Los Suruba are no strangers to Akasha - and no stranger to each other, either! After all, they've been DJing together for over 23 years. Furthermore, their namesake label, Suruba, is soon to reach an applause-worthy twenty year milestone. To celebrate, the duo are in a creative mood.
Not only do they have a new single coming out, but it's the forerunner to Alvaro and Delmar's latest album project, due out in early 2026.
Ahead of their all night long set at Akasha this Friday, we put Los Suruba on the record and reflect on where they're at and where they've come from.
Los Suruba's musical philosophy
Welcome. In an era when music has a short shelf life and is increasingly undervalued, you have a very refreshing take: sensible gaps between each release, allowing each one to breathe and then putting out remixes further down the line instead of in one dump.
How much of that mentality is related to vinyl being your favoured format?
"Managing an independent label requires dedication and care.
We like to carefully consider each release, leaving the necessary space, as you mentioned, for the audience to truly connect with the release. This also allows us to properly promote each release and give each artist the attention they deserve.
When we started Suruba Records, vinyl was the only available format for releasing music, so our
entry into the industry was naturally tied to it.
Vinyl is still our favorite format for several reasons: it's physical, it has a magical quality, and it has a warm, special sound that digital formats simply can't replicate.
It also allows you to enjoy the cover artwork in a much more authentic way, as you're not seeing it through a screen but holding it in your hands."
20 years of Suruba Records
In recent years, you have focused on Nazca, but now that Suruba Records is celebrating its 20 year anniversary that is being brought back front and centre. What have been your highlights from the last two decades?
"Among many others, key moments have included when Tigerskin (AKA Dub Taylor, Korsakov), helped us at the very beginning of the label by giving us one of his tracks. The only condition he set was that we had to make a remix.
Until then, no one had ever remixed him as Tigerskin - and we had never done a remix
ourselves. That challenge motivated us to create our first-ever remix, and having an artist of his calibre involved so early on was a huge milestone for us."
"Other highlights include releasing some of Dennis Cruz's early works, publishing several albums like Upercent's in 2015, working with legendary artists such as Celeda (Music Is the Answer), organising showcases for thousands of people with artists who are now headliners at international festivals, and achieving several number-one hits.
But above all, the most important thing has been creative freedom - always doing exactly what we wanted."
Los Suruba's affinity with Las Dalias and Akasha
You have a strong affinity with Las Dalias and Akasha. What is it about this venue and club that make it so special?
"Our relationship with Las Dalias began many years before we first performed there in 2017. It was in 2002 when, unknowingly, we ended up partying there with Pocholo and discovered that it was a place unlike anything we had experienced on the island.
Fifteen years later, our first performance at Acid Sundays in that garden marked the beginning of our direct relationship with them. Then came our residency at Namaste, followed by our own weekly residency in 2020 and 2021."
"Despite the (lockdown) restrictions, every Thursday for 26 weeks and then every Sunday for 17 weeks, we were able to bring joy to those seeking an escape from the global situation we were all facing.
The feedback from the people who attended each day was truly special and we remember it with great fondness. Every single day was sold out.
In fact, on the closing day of our weekly party, 21 October 2021, it was the first time music was played with an audience dancing in the new venue, and we are proud to have been the ones to inaugurate it."
During a summer which will see the opening of [UNVRS] as well as lots of residency changes between the big super-clubs on the island, how important are smaller, more intimate venues to the scene?
"We believe that small clubs are what keep the true spirit of the scene alive.
These are the places where the essence of club culture is still preserved, something we've noticed has been fading over time. That's why we think they are essential on the island.
They complement the bigger clubs and help maintain Ibiza's reputation, not just as a vacation hotspot, but also as a place of real musical interest.
That being said, it doesn't mean we haven't enjoyed ourselves every time we've performed in super-clubs like Fabrik in Madrid, Space, Pacha, Ushuaia, Amnesia or Privilege in Ibiza, Tresor in Berlin, or La Estación in Córdoba, Argentina. We've always had a great time."
New music from Los Suruba
You have a new track coming out, Los Bestias de Xarraca. Can we ask, is the track inspired by visits to Cala Xarraca on Ibiza?
"Las Bestias de Xarraca was born completely spontaneously.
It all started the day we met Inkrustart. He invited us to his house in Xarraca, we were DJing… and at one point (I, Delmar) heard a vocal that caught my attention. I walked over to the booth to ask what track it was, and I realized it was him singing live at that very moment.
I was blown away. I told him it would be cool to do something together, and he was surprised: 'Really?'"
Cala Xarraca on Ibiza's northwest coast, helped inspire new track Las Bestias de Xarraca
"We got together, he brought his lyrics (some inspired by Cala Xarraca), we started recording and the magic happened.
We loved the result so much that it became the spark for something bigger: the first single from our album Memories of the Future, which will be released early next year, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Suruba."
What more can you tell us about the album?
"For now, we can only share what we've mentioned already: the name of the album, the first single, and that it will be released at the beginning of next year.
The rest, you'll have to discover later on...."
Retrospective: rediscovering forgotten gems to bring back memories that no longer exist
Finally, what can attendees expect during your all night long set on Friday 14 March?
"The party on 14 March is called Suruba presents Retrospective.
Retrospective was born from an idea by our friend Marc Strap, to do something different for our set at the Días de Campo festival in 2023, as a way to celebrate our 23 years together in the booth.
The idea was to create a sonic journey through time, mixing vinyl from when we started until the present. It's truly a project that aims to do both, reconnecting with our original sound while also reinterpreting what Los Suruba means in the present.
That's why, on this day at Akasha, we will celebrate it again with this all night long set.
Additionally, we've also confirmed to perform it at two of our favorite events in the world, both in Argentina: La Estación in Córdoba and Las Palapas in Mendoza.
Both take place during our tour there.
We consider ourselves old-school DJs, selectors who enjoy exploring and rediscovering forgotten gems that bring back memories of clubs that no longer exist."
Suruba presents Retrospective takes place at Akasha on Friday 14 March, where Los Suruba will play all night long from 23:00 until late.
The final pre-sale tickets are on sale now and available to buy below.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Alex Caballero
