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Talking all things Amnesia with Mar-T
DJ, producer and label owner Mar-T is a major player in the Ibizan scene having been THE resident at Amnesia since 1999. As well as having another busy season, he's been killing it in the studio with producing partner Luca Donzelli, dropping releases on Sanity, 8 Bit, Cajual, and Do Not Sleep. He's also been running his own label WOW! Recordings, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. We caught up with him ahead of his appearance at this year's SW4 Festival to talk all things Ibiza and Amnesia.
Hey Mar-T, how’s it going? How has your summer been so far?
This summer has been a very different summer for me as normally I stop producing and focus more on my gigs but my production partner Luca Donzelli has come to Ibiza for the season and we have been in the studio nearly every night. This has been reflected in our productions, which have been much more than usual than when I'm alone as I don't have so much time to get in the studio. My production skills are slower than with Luca who is very fast and we have a great connection.
You’re hosting the Amnesia tent on Sunday at this year’s SW4 Festival, what can people expect from the day?
I'm doing a b2b set with Cuartero like we have been doing this all year since we started and Amnesia last year. It's been very successful and we love to work together. I think the whole day will be a great experience and it’s the first time Amnesia is hosting a stage in UK.
How do you find the crowds in London compared to the crowds in Ibiza?
It's not so different for me as in London there is also a big international crowd from all over the world like in Ibiza. The main difference would be that people in London are not mainly on holiday compared to Ibiza, which it means that the mood is different but the party for sure is great in London.
You’ve been resident at Amnesia since 1999, but how did you first get your start there?
I played for the first time in 1998 as I was a resident DJ from a club from the same company called Atlantida, in Sitges, my hometown. Every year the main residents were invited to play to Amnesia for 2 days.
How has the club changed from then to now?
The club was open air in 1998, the terrace was totally different with a sand floor, no roof, the bars were made of wood... a real terrace. The sound system was not loud as there were sound restrictions. The main room was very similar to what it is now but the roof would automatically open when daylight was coming and the DJ booth was high, very high... so it was in many ways a totally different cub. It was also smaller... there were more small bars and strange spaces which where not used at that time.
Residencies like yours, which have been going for 17 years, don’t seem to happen very much anymore. Why have you wanted to keep going at Amnesia for so long?
It's not only me... also CAAL and Les Schmitz have been there for more than 15 years. It does not make any sense for us to move to another club in Ibiza. It also happens with many promoters, Cream has been at Amnesia more than 20 years, Cocoon is similar, Matinee etc.
What’s been the craziest night you’ve ever had at Amnesia?
I've had many but in the days when La Troya at Amnesia was the biggest party on the island it was super crazy. You would keep dancing till 1pm and see all these strange characters going crazy... there was a much more strange audience, it was like a freak show but the show was the clients, not a performance. People making love on the corners, hippies going crazy, gays dancing like the end of the world... and people dressing in unique styles. I would say that Ibiza lost this vibe but now the Woomoon party at Cova Santa is recovering this.
Where’s your favourite place to party in Ibiza?
Depends, for a big party night would be Amnesia or DC10, although for me it sometimes gets too busy and I don't enjoy it. Pacha would be the perfect place for a relaxed night and Space is also good to party although in the last few years I did not like any party there.
With Space closing this year, do you feel that Ibiza is starting to become more about business and less about music and parties?
Why? Space is closing because the owner of the brand is not the owner of the club and the contract is ending, it has nothing to do with Ibiza. The real Space was the after hours, since that finished it has never been again what it was. Ibiza has always been about Ibiza…it’s a big business where the owners of clubs, restaurants, hotels and bars are people who enjoy what they do and try to give the best possible experience been special. If not Ibiza would be like Mallorca or Menorca.
How much will the loss of the club change the island?
I don't think the loss of Space will change the island. What could change the island is the new owner doing something, which I don't believe is good for the island, like what happened with Ushuaia.
You’ve put out a lot of great music with Luca Donzelli already this summer, why do you two work so well together?
As I said before, we have a good vibe producing together. He is a real talent producing and I just give my experience over the years and what I think we should do. I also love to play the piano and make melodies and sing and try to make something new and he always makes it work.
WOW Recordings is celebrating its 10th anniversary, congrats! What’s been the highlight of the past ten years?
The highlight for me is to have been able to grow every year and increase the catalogue with great producers, many of whom are now are big names in the industry. I’m very proud of this, and I hope to be able to generate more talents in the coming years.
And what are you aiming to achieve in the next ten?
Haha... survive! Increase sales so the label gets more and more respected so we can be part of the story of electronic music.
What song have you got on repeat at the moment?
Salvatore Bruno – ‘These Days’. I even made a remix but the original is so good that I always end up playing the original.
What song changed your life?
Donna Summer – ‘I Feel Love’. It was the first track that really opened my mind to electronic music. It was an explosion in my ears, even being at that time an old track for me.
If you weren’t making and playing music for a living, what would you be doing as a career?
I would be a graphic designer if I were not in the music industry.
If you could fill a swimming pool with anything in the world, what would you choose and why?
I would choose liquid gold! Haha! This way I can have money to do many things...crazy question!!
What one thing would you do to change the world?
Rule it! So I could make it work because like this we are going to destroy the world. It looks like the politicians and the governments who rule the world don't really care about it... they only care about how to increase their income. I would have to write ten pages to explain what I would do.
Catch Mar-T SW4 Festival this Sunday and follow him on Twitter.
