Like the waves that wash up on its sandy, sexy shores, Ibiza is an island that thrives off the tides of change. With this in mind we perhaps shouldn't be surprised to hear the (still pretty surprising) news that Darren Hughes' 'We Love…' party is leaving Space after a 17 year residency. This is a pretty huge shift, given how established 'We Love Space' had become and with changes taking places everywhere on island (some good, some bad) this move could be read as a pretty monumental sign o' the times.
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That being said the future is very bright. Sankeys Ibiza is a rapidly emerging club, and, as we heard from its owner David Vincent when we spoke to him last month, is only planning on getting bigger. 'We Love…' will step in every Wednesday across the summer, from the 1st of May to the 23rd of September.To find out some more about the move, Thump gave Darren a ring to get the low down.THUMP: Yo Darren, how's it going?
Darren Hughes: Pretty good thanks. Excited for my Easter egg hunt tomorrow y'know.Same here. So 'We Love…' is leaving Space! How are you feeling about the move?
It might seem exciting but it's been a hell of a long time coming. If I'm truthful with you, it's been a polarising experience. I've got a chance now to be in club where I don't have to play games, I can have fun. More fun than I've had in years.Why the decision to leave Space?
As you get older it can get harder to see that the writing is on the wall. So it's been a case of stopping my procrastination and getting on with what I knew needed to be done. The roof going on the terrace in 2005 was the start of all the changes really. It became a nightclub then. The whole daytime clubbing thing was changing. Island politics were changing, the licensing was changing. When it became a nightclub it was part of a different zeitgeist. I don't want to do things by numbers.You are surely going to miss it after 17 years though?
Obviously there are a lot of memories there, great memories. The hey-day, pre the roof going on the terrace. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have experiences like that as a promoter. I was very lucky.
Darren Hughes: Pretty good thanks. Excited for my Easter egg hunt tomorrow y'know.Same here. So 'We Love…' is leaving Space! How are you feeling about the move?
It might seem exciting but it's been a hell of a long time coming. If I'm truthful with you, it's been a polarising experience. I've got a chance now to be in club where I don't have to play games, I can have fun. More fun than I've had in years.Why the decision to leave Space?
As you get older it can get harder to see that the writing is on the wall. So it's been a case of stopping my procrastination and getting on with what I knew needed to be done. The roof going on the terrace in 2005 was the start of all the changes really. It became a nightclub then. The whole daytime clubbing thing was changing. Island politics were changing, the licensing was changing. When it became a nightclub it was part of a different zeitgeist. I don't want to do things by numbers.You are surely going to miss it after 17 years though?
Obviously there are a lot of memories there, great memories. The hey-day, pre the roof going on the terrace. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have experiences like that as a promoter. I was very lucky.
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But it's all about looking forward now, right?
It's like a weight is off my shoulders. I'm re-energized about getting to grips with a new programme, a new club. A club where the people behind it are in it for the right reasons. I remember walking into Sankeys Ibiza a few years back and I liked it immediately. Even when I was on the outside looking in.And you've worked with Danny Whittle before haven't you?
Of course, yeah me and Danny worked together years ago. When we did the first parties at Space, as Home, he was there. We've been looking for an opportunity to work together since. We're great pals.Any line-up announcements at this stage?
Nothing is in the bag, but this is giving me the chance to rip up the template. What I'm hoping is for a smaller version of what 'We Love' was. I'm looking forward to that. Of course there will be artists that I'm already associated with, but at the same time this gives me a chance to be liberated. When you've got a blank sheet it is exciting. When I book a line up I need to feel calm to make the right decisions.So you've got the freedom to put together a dream lineup?
For me, from Deadmau5 to Aphex Twin, anything is possible. All the extremes.Thanks Darren.Follow Angus on Twitter.
It's like a weight is off my shoulders. I'm re-energized about getting to grips with a new programme, a new club. A club where the people behind it are in it for the right reasons. I remember walking into Sankeys Ibiza a few years back and I liked it immediately. Even when I was on the outside looking in.And you've worked with Danny Whittle before haven't you?
Of course, yeah me and Danny worked together years ago. When we did the first parties at Space, as Home, he was there. We've been looking for an opportunity to work together since. We're great pals.Any line-up announcements at this stage?
Nothing is in the bag, but this is giving me the chance to rip up the template. What I'm hoping is for a smaller version of what 'We Love' was. I'm looking forward to that. Of course there will be artists that I'm already associated with, but at the same time this gives me a chance to be liberated. When you've got a blank sheet it is exciting. When I book a line up I need to feel calm to make the right decisions.So you've got the freedom to put together a dream lineup?
For me, from Deadmau5 to Aphex Twin, anything is possible. All the extremes.Thanks Darren.Follow Angus on Twitter.