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Source URL: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/clubz/5011879/-is-about-to-go-Booom.html

Clubz Youth is absolutely vital

CLUBZ chat to the man behind the music at Ibiza clubs, Eden and Booom as he looks set to add to the islands clubbing nightscape

By MARK GWINNETT 17 Jul 2013 15:06:24

IBIZA clubbing guru and co-founder of the IMS, Danny Whittle’s 13 year run with Pacha and the split with them last year is well documented.

Danny’s expertise on the island is now elsewhere as he has teamed up with Eden’s new Dutch owner Michael Van De Kruit to help guide and boost the San Antonio club’s music policy and build Eden as an international brand. He is also due to open the highly anticipated Booom (formally Bomba) club which boasts some seriously exciting line ups for this season. Having been instrumental in shaping Ibiza over the years Clubz caught up with Danny last week in Ibiza to find out more. So, why Eden? As if you didn't have enough on your plate. I am excited to work with Eden. I have always worked on the Ibiza side of the island but I have always been a fan of San Antonio. It’s the entry point for most people to the island so I have always thought it deserved an amazing and now Michael and his team have delivered one. There is still work to be done to help change the perception of what it used to be to the amazing place that it now is, but we are up for the challenge. The reality is if we can make people fall in love with the island on their first visit, the chances are we will get a return of service. I know people who first visited San Antonio and are still coming back to Ibiza 20 years later. This is why it is a good entry point for the youth and is vital for the island. So you see Eden as the gateway club for the younger generation of clubbers because of it's San Antonio location? Yes absolutely as I consider San Antonio the gateway to the island for so many. Do you worry that you might spread yourself a little too thinly with everything you do? No not at all. I also programme many other events and spaces and being able to programme two clubs on Ibiza is fantastic. Although it is a different demographic to Booom it still allows me to consider what each club is doing and to programme different music in each club on different nights. How difficult is it as a music lover to arrange the music programming for clubs as diverse as Eden and Booom? Do you embrace all electronic sounds or do you have a definitive preference personally? I have my own preference of course but I don’t think you can be a true lover of electronic music unless you like all of the music. Eden and Booom will have similar sounds but both clubs vary slightly each night so I can do my best to make sure those sounds don’t clash too much. As I programme both clubs it allows me to consider things carefully to make less competition. It’s a handy position to be in. A lot of people consider that there are four main clubs flying the flag for Ibiza these days, , Pacha, DC10 and and now perhaps Ushuaia and that pretty much every other club has a job on their hands to get to the top of that pile. Obviously any new club or a club like Eden will need to rival the legendary status of these clubs. It looks like Ushuaia is on it's way very quickly, do you think Booom will do the same? Let’s not forget Privilege and Es Paradis. All the clubs have their good nights and some not so good. Each club has to compete to a certain level but at the same time if all the clubs are doing good things then it brings more people to the island. Amnesia is flying this year, the guys there have programmed it so well with Cocoon, Cream, Together and Music On they really are on a roll. Regarding Booom, we will fit in perfectly, we have a strong line up with Luciano weekly and the Defected parties as well as many more. I believe we will become a great addition to the Ibiza nightscape. We have an amazing new Pioneer purpose built club sound system that is a game changer. Clubbers really are spoilt for choice. Do you think that it could become too much? In the end the quality survives and it’s great that the customers get to choose who that will be. But one thing is for sure, Ibiza and electronic music is here to stay. What was the reason for the delay in the opening of Booom and why the name change from Bomba to Booom? The normal red tape and politics are what delayed the openings but that’s the way it is. You have to work through these hurdles and keep going. We liked the idea of Bomba going BOOOM! Got to touch on your relationship with Pacha. The club was obviously a big part of your life. How are things between you all? Do you feel you have to compete with Pacha? We have to compete with everyone but the best way to compete is to concentrate on what you are doing and not what everyone else is doing. Regarding Pacha, of course it was a huge part of my life for 13 years so I will always have a soft spot for the place and Hugo (the owners son) will always be a friend of mine. What do you think of their line ups? I like some of them but I think what’s important is to know your demographic and I’m not sure this year they have got that straight. But it’s their job now not mine. Do you think that the shake up there was madness? Or do you think that really it’s a sign of a positive evolution of Ibiza? There's been so much change on the island this last couple of years it seems to me that perhaps the time was right. I’m fine either way but I have to say I prefer a more organic type of change especially when you consider Pacha was packed 7 days a week. You can change your business model but not when it’s working well. I’m all for evolution. I changed a party a summer for the last 10 years so we were constantly evolving anyway. You've got old Pacha regulars like Luciano, Defected coming over with you. Has that anything to do with loyalty to you? Yes I think so. Also I think they didn’t understand the changes and maybe didn’t feel secure with the route Pacha took. Although I am only guessing. What are the benefits of having DJs like Luciano, Guetta and having parties at multiple venues? I’m fine with multiple venues as long as it’s considered. For a DJ it sends out a message that they are very strong and as long as it works for both venues then I think it’s a good thing. In light of recent events, will Erick Morillo appear at all this season as you had him lined up for Booom? Yes he will. I have worked with Erick for 15 years. He is recovering well and will be back to his lovely self soon. I can’t wait to see him on the decks. He is an awesome DJ and will for sure come back firing on all cylinders. What do you think of the term EDM? Why have people seized on this americanism? We've spoken to a lot of artists over the last year and overall the feeling we get is that it is almost a term to describe electronic pop music, the Guettas, Swedes etc... Certainly not underground sounds. Yes it does point towards the more commercial sounds of electronic music. But I don’t care if the Americans want to call it that. For me it will always be electronic music. What would you say are the main benefits of the explosion of electronic music in the US? The whole Vegas is the new Ibiza argument is a bit lame isn’t it? It’s great that America have turned onto electronic music but let’s be honest it’s just going home really. It came out of Detroit, Chicago and New York, then America got into Hip Hop and RnB and Europe adopted elctronica. Regarding Vegas, there is no competition with Ibiza. They are two totally different places. But I do think artists see a similar pattern in that if you play Ibiza you hit Europe in one gig due to the selection of nationalities. With Vegas you hit America due to the selection of tourists from all over America. So basically if they want to showcase themselves in Europe and America then play Ibiza and Vegas! You must be very proud of the success of the IMS and the speed at which it has made it’s mark. It really marks the start of the Ibiza season now in such a short space of time. Why do you think the time was right for the island to have a business conference like this? Well we started 6 years ago when electronic music was in the dumps a little. We started to help give a push to our industry to get back to business and it’s great the scene seemed to grow in line with the IMS. In April we did out first Los Angeles IMS which was amazing and then a totally sold out IMS Ibiza so it’s been a great year. Next stop Asia I think for IMS! For more information on both Eden and Booom then follow the below links - http://edenibiza.com http://www.booomibiza.com/ Related Images

GURU... Musical figurehead behind Ibiza clubs, Eden and Booom, and co-founder of the IMS, Danny Whittle

Publisher: News International Ltd Published Date: 17 Jul 2013 15:06:24 Article Id: 8479026 Version: 2 Word Count: 1607 Character Count: 6596

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