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Ibiza

In 1987, Ibiza became the centre of Europe’s clubbing scene—and house music was at its core. The island’s warm weather made it perfect for partying all night long.

History

After the Spanish Civil War the 1960s ‘flower power’ movement (still celebrated at Pacha) brought hippies from across Europe to the Balearic Islands, attracted by its laid back vibe, natural beauty 300 days a year of sunshine. Until the mid-1970s Ibiza was a sleepy fishing village, when the local government decided to develop tourism by encouraging celebrities and musicians to go on vacation there. In 1979, Chicago house music DJ Frankie Knuckles played at Pacha nightclub for the first time. The next year, he played at Amnesia for New Year’s Eve and brought his friends with him -including fellow DJs Ron Hardy and Larry Levan.

In 1987, the Pacha club opened on Ibiza’s west coast – a place where international DJs could come play for crowds who were already primed for their sound thanks to their exposure to it on the island. By 1989, DJs like Paul Oakenfold were flying over from England just to play at Pacha. The scene exploded from there, and soon Ibiza became known as one of the best places in the world to hear house music. 

The sound of Ibiza

A mix of four-to-the-floor beats, influences of disco and Balearic beats makes the character of the typical Ibiza sound. This all changed in 1988 when the so-called “stab synth sounds” were introduced.