John Digweed was the latest high-profile DJ to headline the intimate dancefloor of Akasha, this past weekend. Our clubbing editor was tasked with covering one of the biggest off-season parties Ibiza has seen, as another sell-out beckoned.
Down the years, I've had the privilege of attending some incredible parties on Ibiza. Of this countless number, it's hard to qualify which one was "the best" but on the face of things, John Digweed was probably responsible for my favourite ever Ibiza set.
That night in Pacha back in 2014 was the perfect storm of tunes, company and intoxicants coming together. I remember it so fondly because it was one of my friend Brad's first nights on Ibiza and a true induction for him. We shared a dancefloor epiphany that night.
John Digweed was a staple at INSANE from 2014 to 2015
Given how much his music moved me on that fateful night, it's criminal how little I've seen John Digweed play since. Fast forward to 2023 and a few things have changed.
I'm older (undeniably), wiser (debatable) and, currently, two-thirds of the way through a period of self-imposed abstinence. I also live and work here now. Almost ten years removed and with a lot having changed, how would John Digweed shape up? I was looking forward to finding out.
John Digweed at Akasha
Driving the creativity behind Akasha's programme, it's reassuring that Igor Marijuan is on warm-up duties when we arrive at the club. Team Spotlight, both past and current members, are out in strength. Although early, we aren't alone.
Intimate Akasha is filling up nicely and it's a local crowd. We note tracks from All Day I Dream and Lost Miracle, as this floaty, proggy House narrative seems to build towards a moment of profound importance: John Digweed materialising behind Igor.
There's a noticeable sense of expectation, as control is passed to Digweed and he begins with a drawn-out cinematic number, considered but tugging dramatically. Soon the pace quickens and we find ourselves sucked into the sonics through the club's impressive sound system.
Getting lost in the music, we forget ourselves. Every so often, we snap out of it and look around. The crowd is a true Ibiza mixed bag - a cross-pollination of cultures and ethnicities. Greying top-knots, men in cravats, guiris and darker-skinned people, beautiful lesbian couples, Burners and paisley-print shirts - all the diverse strands of the island's DNA are present.
Full of peaks and troughs, his set is the epitome of a journey. After some Afro House, Digweed transitions to synthy House in the Gerd Janson-mould, every so often dipping in and out of an Acid bassline.
As ever, Digweed seems shy and retiring, almost apologetic about being here, but totally focused on the music. We hear music from Poker Flat, Innervision's Ivory and Bedrock, naturally.
Aside from his impeccable track selections, one of John's appeals down the years has been how he has shunned the limelight and kept his head down. Going about his job quietly, he is the antithesis of the modern attention-seeking DJ.
As John steps away, we feel for sure that we could've gotten another hour out of him; and he another hour of dancing from us. 180 minutes have flown by.
Igor, who returns to the booth for the last hour, ends the night with the perfect go-home track of Âme and Ry X's atmospheric Howling.
So how did shape up to the last time I caught him on Ibiza?
I'm a true believer that trying to compare different eras like-for-like is a fool's errand. Change is inevitable. You either embrace it or you make yourself miserable. But enjoy myself, that I did. I only lament I had to dance this one out sober! (next time...)
What's without dispute is that Akasha banked yet another night to put it firmly on the clubbing map. I echo the sentiments of the rest of the Spotlight team when I say I hope Digweed gets a return invitation later this year - and once I'm officially back off the wagon!
Coming up
Akasha has just a couple of dates left of its winter programme before it switches into spring mode.
Venus by Gaya Brisa welcomes Raphael Scemama, Karuna and Ella this coming Friday 17 March. The following night Super Flu and Tom Zeta are in town. Tickets for both can be picked up below.
Then on Sunday 19 March, Ethereal closes the weekend with its Fiesta de la Primavera.
From the weekend after, spring kicks in, with Matthias Tanzmann, Ben Westbeech, Tobi Neumann, Milou, Mr Doris, Andy Baxter, Chambord, Aracil and Maurizio Schmitz all confirmed to appear before the end of April. For tickets for those parties, please follow the links above.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Arsen Voronyy
