INTERVIEW DJ HARVEY

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 …

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. by: Yawa Ze.

YZ: 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?

DH: 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.

YZ: 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 ? 

DH: 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.

YZ: I would like to propose this interview like a musical approach from a local artist view, after leaving my 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? 

DH: 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.

YZ: Promoters are selling to customers for brands or good music for people, Is the focus more on the marketing than the music?

DH: Yes (hahah) just not in my world.

YZ: 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?

DH: 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.

YZ: 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? 

DH: 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.

YZ: 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 Is there any kind of party on the island that Dj Harvey does not dare to go?

DH: 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.

YZ: 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 …

DH: Thank you, they are all early influences on me through to today.

YZ: Do you think Pikes is meeting point to make Ibiza more culturally interesting?

DH: It’s just happened naturally that some really interesting and discerning people come through our doors week after week and I’m most grateful for them – creative open minded in life love and music. Ive noticed some DJ’s recently want to add Pikes to their annual gig poster (hahaha) like Oh lets play there once and check that off the list, but Pikes isn’t that, they don’t get it and thats ok, you have to earn the right to play a place like this, someone like Honey Dijon has, many are trying to play or played once that have not.  I might take a greater roll in this as Cultural Attache next year.

YZ: Best night you remember there?

DH: Always the next party

YZ: Future plans for Pikes records?

DH: I love sharing music, I live for it, so perhaps another compilation is presenting itself to me, I only do things when I absolutely feel them. 

YZ: If you remember when we meet us your first night back to Pikes, we were about 30 or 40 people included pioneers like Dj Pippi or Andy Wilson… Beside the booth a tall and lanky boy kept an eye on every record you played that night  “ El Mar y la Luna by Lovefingers ” , everything was perfect, I was literally dreaming… I asked the name of that track … and I still remember you laughing but even more your face when I told you I was recording with my phone …Oh that track made it on to the Mercury Rising compilation. Lovefingers is family, he’s so talented and the world is now discovering just how talented he is. You answered me smiling; “Turn that off if you want us to be friends” I think it’s one of the most embarrassing moments I’ve ever had, and one of the best lessons I’ve learned, never use your fucking phone no matter how good the music is, feel it fully without any distraction.

DH: Hahaha

YZ: Now I’m sure I’ll never do it again but controversial theme for a musical geek, Shazam or closed eyes?

DH: Eyes closed, the music will always come to you, it’s nice to have to wait a little

YZ: Should we create more with ourselves and less with our phones? 

DH: It’s nice to take photos, everyone wants a memory, but maybe experience more of the eve as it happens rather than only through your phone.

YZ: Definitely we could be hours talking about music, David Mancuso, Larry Levan, Paradise Garage or even better Surf, Tea and Acid orgies but we really need you here spreading the love, I can only thank you what you gift us every summer, it is impossible to think about Ibiza without Dj Harvey…

DH: Thank you this means the world to me, to be accepted anywhere is really an honor, I really care about Pikes and Mercury Rising, I helped with some great upgrades to Freddy’s Suite in sound lighting and design. Ibiza is a love affair for me since my first visit I always thought I want my own eve here, we discussed where this should happen and Pikes is the place for me, maybe I will share it on a larger scale in the future too and invite DJ’s to play with me that I love.

Eternal love from the dancefloor every night you saved our lives!

Thank you!