Being a Trance enthusiast since my teenage years, my interest piqued when asked whether I’d be keen to attend Ben Hemsley at Ibiza Rocks.
Ben's contribution to the contemporary Trance scene has been nothing short of spectacular. His slew of productions including IBIZA, Erase Me, Bennirás and Bebé Musica, have breathed new life into a genre that, let's be honest, had been floundering in the two decades prior.
Pool parties, however... well in my experience, they're an acquired taste.
But hey, as a relative newcomer to the island and the newest member of the clubbing team, I still have a lot to learn. With its legendary reputation for throwing some of the wildest pool parties on the planet, Ibiza Rocks wasn't a place to be underestimated as I would discover.
Big name guest
The line-up for this week was bolstered by Patrick Topping - a man at least partly responsible for Ben Hemsley's meteoric rise. With a line-up impossible to resist, I headed down with an open-mind to the party, eager to catch the start of Topping's set.
Walking in, any lingering doubts I had about pool parties evaporated faster than an ice cube in the Ibiza heat. Ibiza Rocks new sound system set-up boasted a heart-thumping array of JBL speakers, which delivered serious punch and clarity.
From back to front, the venue itself was absolutely rammed. Both on the dancefloor and in the pool, a sea of people were in tune to Toppings set. Totally lost in the moment, one guy rose majestically out of water before crashing down with a back-flop, mimicking a humpback whale.
In the VIP area, I sank a few bevvies and enjoy an unobstructed view of the DJ booth and the enormous LED screen for the visuals. Before long, Topping dropped his almighty weapon of a tune Whisper, which ironically, was not whispered at all! This transformed the crowd into a poolside choir, where everyone belted out the lyrics.
It wasn't the only track that had the partygoers absolutely frothing. Topping's rinse of PAWSA's PICK UP THE PHONE had much the same effect, accompanied by an almighty burst of smoke and confetti, perfectly encapsulating the track's energy.
Teacher and mentor go back-to-back
After an hour of groovy tunes, the star of the show, Ben Hemsley appeared, joining Topping for a solid 30 minutes of back-to-back greatness. Their styles dovetailed beautifully, bouncing from Tech House to Hard Dance, and then Trance.
By 19:30, Ben had taken full control of the reins.
Playing his signature tune IBIZA, he briefly cut the volume to allow the dancefloor choir to exercise their vocal cords once again. A string of Eurodance classics, including Alice Deejay's Better Off Alone, Underworld's Born Slippy and Modjo's Lady followed, fuelling the nostalgia.
Upping the ante, Ben increased the tempo, surging to a heart-racing 155 bpm - yes, Hardstyle territory.
Disappointingly, the track IDs will have to remain a mystery. Maybe I need to make a return visit next week?
The saviour of Trance?
After leaving, myself and the Ibiza Spotlight crew retired to a nearby apartment to enjoy a nightcap and chat amongst ourselves. It was a fitting conclusion to a hectic week, which saw me uncovering more of what the island's party scene has to offer.
If you’re after a fun and vibrant party and looking for an excuse to crack out your swimming costume, then a Sunday arvo sesh at Ibiza Rocks in the company of Ben Hemsley is one to tick-off your weekend itinerary.
Trance is alive and well - and in the truest sense. This is the classic sound, uncontaminated with convoluted rebrands such as "Nu-Trance" or "Future Trance". The experience also taught me one of Ibiza's most valuable lessons: putting yourself outside your comfort zone is the best way to get the most from the island.
This week you can catch Ben playing alongside Faster Horses, Luvstruck and Holly Hutchinson. Before the end of summer, you can also find dates for Trance Wax, Hannah Laing, Kettama and Alan Fitzpatrick. Tickets to the remaining parties are on sale now and available below.
WORDS | by Luke Botting
