Pool parties are a must if you want to complete your whole Ibiza experience, but what if I tell you Tinie Tempah is hosting one of them in the huge Hard Rock Hotel venue? Sounds exciting, doesn't it? The English rapper was eager to come back to the white isle for another season, bringing his Disturbing Ibiza concept: a day-time open air party where commercial hip-hop and urban touches flow around one of the most elegant and enormous pools of the island. Sun cream at the ready, I went to Playa d'en Bossa to check it out by myself, play in the water and enjoy the music.
Now, in truth, I barely saw the pool yesterday (probably hottest day of my life) because it was already massively busy at my arrival, occupied wall-to-wave by people dancing and chanting the first of Shift K3Y's beats. Swimsuits and sunglasses were the official uniform for the six-hour party, accompanied by a shining and extremely warm sun who stayed with us until the end (yes, I am writing this much more tanned than two days ago). While the English DJ continued with his set including such tunes as Chocolate Puma's Gimme Sum, Karen Harding's Say Something or one of his own ones, Not Into It, DJ Charlesy, Tempah's right hand man, was cheering all the party-goers with a microphone. Wearing a blue swimsuit and a drink in his hand the young boy was jumping to the same rhythm as the guests, with the happy boss next to him providing the pool with rubber balls, inflatable toys and water guns. Entertainment is clearly high on the priority list at Disturbing Ibiza, with dancers, performers and even mermaids for you to feast your eyes on at every turn.
Charlesy also took the decks right after K3Y, leaving behind the progressive house beats and going for some summer hits like the Coconut song (which has been playing everywhere) plus some hip-hop and R&B gems like F**kin' Problems by A$AP Rocky or JayZ and Kanye's Niggas in Paris. Courtesy of certain groups of attendees, there were some twerking dances just in front of the stage that even the artists acclaimed. Without any doubt, a party made for those who want to dance in or out the water.
Finally was Tinie Tempah's turn to play some music. The master of ceremonies went for a varied set with a different mix of genres which switched from commercial tracks to hip-hop gems including the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song and others like DJ Snake and Lil Jon's Turn Down For What which caused an explosion of energy between the party poolers. Being the captain of his own party, the British artist proved yesterday that he knows how to prepare such an event and I felt like I was in one of those American movies where the parties get wilder and crazier as the sun goes down and everybody is drinking in the pool.
Just one important warming: there is not much shade at the Hard Rock venue so bring a hat, apart from kilos of suncream, of course.
WORDS | Natalia Gutiérrez PHOTOGRAPHY | Hard Rock
