Just two ordinary lads from Essex, Elliot Schooling and Liam Palmer (sometimes affectionately known as 'the Appetite boys' by their ever-growing fan base) are fast becoming industry names on the tip of everyone's tongues.
Taking the underground scene by storm with their donut-shaped, vinyl insignia, the duo’s deep musical connection has made them favourites amongst the next generation of partygoers.
What began as a shared love of music during their time at university, has evolved into a thriving club brand that resonates with thousands. With sold-out shows in London and a dream of playing on Ibiza, Elliot and Liam's journey is one fuelled by passion and relentless ambition.
Ahead of Appetite's second party at Club Chinois this summer, we paid a visit to Appetite's Ibiza HQ overlooking the bay of Cala Vadella to talk to the duo about how it all started and their forthcoming plans.
Lissy Lü chats to... Elliot Schooling & Liam Palmer from Appetite
How did Appetite start and what was the vision for it when you first started?
Liam: "It started when me and Elliot went to Bristol University together to study music production. We might have only played in one club at this point. We just wanted to put on a fun party - somewhere for us to DJ. The first one was in Bristol."
Elliot: "We did The Dog House and then we went on to Profitters' Rights as well. After that, we went to London and focused there."
LP: "We were just saying stuff to each other back and forth for like a week and then we were at Motion in Bristol on some pills, I turned to El at 05:00 and was like 'Appetite'? and then we hugged it out.
We took some inspiration from the Simpsons movie for the pink donut, and then mixed it with a vinyl record to illustrate music and food together, then made the logo on a cracked version of Photoshop. It's fun and not too serious."
It feels like an Ibiza edition of Appetite was a long time coming. What took so long?
LP: "The last three or four years we were quite active in trying to bring the brand over here. We had a date agreed at what is now called 528, but then we had to cancel that. Then we had a date agreed with another club last year.
So, yeah, a combination of trial and error and being let down, basically. We were being quite cautious. We wanted to take our time and pick the right club at the right moment."
Taking over Club Chinois
What was it about Club Chinois that made you want to do it there?
ES: "We chose Chinois because there are no other brands that are similar to us. We stand out and offer something unique. If we had done it elsewhere, we would have been amongst other brands that are similar to us, you know?
It has a new sound system in there, which is always a massive plus. We thought about doing other venues in Ibiza but there can be some issues with sound, especially outside."
How was the party back in July? What DJs smashed it and what did you learn from it?
ES: "It was a great experience."
LP: "Everyone played spot on, to be fair. Probably Yass & Mali, you know, the warm-up set. The girls. They're booked for the second one too. They're both Ibiza residents. We always want to get at least one person from Ibiza on the line-up.
We got over a thousand people through the door. The club said this is the busiest they’d been all season. It couldn't have gone better, really."
Yass & Mali have been invited back to Chinois for Appetite part two
ES: "I guess we learned that Appetite and Ibiza were going to be a good combo.
We've seen how things work in Ibiza now, because that was our first time doing a party here. In London, we sell all the tickets online in advance. We sold a lot of tickets pre-sale, but then even more people came on the night, so it left that doubt, 'is it going to be busy?'
I guess we learned that the power of our brand on the island is quite strong."
Can you talk us through the line-up for the next party and what each DJ brings?
ES: "Sure. I mean, it's similar to our first date. It's very much UK-based DJs again, but we've got some sick selectors with perhaps more of a Garage tip, which is cool. Dr. Banana and Tristan Da Cunha and then obviously the legend Skream headlining. He's a household name by himself.
We’re expecting big vibes again. Lots of partying and tequila, and hopefully Lissy comes down…"
I’ll be there! Appetite attracts quite a young crowd who have a tendency to whip their phones out on the dancefloor. What do you think about clubs implementing no phone policies?
ES: "We probably have one of the biggest problems with phones in the crowd. They'll hear a good track and instead of just dancing like back in the day, they feel they have to film it because they wanna put it on social media."
LP "It's not their fault. They've grown up in a generation where they can put it online for everyone to see, to know that they're having a good time. They don't know any differently, you know? That's how they've grown up."
ES: "We're actually implementing something at our Halloween party in London. We're gonna put donut stickers on their phone lens."
Coming up on the label
Who have you got coming up on Appetite Records?
LP: "We can't actually name anyone at the moment, but I think we've got a big release for the end of the year which is a collaborative project."
What do you look for in a track when you're going to sign it?
ES: "It's never just one genre. If it's good music, really. For us, it's like, if you listen to our DJ sets and if you come to our parties, you know ... You can't pinpoint one type of music. It could be Garage, it could be House, it could be like, whatever, within that."
Who's released on the label thus far?
LP: "LP Rhythm has released on it, ourselves... We're still in the early days of growing the label. We're trying to build it properly, but I think it will expand more in the coming year. It's something we don't just rush and just take our time with it."
Have you got any new music coming yourselves?
LP: "Yeah, we've got one coming out on Three Six Zero actually. That's coming out 11 October, like a week after the show out here. It's me and Elliot and my sister on vocals!"
ES: "I think the next record after that is coming out November time, which is the collaborative project I mentioned earlier. That's it for this year. And then next year we've got quite a lot."
Ibiza 2024 highlights and looking beyond summer
Aside from your own party, you've also played at various clubs across the island. Can you give us some 2024 Ibiza highlights?
LP: "Yeah, for sure. Highlights is plural, right? There's been a lot, I suppose. It's hard to just pick one. Definitely Pikes, when we played Freddies. Paradise was great. I think tonight's probably going to be a highlight (Solid Grooves)."
"We're closing the main room tonight, so it's going to be a pretty big one. I think that'll be a highlight. Every set has been pretty good out of here. We’ve had a few sets at Cova Santa as well, which has been nice."
You mentioned Halloween earlier. What are your other plans beyond summer?
LP: "We've got a few releases coming up, so we're going to focus on the label. We launched it last year and then maybe it didn't get the attention it needed this summer, because we've just been so busy with Appetite On The Farm and touring.
We’ve got an Australian tour at the end of the year as well. All our best friends live in Australia now, so we’re looking forward to it."
Finally, what can attendees expect from Appetite on 1 October?
ES: "Good vibes. Good music. Happy faces. Good vibes all round!"
We think that calls for donuts all round!
Appetite returns to Club Chinois for its second party on Tuesday 1 October with Skream, Dr. Banana, Tristan Da Cunha and Yass & Mali.
Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase below.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Peter Young and Louis Nesbitt
