Wednesday night saw the return of Steve Aoki to the white isle for the second week of his residency at Pacha, and what a spectacle it was.
Pacha has a reputation for providing an amalgamation of everything that clubbing in Ibiza represents – loud electronic music played through a crystal clear sound-system, light shows that make you not know where to look first and a few thousand holiday-makers from all over the world uniting under one roof to have an amazing night. Last night was certainly no exception.
Steve Aoki is a name that needs very little introduction in the world of electronic dance music, and his party clearly reflects his ‘in-your-face' stage presence and track selection, right up to the décor of the club. One of the first things that is noticeable upon walking into the club are the silhouette lights of Aoki's face emblazoned all around the main room, an almost literal tribute to the stamp that he has put on the club scene in Ibiza and the world over. The décor and atmosphere inside the club were a testament to how influential Aoki has become recently.
Martin Garrix, whose rising profile has made him virtually a household name in the past year, provided support as the guest DJ for Aoki's new party. From the beginning of his set right to the end, you would struggle to believe that Garrix is merely 18 years old – his confidence oozed not only from his choice of crowd-enticing heavy electro, but his intermittent interaction with his adoring fans who were hanging on every word throughout his performance. At about 3am, Garrix played the intro to Blur – Song 2 which transitioned into a pounding electro number; a refreshing take on a classic 90s track that succeeded in thrashing the packed Main Room into a complete frenzy. Garrix's set frequently featured catchy, belting vocals broken up with brief, ambient interludes that perfectly contrasted the thumping bass lines that followed. Even if electro isn't your thing, Garrix's talent as an entertainer is undeniable and at such a young age, he will only get better.
By the time headliner Steve Aoki stepped up to the decks at 3.30am (not before the 3000 strong crowd were chanting his name), the crowd in the Main Room was so packed that the regular use of the CO2 cannons was a blessed relief to those of us that were melting in the audience. Upon the drop of the first track in his set, confetti fell from the ceiling onto his worshipping fans and the club's powerful CO2 cannons were used together, providing a rush of euphoria not only for fans of Aoki but also for clubbers who are new to Pacha and the island. His set was certainly not your average electro-house set – Aoki infused elements of trance and even dubstep at points throughout his two-hour appearance to keep the crowd on its toes. As a first-timer to Aoki's live show, it was certainly not what I was expecting but definitely made for an enthralling performance.
Towards the end of his set, in spite of a dwindling crowd, Aoki stepped up his game and played heavy electro with infectious melodies that had the entire audience in the main room jumping in unison – quite a spectacle from the terrace that surrounds the dancefloor. By the time he dropped a surprise number in DMX's Party Up (Up in Here) and smashed one of his fans in the face with a cake at the end of his set, the crowd was left begging for more.
With spectacles as intense as this and in only the second week of his residency, it is no wonder that Aoki's Playhouse is shaping up to be one of the most popular events on the island.
WORDS | Janson Goldberg PHOTOGRAPHY | James Chapman
