Every Friday, the intimate confines of jewel of the north, Akasha, lends itself perfectly to a rawer, commersialised-free clubbing experience.
Quite often, that manifests as parties with a Deep or Progressive House soundtrack, but increasingly there are exceptions. Adding diversity to the programme, is Dutch micro House label and pop-up SlapFunk Records.
Making monthly appearances since June, SlapFunk has given Akasha an extra musical dimension to explore.
Originating from the rave scene in Utrecht and now a staple on Amsterdam's hottest dancefloors including BRET and Lofi, SlapFunk has cultivated a sound that's both timeless and forward-thinking. We went along to the August edition to check it out.
SlapFunk diversifies Akasha's programme
With a line-up that boasted some of the label's most central figures including Samuel Deep, DJ Senc and JNJS, the night was primed to be an exhibition in funk-infused grooves - and it didn't disappoint.
The crowd was diverse, compiled of Akasha's usual cosmopolitan clientele and curious newcomers. It was refreshing to see some fresh faces amongst the crowd, many of them experiencing Akasha for the first time due to SlapFunk's allure.
One of the label's key architects Nelson Yogh Niemel was spotted networking, dishing out the shots of Patron tequila and generally being a top host.
Senc and JNJS started the night with equally compelling performances, wavering between vinyl and digital format, each adding their own textures to the airwaves of the cosy club.
JNJS's knack for transitioning between grooves kept the energy high, while Senc brought an unfiltered edge that perfectly suited the night's vibe. Together, they projected a faithful depiction of SlapFunk's signature sound.
Taking control for the rest of the night until close was Samuel Deep, another of SlapFunk's co-founders.
A true master of his craft, Samuel let the music do the talking, each track given time to breathe. His set was a flawless blend of bass-heavy yet Minimal House, all delivered with that distinct slap of funk that kept the crowd in motion from start to finish.
Akasha's state of the art sound system also proved to be the perfect canvas for SlapFunk's distinctive sound. The intimate club became a haven for anyone craving something with a bit more edge and a lot more funk.
For those who may not be familiar with SlapFunk, its dates at Akasha are an introduction to a sound that has remained true to its underground roots while steadily building an international reputation.
With deep grooves, an all-round infectious energy and a sense of community that's sometimes hard to find in the vast sea of Ibiza’s nightlife, SlapFunk's monthly jaunts are proof that the island still caters to the underground if you're prepared to go and find it.
If you missed out this time, make sure to mark your calendar for the next one. SlapFunk's final date of summer takes place on Friday 20 September. Line-up TBA.
You can find it on sale below, along with other parties in Akasha's summer series.
ADDITIONAL WORDS | by Stephen Hunt
PHOTOGRAPHY | by The Vitorino
