June was international Pride month.
Each year the entire month marks the 1969 Stonewall uprising. The protests that took place in the gay quarter of Greenwich Village saw LGBT members clash with police at a time when homosexuality was still outlawed in the USA.
The events of that summer are widely seen as the turning point for gay rights in the Western world. Today, Pride serves as a reminder that there is still much injustice, inequality and persecution around the world.
Lest we forget electronic music’s own gay roots. Nightclub culture began in marginalised gay, Black and Hispanic communities in America.
The early pioneers of dance music, from Larry Levan to Frankie Knuckles were gay and proud. Although they welcomed a diverse crowd, institutions like Paradise Garage and The Warehouse were predominantly gay. We owe these trailblazers everything.
For anybody looking to learn more about the history of House music, we recommend Glitterbox’s documentary Where Love Lives as a good reference point.
The flamboyant Baby Marcelo holding court at La Troya
Long known for its liberal attitudes, Ibiza is a tolerant and accepting place for all lifestyles. It’s a huge part of the reason why outsiders and bohemians flocked here in the '70s - a movement which many see as having kickstarted the island’s modern legacy.
A large LGBTQ community resides here to this day.
Down the years, this has been reflected in the type of parties found on Ibiza. Matinée, The Face Of Ibiza and Café Olé have all sparkled down the years. La Troya and SuperMartXé continue to entertain to this day.
You will no doubt be familiar with the fabulous Drag Queens who grace the bars in Ibiza Port. Gay or straight, a night on the tiles along the old town's Calle de la Virgen is something every Ibiza lover should do at least once.
The district’s open-minded bars attract a colourful clientele that promise a memorable night.
After an absence in 2020, Ibiza Pride returns later this summer for an eight day stretch from 10 to 18 September. As ever, the events culminate in Ibiza Town with the central march.
Back at the start of the pandemic, we made our commitment to ourselves to be more inclusive. The aim was to level the gender split and include more artists of colour in our monthly chart feature.
For some of our June picks, we’re remembering dance music’s rich roots and consciously championing artists who are proud members of the gay community. The music, however, speaks for itself.
tINI feat Amiture | What If, Then What? | CircoLoco Records | 11 June
CircoLoco Records launched last month and instantly showed it meant business by signing the underground’s top names. So far, the output has been exceptional with the music living up to the star billing of its creators.
The releases have been diverse, too, featuring everything from House to Techno, Disco to Downtempo. We could have included any number of tracks from the first four EPs, but tINI’s synthy Italo track from Monday Dreamin’ Green EP is the one.
Anyma | Sentient | Afterlife | 4 June
One half of Tale Of Us, Matteo Milleri, is embarking on an exciting solo concept. Sentient is the shimmering title track from the debut EP from Anyma, but the project is far more than a production alias.
Described as "self-generated, integrated, algorithmic consciousness", Anyma will be a live show that brings music and technology together through extended reality. A full album, Genesys, is slanted for autumn release.
Expect Matteo’s regular studio partner, Carm Conte, to launch his own solo work as MRAK later this year.
Just Her | Away From Here | Selador | 11 June
Just Her continues an exceptional run of form with her latest EP on Selador. Following big releases on LUZoSCURA, Circus and her growing affiliation with Anjunadeep, she’s back in our charts with the B-side to We Will Ever Learn.
Away From Here is equal parts moody and melodic. All in all, another emotionally deep production from one of 2021’s stand-out artists.
Claire and her wife Aimie announced that they are expecting a baby just a few days ago. Congratulations! You will make amazing parents.
Darius Syrossian & Bushwacka | Return To Jericho | Crosstown Rebels | 25 June
Return To Jericho is the first collaboration between Darius Syrossian and Matthew “Bushwacka” Benjamin.
The track is a symbiosis of a pacey bassline, atmospheric pulses and Saharan region vocals, which makes Crosstown Rebels the perfect home for this stargazing piece of music. Let’s hope for further collabs in the future.
Anna Tur & Gonçalo | Caught In The Club | Lowlita Records | 18 June
Our next serving is especially close to our heart. Not only is it co-produced by Ibiza darling Anna Tur, it’s also the debut release on her and Gonçalo’s new label project, Lowlita Records. Together, they have found synergy in their shared philosophy and in the studio.
If Caught In The Club is anything to go by, we can't wait to hear more material from the label soon.
BURNS | Talamanca | FFRR | 25 June
After the success of Can’t Let Go, BURNS is back on FFRR with a track inspired by our very own island. Talamanca takes its name from the popular beach just north of Ibiza Town. Featuring modular strings and vocal cries, we think this has arrived just in time for the return of events!
Makes us want to book a table at The Fish Shack and stare out into the Med.
Anna Wall | Dream Theory | Dream Theory | 4 June
Time to slow the pace right down next. The last 18-months have been stressful and exhausting for all of us, but this will certainly help ease those anxieties. Dream Theory is the new ambient label from Bricks owner Anna Wall.
You will find her track of the same name and more comforting sounds on the label’s V/A compilation. Lay back, unwind and nestle in amongst the clouds.
Folamour feat Zeke Manyika | The Journey | FHUO | 11 June
Star of Boiler Room, Folamour has just turned in his third album.
For the title track, he has invited Zimbabwean vocalist Zeke Manyika to feature. Folamour stripped back the samples and used less software, so despite being largely recorded in city studios, the The Journey sounds totally organic.
Black Girl / White Girl | Skin On Skin | EI8HT | 25 June
How do you like your techno? Production duo, DJ partnership and couple Black Girl / White Girl have landed on Eats Everything and Andrés Campo’s EI8HT imprint. The entire EP is bursting with energy, but our pick of the bunch is the provocatively-titled Skin On Skin.
File under: sexy techno.
You can listen to a special Pride mix from Ty and Karin here.
Mark Knight | You Saw Me | Toolroom Records | 25 June
When it comes to career achievements, there isn’t much Mark Knight hasn’t accomplished. Yet perhaps surprisingly, Untold Business is his first studio album. Proof that the best things are worth waiting for.
A full and wide-ranging collaborative effort, Mark pools his influences.
You will hear telltale signs of Funk, Soul and Disco threaded into the album, as well as lots of the classic House sound that sculpted Mark's early career. We could have picked any of the 13 feel-good, vocal House tracks on the album, but we've picked You Saw Me to share with you.
Many of these tracks plus lots more are loaded into our Ibiza Spotlight Selects 2021 playlist. Subscribe to our Spotify channel for more music.
We'll be back next month with the best releases from July.
