Whereas in past years the likes of Manumission have starred, this year the club’s recruited heavyweight leftfield names including Richie Hawtin, Etienne d Crecy and Soulwax to perform live, while the rest of the week remains solid with the likes of Sven Vath’s Cocoon, Cream and Armin Van Buuren hosting their new regular weekly events. (http://www.amnesia.es/ )
Skrufff.com’s Jonty Skrufff caught up with Mar-T as he prepared for the season opener this weekend (June 12).
Skrufff.com (Jonty Skrufff): starting with the new season: what are your expectations for 2010? How much do you expect 2010 to be broadly the same as other years?
Mar-T: “Well, after last year being one of our best seasons so far it’s difficult to say, but we work always hard for improving our results and offer the people a better show , better line up in a better venue. So, I always expect a better season than the past, even more celebrating our 20th anniversary.”
Skrufff.com: Why didn’t Amnesia open two weeks ago in line with Pacha and Space?
Mar-T: “It’s connected to the history and the dates where each of us opens traditionally. We respect each other openings, and the season has been structured like this for many years. Also we prefer to concentrate our season in less weeks rather than opening and then having the first few weeks quiet with empty parties.”
Skrufff.com: Pacha have spruced up their line-up dramatically this year (with Luciano, justice etc: What do you make of it? How much pressure does it put on Amnesia to respond and perhaps spend more to book bigger name DJs to compete? (if any)?
Mar-T: “I think it’s good for the scene that each of us constantly develops and tries new stuff. Healthy competition is always good for the scene development and ultimately the crowd also benefits by having a wider choice of better parties. The club then grows in turn and we constantly seek new ways of improving ourselves, year after year. This season, for example we’re introducing new party concepts such as Amnesia Presents, a series of 8 events for celebrating our 20th anniversary, featuring headliners like 2manydjs live, Laurent Garnier with his full band, Etienne de Crecy live and Richie Hawtin´s show Contact. We’re making a big effort to present these shows which people are more likely to see in a festival rather than a club: Amnesia has special features as a venue that allows us to host these kind of big events.”
Skrufff.com: I know Ibiza was broadly unaffected by the recession last year: how much do you believe the island is recession proof? Have you seen any signs that Spain’s economic woes could have an impact this year?
Mar-T: “Yes you are right, this crisis is f*** hard. But even so, last season was amazing, one of the best we’ve ever had in our history. The reason is that Amnesia’s crowd is worldwide and luckily the crisis is not that big outside Spain and people keep coming to Ibiza.”
Skrufff.com: What are they key new trends you expect to dominate Ibiza 2010 (in terms of music?
Mar-T: “Live music and that is another reason why we’re investing in live shows and why I’m presenting a new visual show this season together with my DJ set. The dj needs to develop himself and offer something else, whether it’s a visual or live show.”
Skrufff.com: London’s Matter closed last week whereas Berlin’s club scene- and DJ scene- is thriving more than ever: how much is this being reflected in Ibiza (how much do you see the UK influence declining- if at all?)
Mar-T: “Of course the UK market influences Ibiza, but I think that this will affect other clubs that attract a higher proportion of UK clubbers. We attract a wide range of nationalities and this makes us more secure.”
Skrufff.com: You’re personally looking after Amnesia Presents this year: with a VERY varied bunch of headline guests: what criteria did you pick guests in? what does Paul Oakenfold have in common with Jeff Mills?
Mar-T: “What they have in common is that they are both big names in the respective scenes. Their style has nothing to do with each other at all and therefore one will play the main room and the other will play the terrace.”
Skrufff.com: How much do you expect these characters to be still ‘superstar DJs’, headlining Ibiza’s biggest clubs in 10 years time; in 20? (what sets them apart from younger DJs coming up?)
Mar-T: “Well some of this deejays are part of the history and will stay like that. The history has been written by them, that is the reason why we call them “legends” . And time is only making them bigger and bigger, of course, if they keep playing good music. This is the first MUST.”
Skrufff.com: It’s 11 years since you became a resident at Amnesia: how much does it get easier? Or harder?
Mar-T: “It’s easier to understand what the crowd wants from you, harder to quit this job. Of course keeping motivated during all this years has been the key to still enjoying it and getting nervous before playing the first record. This is something you should never loose.”
Skrufff.com: It’s All Gone Pete Tong’ was filmed partly at the club: how easy has it been to avoid slipping into that party lifestyle and losing your edge? How difficult is it coping with competition from rival DJs and promoters wanting your jobs?
Mar-T: “I´ve been always out of the party lifestyle, although I like partying sometimes, but with my friends. If you have a cool job and a cool lifestyle there will always be someone who wants your job, it’s inevitable. The key is to make your own way and never look backwards.”
Skrufff.com: How bad was the council shut down three years ago: how much did it threaten Amnesia’s survival? How much of a problem did it pose for you personally?
Mar-T: “It was a big hitch of course, but we came back stronger than ever. I don’t think it was good for the island in general and nowadays the council is realising what the clubs represent and how important they are for tourism.”
Skrufff.com: Ibiza-voice was somewhat critical in their recent review of your night (‘the mildly successful 'People from Ibiza' concept, now in its 8th year under Mar-T, soldiers on in the main room’): how easy is it to avoid taking criticism personally?
Mar-T: “You only attract criticism when you are doing something interesting in some way, if not nobody would care about you. So I just try to listen and analyze it. Criticism always helps me to develop.”
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