So far this season, the boundary-pushing residency Afterlife has provided some of the most spellbinding moments of the summer at the glamorous Hï Ibiza. Now over halfway through the season, we were craving another musical journey with melodic masterminds, Tale of Us.
This party is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Go hard or go home as they say. On Thursday night, that's exactly what we did as we went HARD and headed to the impressive superclub buckled up and ready to be taken on a journey. Here's what went down.
With closings fast approaching, the line ups appear to be getting hotter and hotter. This week, the Italian duo Tale of Us were joined by a collection of high calibre underground artists in the Theatre including Recondite, Roland Appel and a captivating name to the bill; world-renowned DJ and producer, Jamie Jones. The Club room was just as inviting with Afterlife regulars Marcel Dettmann, Mind Against, ANNA and Hunter/Game. This was an evening menu we couldn't put down. Tonight, thumping techno was served.
As we approached the superclub, I could feel the energy emanating from the venue. The last time I danced underneath the iconic Afterlife diving effigy hanging from the ceiling would, unbelievably, be the opening party back in June. Palms sweaty and heart racing, we couldn't wait to get inside.
As we entered, we made our way through the intense crowd and every inch of the club was pulsing with people as ANNA was already blowing minds away in the Club Room. The rich bassline and psychedelic sounds put us in the mood for a good night.
As much as we wanted to stay and listen to her entire set, we could imagine the anticipating beats bouncing off the walls in the Theatre as Jamie Jones is about to take to the decks. Bringing a huge following, the room was jam-packed and the mood was bubbling nicely.
The Hot Creations label boss, founder and curator of the Paradise global event series has pioneered his own distinct sound and been an icon in Ibiza for many years. In less than a decade, he has catapulted himself to stardom by shattering genres and breaking out of the confines of minimal techno. Jamie Jone's innovative sound is an instrumental part of his success and reason to why you will see his name is often headline, or support headline, under many versatile brands in the house, tech, melodic, minimal and tech-house industry.
On this date, it was time for a journey into the Afterlife. The progressive grooves, stimulating soundtracks and eery rhythm coming from the enormous speakers meant that Jamie Jones had nailed it yet again; He seemed to have a catalogue of tunes to fit the immersive concept. To create the famous Afterlife ambience, each beat was enchanting.
We were ready to be taken on an ethereal journey across a series of very creative sounds. As Tale of Us took to the decks, the lights dimmed, the Afterlife figure descended and the ambience reached a darker depth.
Their elusive sound could not fit any more perfectly inside a setting like Hï Ibiza. With climatic rhythms and hauntingly brilliant beats, the Theatre was transformed into a melodic spaceship and we were flying through a galaxy to space-like sounds. The visual production was kept minimal to keep the focus on the music, but the occasional thick tubes of light that slashed through the crowd captivated everyone.
The audience followed the music each in their own journey. As we approached the end of the evening, I couldn't quite believe my ears. In a hair-raising moment, they dropped one of my favourite ever tunes. It was Bicep's 'Glue'.
This was a very special moment. The stuttering synths and sumptuous melodies allow the crowd to relax and breathe and the song creates a nostalgic atmosphere. It was a truly spine-tingling moment. Tale of Us know how to channel the energy of ravers and whisk people into other realms - this song did just that. It was magical.
With the sounds of Afterlife and the help of the superclubs hypnotic production, Afterlife is one of the most fascinating residences on the island. With just six dates left of the season, get your tickets to Afterlife now and experience a unique musical journey like no other.
Words: Holly Woulfe