When it comes to Ibiza, we have an abundance of elite DJs and yet it's still a thrill when a headliner is edged by a lesser known peer. As islanders who are embedded into the club scene, it's something we see time and time again but never stops delivering a satisfying glow.
Co-owner of DJ agency TEN Ibiza, Oriol Calvo is one from recent memory - a reminder that the number one pursuit on a night out is discovery. When we heard he was coming back to Ibiza, back to Akasha, we felt compelled to reach out and find what makes him tick.
Tequila, as it turns out! And, joking aside, a predilection for surprising dancefloors.
Oriol Calvo has an intense schedule. We last saw him on Ibiza at the turn of the year, laying the groundwork for HOSH. Since then he's been based in Mexico's prime clubbing hotspot Tulum, but his international diary has included stops everywhere from Beirut to Cairo, Miami to Guadalajara.
Prepping for a return to Akasha on Friday 31 March with his own agency showcase TEN Ibiza, we caught up with him to discuss his DJing philosophy, playing with friends and why Akasha is such a great club.
Hi Oriol. Thanks for talking to us. You play Akasha this coming weekend. You last played there on New Year's Eve when you supported HOSH. We think it's say to say you won some new fans that night. Are you able to share any of the music with us?
"The truth is that I have incredible memories of New Year's Eve.
For several years now I have been outside of Ibiza, playing gigs in different parts of the world. Playing back in Ibiza on such a special date and in such a fantastic club made NYE an authentic experience, meeting friends as well as making new fans, as you say."
"I played a selection of tracks for almost three hours before my buddy HOSH began. It was a warm-up that started with very deep sounds to begin with, balancing my organic side with my electronic side and building up to melodic and powerful House with great vocals.
Sometimes other DJs might consider vocals as a 'commercial' element, but I use them as a tool to make my sets stand-out from the rest."
"Some of the tracks I remember playing were Caiiro's remix of Sparrow & Barbossa's Amore Profondo, Valdovino's remix of Ebrahimi's Call Me By Your Name, the extended mix of Nick Curly's Kalu and Dorian Craft and Baron's Can Soleil."
Some great tracks there bringing back memories.
You are one of the owners of TEN Ibiza and Sara de Araújo is one of the artists on the agency's books. Both her and the great Landikhan join the party on 31 March. What are they going to bring to Akasha as DJs?
"Well for me, it is very important to play alongside other DJs who want to have a good time, who have a lot of energy and positivity to offer the dancefloor, and above all, a desire to drink tequila (!)" (laughs)
"In this case, Sara de Araújo is a real bombshell in the DJ booth, with her style becoming more refined every day. Her technique makes her an artist that I can guarantee will get people talking..."
"As for Landikhan, well, he has it all. He comes across as very committed. He's a complete artist. Above all else, he looks at the dancefloor and makes whoever is in front of him dance. I identify with that a lot. Oh, and he happens to share my passion for tequila!
Between the three of us, we are going to turn Akasha upside down."
Away from Ibiza, you've also played extensively in Tulum. What are the main similarities and main differences between the two clubbing destinations?
"As it happens, Tulum is where I am right now. We have been doing our TEN Ibiza - A Journey Into House Music parties every Friday at the fantastic Vagalume Beachclub for the last two months.
It has been a great success. I'm very happy with the public response to our concept and to the music we played. We had guests like Newman from All Day I Dream, Crosstown Rebels' Emanuel Satie, Memo, Sara, Kid Bamboo, Da Le Havana.
They have been accompanied by a veritable army of talented local artists, such as Vite, Giorgio Stefano, Kevin Ganora and many others."
"Tulum as a destination is a beautiful place, by the beach with delicious food, palm trees - not mention the parties. I've been visiting Tulum since 2005, so I'm close to 20 years there. I've lived in Ibiza for 22 years.
Somehow, I could say that both destinations have changed a lot, Tulum especially in the last five or six years. They are both incredible, yet they also both have some not-so-incredible things. If you know how to handle it, the balance is very good.
Also, escaping from the cold of Europe in January, February and March is never a bad idea."
Like your parties in Tulum, Friday's TEN Ibiza showcase is called A Journey Into House Music. What can attendees expect?
"Today there are approximately 234,543 different sub-styles of dance music. People feel the need to classify themselves as being something: whether they're Techno, or they're deep, or melodic."
"What I've noticed and I've been seeing for a while, when people smile the most to a track is when any DJ dares to put HOUSE within another type of style. This is the journey we refer to. I'm strict on quality, but fluid with the style of my sets, hence 'a journey into House music.'
House for me could encompass a track by St. Germain at the beginning, then go deeper with producers like Kevin Yost, Volen Sentir or Valentín Huedo, continuing with a pure modern House or classics, and ending with melodies and joy from the spectrum of electronic music.
That's A Journey Into House Music: music for your body and soul and obviously for your feet."
You've played at clubs all over Ibiza from Space to Privilege, Pacha to HEART. What makes Akasha different?
"Akasha is a dream. Especially after having been lucky enough to play the most impressive clubs and sessions on the island, whether at Space or Pacha or elsewhere. Akasha is the club that everyone dreams to play after you reach the age of 40!" (laughs)
"With its sound, size, decoration and atmosphere, Akasha is exactly the club I dream of today."
€15 tickets for Friday's party, as well as the other confirmed dates in Akasha's springtime programme, can be bought below.
