experience that 60-90 minutes is not enough to really take the audience on a journey,” Solomun considers, adding that limiting the number of guests not only allows for lengthier sets but removes the need to clockwatch. “The longer the set, the bigger the chance to create a special atmosphere,” he summarises. As Solomun and his guest also play back-to-back near the end of the night – “this always creates something unexpected” – he says the last 10 seasons have “given me so many precious moments and memories to remember.”
The venue where +1 takes place bolsters its reputation as one of the island’s best events, too. “50 years really speaks for itself,” he says of Pacha Ibiza’s legacy; he’s right: immediately after stepping inside the main room, it’s clear why this is the most revered club on the island. “They must have done a lot of things right to stay ahead of the curve and, of course, all the nights contribute to that,” he says. Key to Pacha Ibiza’s prominence on the White Isle is the fact that the team “do not stand still”, he suggests; “they know how important it is to go with the times, they constantly try to evolve and invest into the club. Each year you come, find something new, and that just keeps Pacha Ibiza interesting and worth returning to”.
Solomun has hit the nail on the head: aside from +1, Pacha Ibiza’s legendary Flower Power Celebration returned full of vibrancy and colour this summer, hosting performances from music icons including Grace Jones and Boy George, while techno and tech-house fans have been catered for thanks to Marco Carola’s Friday night Music On residency. The Pacha Group is also at the helm of WooMoon and Storytellers, a truly unique gathering in the Cova Santa mountains that – with its cirque-du-soleil-type performers and unique setting – really has to be experienced to be believed.
Being at the helm of such a range of parties, it’s unsurprising to hear from Solomun that the Pacha Ibiza team “were the first in Ibiza to have faith in me and my crazy idea. Everyone else at the time was trying to sell tickets by fitting as many names as possible onto the bill”. Another key difference with +1 was that he wanted to move the DJ booth away from its position high up to the centre of the floor, with the aim of being closer to the audience.
But why has Solomun +1 remained so popular? “Over the years, we’ve naturally built up a sense of trust,” he suggests. “Especially in the last couple of years, we’re seeing a new wave of young music lovers, many of whom are probably experiencing it for the first time – and that’s important.” When it comes to choosing his guests, which have included Jamie XX, HAAi and Four Tet, Solomun says “I tend to follow my instinct and invite guests whom I find musically-exciting and who also bring diversity in sound; playing together with them in the club, using that sound-system, is always exciting and enriching”. He particularly enjoys DJing with someone new for the first time, especially “the joy of finding a groove together”. When it comes to standout sets, however; he says “there have been so many over the last decade that I cannot highlight a select few”.
While he calls Pacha Ibiza “a great home for +1 in Ibiza”, Solomun stresses that the concept is “universal” and can be transported anywhere in the world as “it is not about the place, but about this musical journey”. With +1 events having taken place in Berlin, New York, Tulum, Athens, Buenos Aires, LA and Lebanon, Solomun is always keeping his finger on the pulse. “The musical landscape is constantly evolving, sounds and styles are changing, and this brings a natural evolution in what is being created by producers and therefore what’s being played. New artists emerge onto the scene, others adjust their direction, and this is always very exciting to watch.”
In relation to +1, he says “every night is different, depending on each artist’s mood and what kind of music they bring”. Aside from the sound, he says other aspects of +1 are evolving, for example lights and visuals; electrical wires adorn the Pacha Ibiza sign outside the club and TV screens with static playing fuzz above the decks in the main room. “They have always played a crucial but still supporting role, since the main role is always the music. My focus, however, always is on the party, not the show”.
Looking to the future, Solomun is excited about what’s to come for Ibiza, especially “how the next generations will perceive it, as that will shape how the island continues to develop”. What stands out to him most, though, is how tastes have changed over the past decade: “when I started here in 2012, EDM events were the biggest on the island, and the underground sound was still a bit in the shadows. That has definitely changed,” he considers, “both globally, and in Ibiza.”This mix of underground and mainstream has, he believes, “always made the difference, and it will continue to be crucial in the future. From the big superclubs to smaller ones, diversity is the key to staying interesting here,” Solomun suggests.
Aside from music, Solomun is extremely passionate about sustainability on the island. “What makes me very happy is that the new owners of The Pacha Group are placing a huge focus on sustainability, and significant progress has already been made in a short amount of time,” he says, citing that the entire Group in Ibiza is running on 100% renewable power this year.
Looking back on a “truly surreal” decades-long career that began “modestly” during his teenage years in Hamburg, Solomun says “there have been so many pinch-me moments. I’m extremely grateful that I’ve been able to travel the world as a musical ambassador for so long”.