Finalising Hard Times' inception year here in Ibiza was one of house music's worst-kept secrets, Derrick Carter. Hailing from none other than the very place house was born, he's assembled a reputation as a fine selector over the past two decades. Declining to jump on any bandwagons in the process amongst an industry where they come in their upmost, Carter was not a casual booking by a long shot for the last Saturday night inside Privilege's glass box club on the side, Vista Club.
First and foremost we had to get comfortable inside with the sounds from Clara Da Costa, setting the scene for Hector Romero to take over. Suitably kicking things up a notch, throwing us belting vocal lines that house is all about, Andrea Martin's storming singing on I Still Love You bringing things to a head. We then went from the New York DJ, 800 miles west to Chicago as Derrick steps onstage, initiated by Deetron's remix of A Simple Design. Without changing track he managed to let everyone know it was his time via filter, sending the rumbling bass through us all. Calling out for the party people in the house tonight, before a slight mishap with dropping USBs and getting the phone torches out in search.
Treating the place like his underground house play park he delivered the funky beats we were craving. Derrick showed the love for classics without spoon-feeding us with widely known tracks, drawing excitement from the crowd regardless. With tight cuts from the likes of Diego Krause with Manitu, the groove was unstoppable and we were more or less left with no moment to stand still. Movement that was pretty easy as the club was lacking in attendance, but despite this people were still going for it and making the most of it. Personally I spun around more times than I care to count. An hour in, Derrick started dishing it out heftier, making it look easy all the while, with a standout moment being when he mixed in astonishing disco track from Jamie 3:26 & Cratebug, Hit It n Quit It.
Weekends at Vista are officially quiet now the house imprint has moved out. We'll miss your breath-taking views of Ibiza town and iconic sunrise that slowly looms over us in the morning.
WORDS | Emma Gillett PHOTOGRAPHY | Tilllate.com
