How Solomun and Desiree Made Ibiza Make Sense
Words: Gina Tonic
Make it stand out
Is there much to say about the reputation of Ibiza that hasn’t already been said? Most of us know it as an idea, a concept of somewhere that hippie culture and mega clubs can coexist in peace. Before heading there, I can’t say I was entirely sure on how the two could possibly come together. To make the most of our pilgrimage to the island to go to possibly Ibiza’s most iconic venue, Pacha, we caught a plane a couple of days early to make the most of the Spanish September sun.
What we found in the days and nights leading up to quite possibly the best club night I’ve ever attended - Solomun’s residency at Pacha, where he was joined by South African DJ and all round legend Desiree - was an equal mix of glorious touristy shite and unassumingly perfect beach bars that served delicious frozen daiquiris alongside the best bites you’ve ever had in your life.
In fact, I would say this dichotomy between day and night is exactly what makes it so everyone is able to go ape at the club. The sea is the clearest I’ve ever seen, so see through that I could spot the transparent jellyfish that stung me immediately. The vibe is quintessentially Spanish, that slow and easy way of living that makes sharing food (aka tapas) less of a fight to get your fair share of iberico ham and more of an easy way to get to taste an entire menu.
The Pacha club itself is about fifteen minutes walk from the Talamanca beach and a twenty five minute walk to the island’s iconic Old Town. Both spots bookended our night out at Solomun +1, providing sweet respite under palm trees compared to the complex labyrinth of endless vibes that Pacha has to offer.
We slipped through a side door straight onto the dance floor and as newbies, our group leader took us through the Pacha maze. Everything at Pacha has been meticulously thought out - from the branded drinks tickets to turning a simple hallway into an experiential art piece in and of itself.
Before Desiree landed on the decks, the house DJ still met the Pacha vibe, playing danceable house that soundtracked our way through the halls. I may be making it sound intimidating, but the club operates as a loop, as long as you keep walking, you will pop out at somewhere you recognise. We saw the top terrace, viewing platform, main dancefloor, VIP booths, club garden and more before settling in the best spot of the night - behind the DJ decks. From here, you could see arms and heads bouncing, servers balancing bottles and glasses on trays held above shoulder level, and a million blasting lights.
Desiree came on soon after we got settled - aka, had two to three g&ts - serving her signature afro house mixes that made dancing an inevitability over a desire. Desiree cut a cool figure behind the decks, shaved head and purple satin vest deliberating over mixes that made the crowd go wild. Her solo set, two hours in total, really exemplified why she’s the perfect fit for the Solomun +1 residency: A master of her craft that cuts through the traditional dirty drops we expect from house DJs to maximise enjoyability.
When it came time for the man himself, we were thoroughly sweaty and ready for a mooch, which led us to corners of the club that make Pacha what it is - we watched from viewing platforms the other side of the room, tuned in over speakers while chain smoking in the garden with the warm air reminding us we aren't in London anymore and squeezed on the actual dancefloor, the place Pacha most wants you to be. It was special enough already to get to attend a Solomun set, but to see the deliberation the world renowned DJ took to build on the vibe already set by Desiree let us know we were in the hands of a pro.
It was when the two joined forces, however, that we truly lost our minds. There’s something special that always happens with a B2B set, where DJs take special care to compliment one another and that care was clearly evident between Solomun and Desiree, but more than that, the pair were challenging each other as well.
Their back and forth was seamless, making staying at the club til 5am as a 32 year old not just effortless but effervescent. The two of us floated home to our beds across the street, ready to sleep until lunch and spend the next day recalibrating in the sweet Ibiza sun, reminiscing on a perfect night over perfect squares of jamon and sparkling glasses of Fanta limon.
Solomun has held a residency at Pacha for the past fourteen years and his place there is growing as synonymous with the island as the cherry motif that is blasted across every souvenir and piece of graffiti Ibiza has to offer. It was a hell of a treat to break our Beefa virginity with the best of the best and trust and believe, we will be back for more.
