addicted to ibiza

the squatters prepare for their final judgement sunday battle.

In preparation for the Judgement Sunday closing party taking place on the 25th September at Eden Ibiza, The Squatters are getting ready for their final DJ battle. Addicted caught up with Alex and Oli of The Squatters, who will be playing back to back with Micky Slim, to talk tunes, Judgement Sundays and future plans...

The boys are currently rounding off a few special bits in the studio that have been prepared especially for this final Judgement event: ‘We can't wait to get back on the island for the final battle! Alex is hitting the sun beds as he doesn't tan very well, he usually looks like a lobster. Oli on the other hand is half Italian so he goes golden brown instantly!’

This is certainly not their first time playing at the Judgement Sunday events. All summer they’ve been sending crowds crazy with their tracks. ‘A track we always play that gets the crowd going at every gig we play has to be our remix of the oldskool track "Up To No Good" by the Porn Kings. We never released this so it still remains a weapon of choice in our DJ sets.’

They’ve been playing a few of their brand new tracks "Sucka Punch", which was released last month and their forthcoming release "Zippyshare" which is released on 10th October: ‘These have been doing some serious damage on the dance floor. After all we did create them especially for this crowd.’

They describe Judgement Sundays as different to any other event that takes place on the island. ‘We have been going there as fans for many years and now it's great to be behind the scenes of it all. Everybody in there feels like part of the event from the clubbers to the organisers. It's like one big Judgement family. 

They added: ‘We have had a lot of international fans come to see us and it's great to be able to get up close with them. With Ibiza being the central hub for clubbing it's not just a British crowd and it's great to see everyone enjoying themselves together.’

Year in, year out The Squatters end up in Ibiza, even if it’s just for a couple of days in between gigs: ‘We love the place! It’s starting to feel like a second home. There's something magical about the island! And where else in the world is totally devoted to partying on this scale?’

The boys favourite places include a little Tapas bar in Ibiza Town, at the bottom of the castle entrance, which they say does the most amazing food and wine. They also enjoy spending time at Golden Buddha: ‘Chilling out with a few mohitos, watching the sunset. We don't often get chance to hit the beaches but when we do Cala Banirras is a beautiful place to chillax.’

The Squatters cannot believe summer is almost over: ‘We’ve had so much fun out in Ibiza this year, especially playing for Judgement Sundays. We’ve made lots of new friends on the island and will be venturing to see them through the winter months. We’ll be sad to leave here.’

The fun does not end there though, as The Squatters have plans of getting back in to the studio, lots of photo shoots and performances around the world. ‘We are running events back in the UK as well and we want to make them extra special through the winter to keep the excitement going for our fans until the summer is back.’

With many plans in the pipeline, the future is looking far from bleak: ‘Our record label is going really well (Whats Your Status?) and we have even bigger plans for it for 2012. We are also looking forward to playing in the USA next year and a whole other bunch of international gigs.

'We are working on collaborations with other artists in the studio and we will continue to listen and talk to our fans, as they are the people we do this for.’ Watch this space...

Judgement Sunday closing party takes place at Eden Ibiza on 25th September

mark doyle on fierce angel, es vive and ibiza in 2011

2011 has been a hectic year for Mark Doyle. Since leaving Hed Kandi in 2006, the clubbing uber-brand he set up seven years earlier, Mark has been working on his new label, Fierce Angel, signed a partnership deal with Strictly Rhythm and released a brand new compilation CD.

Addicted caught up with Mark to find out more about Fierce Angel, why he loves Ibiza and what he has in store for the future.

‘Fierce Angel is more than just a record label, as we involve ourselves in live events and will shortly be launching a few brand extensions’ said Mark. He described the label to be a natural extension of what he was doing at Hed Kandi: ‘it’s all about providing great music and entertainment to people who love to have a good time.’ 

He adds: ‘In philosophy and music style Fierce Angel are very similar to Hed Kandi during the years 1999-2005. This period was the time I was there and running the label and it was very much created around my personal tastes in music and general beliefs.’

Launching Fierce Angel is not the only success for Mark. He has recently signed an amazing partnership deal with the legendary Strictly Rhythm, signed a number of new artists projects and released a new compilation CD. 

The new compilation CD, Fierce Angel/Hotel Es Vive 2011, features three different styles across three mixes. ‘The first mix is very much a classic Ibiza poolside chill mix, the second is much more vocal disco affair and the third takes things a little darker and dirtier.

'It is a broad collection of some of the finest summer tunes, with a few classics thrown in for good measure.’

As he travels around the world, permanently attached to his laptop, he describes his job as a constant obsession, which is made easier by his wife working alongside him. When asked what the favourite thing is about his job, Mark answered with: ‘Getting to travel around the world, playing amazing music in fantastic nightclubs and finding and releasing great music to the public.’

2011 has been a seminal year for Mark and his career. ‘It has been a hectic summer! The new Es Vive compilation is one of the highlights of this summer, I’ve been able to play in both Mexico and Taiwan for the first time and our launch party at Es Vive was spectacular.’ 

Mark has been travelling to Ibiza for nearly 20 years now and the island constantly surprises him. ‘It’s an amazing melting pot of musical talent and unique people.’ He has recently fell in love with a new restaurant which opened this year, called Como and enjoys to spend his time at his base camp, Es Vive. 

The future certainly does not seem bleak for Mark and Fierce Angel, with a compilation in work called ‘Deeply Fierce’, a number of new artists to be released, their radio station set to hit stations worldwide and a touring schedule taking them from Australia to Dubai and all around the world.

Check out Fierce Angel on www.thefutureisfierce.com and tune in to the 4 hour radio show on demand 24/7 at www.jazzfm.com. Click here to preview and download some Fierce Angel music.

 

watch it now! erick's morillo's new ibiza video

All of us at Addicted are going crazy over this new Erick Morillo tune. Not only is it an awesome uplifting summer dance track, but the video lets you to relive your summer trip to Ibiza. The video is shot on the island and features countless shots of unforgettable beaches and clubs.

 

The record will be released on August 7th and has already been awarded 'Essential New Tune' by Pete Tong on Radio 1.

Click here to download the MP3 and check out Morillo's new album now!

"ibiza's such a soulful place" - addicted speaks to nightmares on wax

George "Nightmares on Wax" Evelyn took time out of the frenetic run up to Saturday's launch party for new record Nightmares on Wax presents Wax Da Beach to talk music, moving to Ibiza and the Leeds United Calypso(!) with Addicted.

George explained that the nature of putting together a compilation album means that you "chose far too many songs" and after all of the rights have been sorted "everything's last minute. I had forty eight hours to deliver the mix." The advantage is that you "feel your way through" and the record becomes a reflection of the "way that I DJ" . "I can't remember doing half of it. It's only started to sink in as I listen to it".

Growing up in Leeds, George was "surrounded by music" from the Soul Funk and Disco loved by his sisters to the Reggae sound systems in the neighbourhood. "I've got a lot to thank Leeds for". His influences include Bob Marley, Third World and Duke Ellington and he bought his first record, Third World's Cool Meditation, when he was seven. Later he was "breakdancing and body popping" which he quips he does now "only when I'm drunk". This synthesis inspired the sound of Nightmares on Wax: "my music has always been influenced by the street". A former season ticket holder, George remains a Leeds United fan and watches the matches whenever he can "I think we are back on the up now after many dark years". He laughed "I would for a ticket" when Addicted joked about whether he would ever consider doing a re-mix of, sixties football anthem, the Leeds United Calypso.

As for realising that music could become a career, George says that he "tries to remain focussed on the music" and that it was "just something that I wanted to do". "There's been tough times" but "you need to remain connected to why you are doing it" and it's the business elements "the marketing and the product placement" that "seem alien".

George "didn't know anything about the place" when he first flew out on holiday to Ibiza at the age of eighteen. He stayed in San Antonio and "ran out of money in three days". In between other travels, he came back "sporadically" and played the opening night of the Space Terrace. "The first time that I hired a car and drove around the island, it reminded me of St Kitts...the terrain, the lush beauty and the secluded spots" . "Ibiza has a special energy...you can't believe it's only two and a half hours away from England" and, creatively, the island has made him realise that "paradise is a fine line. You can get lost or found".

Talking about the annual rhythm of the White Isle, George remembers that "when you first move here, you're on holiday" but then winter comes and "downtime is writing time. It's not as easy to write in the summer". His daughter has become fluent in Spanish and is learning Catalan. Now a full time Ibizean, he started the outdoor Wax Da Beach parties to provide "an alternative". "Ibiza's such a soulful place" that George wanted to play music that reflected the "foundations of what built dance music". "I've been given a blank canvas on a beautiful island". 

Looking ahead to Saturday's launch party, George is bringing Massive Attack's Daddy G to Ibiza for the first time "I've been talking to Daddy G for over a year". Wax Da Beach is about "music with roots and feeling and Massive Attack have that...good music sounds ten times better in the sun". Addicted finished by asking George to pick the song of Ibiza Summer 2011 from the Wax da Beach record and after much deliberation "it's a difficult decision", he chose K'bonus feat. JtotheC 'Dance Baby Dance'.

Wax da Beach from Nightmares on Wax is out now and the launch party takes place at Sands Ibiza on Saturday 6th August. Find out more at www.ministryofsound.com/summer.

George Evelyn spoke to Fran Harris, editor of ladyadventurer.co.uk.

essential records from ibiza artists for summer 2011

It's that time of year again: 'Ibiza 2011' albums are starting to land on Addicted's desk every day. Whether it's a compilation mix CDs, an Ibiza bar/club releasing their annual record, or an Ibiza DJ releasing a new album to coincidence with their residency on the island; it's hard to select which album you want to define your summer. To help you narrow down your selection, here are some top records from big names in Ibiza this summer.

The record: Tiesto Club Life volume one

The club night: Monday nights at Priviledge

The low-down: Love it or hate it, Tiesto's new Club Life series moves away from the heavy trance of his In Search of Sunrise mixes. Some die-hard fans may have reacted badly, but the vocal-heavy house has become a fixture on Addicted's iPod since it was released last month.

Click here for the CD edition / Click here to preview and download the MP3 edition

The record: Defected in the House Ibiza 2011

The club night: Saturday nights at Pacha

The low-down: This album is a 3-CD mix of straight-up house music - everything you need to please the crowd at your pre-party.

Click here for the CD edition / Click here to preview and download the MP3 edition

 

The record: Until One by the Swedish House Mafia

The club night: Monday nights at Pacha

The low-down: It's been around since October 2010, but as their Monday night at Pacha becomes one of Ibiza's top destinations this summer, this record will become a necessity. Better get it on the iPod now if it isn't there already.

Click here for the CD edition / Click here to preview and download the MP3 edition

win 2 vip passes to hed kandi at es paradis and copies of the new beach house 2011 compilation

So it's the morning-after-the-night-before and you're sitting by the pool starting to think about the night-ahead. What do pump through the iPod speakers to get you in the mood? Thankfully that Ibiza dilemma has an easy solution in the form of Hed Kandi's annual 'Beach House' compilation, serving up a mix of laid back beats to play by the pool while sipping some cava rosada. This year's album is appropriately Ibizan, taking you on a three disc journey from 'Sunrise' through to 'Sunshine' finishing off at 'Sunset'.

To celebrate the launch of the new album, we have a fantastic prize. Our friends at Hed Kandi will not only send you a copy of the new album, but you will also get two VIP guestlist passes to Hed Kandi's massive Disco's Revenge party, taking place every Saturday this summer at Es Paradis in San Antonio. Two runner-ups will get free copies of the new Beach House 2011 album to enjoy by the pool

All you have to do to have a chance of winning is click 'Like' at the bottom of this post, then send an e-mail to competitions@addictedtoibiza.com with the subject line 'BEACH HOUSE' before 8pm Ibiza time this Friday 17th June 2011.

For more chances to win why not forward this competition to a mate …then make them take you to Es Paradis as their plus-one.

Click here to preview and download 'Beach House 2011' on iTunes.

 

free addicted to ibiza mix by jason bye (we love space, cafe mambo)

Here's something to get your iPod ready for summer 2011 - the first Addicted to Ibiza free mp3 download of the year! Click the link to download an exclusive mix from Jason Bye, resident DJ at Cafe Mambo, recorded live in Ibiza on 20 May 2011.

Stay tuned for more throughout the season and sign up to our e-mail list on the right hand side of this page to find out about new mixes to download as soon as they happen.

Click here to listen and download.

 

felix da housecat speaks to addicted

Last season, Addicted caught up with legendary electro house DJ Felix da Housecat just before he played a series of gigs at We Love Space. To get us ready for 2011, we revisit the interview with some of his top tips for summer on the island.

Addicted: Let's kick off by talking about Ibiza. This summer you are playing some dates at We Love Space. What's your favourite thing about playing at Space?

Felix: I love We Love Space because they let me be me and do whatever I want. I can totally be myself there.

Addicted: There is always talk of somewhere being 'the new Ibiza', whether it's Brazil, Greece or somewhere else.  What do you think makes Ibiza unique?

Felix: There is only one Ibiza and it’s still doing its thing after all these years: sin!

Addicted: Tell us about the first time you went to Ibiza.

Felix: Oh my god, the first show I was ever booked to play in Ibiza was Sundissential at Pacha. They put me up in this horrible hotel. I mean, the worst hotel I have ever seen. There was no TV in the room! I called  the promoter to complain and he said I wouldn’t need a TV in Ibiza. Sure enough, he was right! That night my Ibiza virginity was taken; my Ibiza cherry was busted.

Addicted: Apart from Ibiza, where's your favourite place to play in the world?

Felix: I love playing in Spain, Brazil and Mexico.

Addicted: Your new album, He Was King, comes out next month. What were your big influences when composing this album?

Felix: I try never repeat myself on any album I do.  I am always pushing myself creatively to another level.  Sometimes I reach back to old ideas and make them newer and fresher, but I felt really relaxed, stress-free and happy on this record.

Addicted: 'We all wanna be Prince' is the first track on your album. It begs the question ...do you wanna be Prince?!

Felix: I am a leader not a follower so I don’t wanna be him.  I just love him!

Addicted: Aside from tracks on your new album, what tunes are playing when you DJ this summer?

Felix: Felix Cartal, D.I.M. and Ducksauce

Addicted: Looking at your DJ schedule, you're on the road a lot! When do you find time to make music?

Felix: When I am on the road I just find studios and jump into them to work.  I am always trying to stay active and busy.

Addicted: What do you do to chill out?

Felix: Chill – that word does not exist to me.

Addicted: And finally, what is your top tip for anyone coming to Ibiza this summer?

Felix: DRINK A LOT OF WATER

Addicted: Felix da Housecat, thank you and see you at Space!

a super sexy night out at SuperMartxé

SuperMartxé is certainly one of the addictedtoibiza team's favourite party nights. Held at Privilege, one of the biggest venues you'll ever see and with a truly supersized and amazing production on a huge stage, SuperMartxé on a Friday night is a must for any Ibiza visitor.

Last week at SuperMartxé the stage curtains unveiled a huge pirate ship with sexy pirate dancers and a live performance from Nalaya Brown to top it off. We've tried to capture some of the excitement on camera but it certainly does not do it justice.

SuperMartxé attracts a sexy crowd with many of it's fans following the party night as it tours the globe, led by the one and only party girl Paris Hilton.

Don't leave the island without experiencing SuperMartxé! To find out more visit the SuperMartxe website.

Checkout this super sexy promo video featuring party girl Paris Hilton:

free tiga remix of "shelter" by the xx - download it here!

On top of last week's collection of DJ mixes, to get all our UK readers ready for some bank holiday weekend partying, today we are giving away an exclusive free download of Tiga's remix of "Shelter" by The XX. The download is courtesy of our friends at LED festival, where Tiga is performing tomorrow at Victoria Park in London.

The track is a dubby, Basic Channel-inspired reassembling of one of Tiga's favorite bands. We reckon you'll have this song stuck in your head for the entire bank holiday weekend.

Click here to download now. In the meantime, here are some words from the man himself:

"There's just something special about making out in London, your mouth bursting with toffee and emotion, that ugly ferris wheel thing looming in the distance...This remix is a love letter to British Romance, from the heart of a Canadian Revolutionary."

Deep.