Joining the Music On family once again for the first time since summer 2012, Marco Carola welcomed Silvie Loto back to the decks for another Friday night extravaganza at the wildly successful Music On at Amnesia. The Italian born DJ and producer first found her love of the beat in the underground house and techno scene at the age of 17, eventually earning a coveted residency at one of Italy’s hottest clubs - Tenax - in Florence. Her residencies at Tenax and Goa Club in Rome showcased her capability to deliver a wide palette of emotional, deep techno. Being recognized as one to watch by Marco Carola’s gang, she made the leap to the White Isle last summer, playing alongside Marco Carola at Amnesia’s now infamous night, Music On. Following a hectic winter season of nonstop dates across Europe and America, she plays to Ibiza for two dates this summer, returning this Friday to the world famous decks of Amnesia’s terrace, so we checked it out.
In its second season, with the word still spreading around the globe, Marco Carola’s weekly party now has the reputation as the only place to be on a Friday night in Ibiza. Described as a spectacular journey, Marco Carola creates a magical atmosphere, reflecting his love and passion for music as an obvious yet mysterious extension of himself. Walking in, dance floor divas across the club worked their magic on the enormous dance floor as the emotional sounds of Silvie Loto enticed the fast flow of new entrants to join her for the journey. Warming up for Marco is a blessing in itself, as this period is reserved for only those whom Marco and his most trusted circle have selected as some of today’s most forward thinking and exciting new talent.
Being the first time I’ve heard Loto live, I was intrigued by her deep, staccato techno, which creates an arousing feel. Her set starts at an atmospheric level, bringing the crowd together in unison as everyone listened intently to the spacey, deep melodies she brings, bubbling up, slowly creeping through to everyone’s subconscious simultaneously. Finding her way to a bigger deep techno sound, Silvie maintains an emotive sensation throughout her set, with refreshing twists and turns casually layered above darker baselines.
Jumping across to the main room, Nicole Moudaber was holding court, ushering in the new laws of techno. Moudaber, an award winning artist and producer, is at the forefront of the minimal and techno scene. Having seen her knock out a deep, techy set just a few weeks prior at Sands in Playa d’en Bossa, come Friday night I was in for a whole new experience. Listening to her up-front, unforgiving techno, complimented at times with smooth female vocals, made it not only refreshing to see such a passionate jock stir such a discriminating crowd into such frenzy, but in the same breath, one couldn’t help but be reminded by the fact that although she’s only been an international force for a short while, the idea of a techno scene without the Nigerian born, Lebanese raised selector seems far less exciting. Nicole builds throughout, bringing dirtier and nastier beats with each moment, leaving the crowd begging more. After soaking up the atmosphere, I moved back to the terrace in order to absorb the final part of Silvie’s set.
Come 3:15, the main man himself entered the terrace, exciting the eyes of fans across the dance floor. Immediately lifting the tempo, Marco’s entrance jumped to a pumped-up tech sound, delighting listeners. As usual, the dance floor filled with flashing camera phones to record the action, signature Marco tech thumping out with big high hat beats. As a regular Music On goer, I’m consistently intrigued by the sounds he might project. Friday was an entirely different journey than any other week so far this season, just as last Friday was, and the Friday before that. He manages to play tracks that reflect sounds ranging from all genres, married by a dirty techno baseline.
Following powerful tracks like ‘Rocksteady’ by Ex Sound System, he dropped vocal samples from Coolio’s ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ on the top of a strong minimal techno baseline, reminding the early morning crowd exactly why this was the best night on the island. Marco Carola, and subsequently Music On, has gained a cult-like following in recent years. For instance, I met two separate fans adorned with tattoos of the Music On emblem. We were also greeted by the now familiar appearance of two VIP balcony ravers, consisting of the beard wearing veteran hippy and an extremely quirky older vagabond dressed as a bride-esque figure, teddy bear constantly in tow. As the early morning light slowly leaked onto the dance floor through the glass ceiling, Marco amazed the crowd with the huge track ‘When I Fell N love’ by the UBQ Project, projecting nothing but love and energy, palpable in nature. One of the few parties on the island that still gives its loyal fans an extra something (Cox coming to mind), Marco extended his set to 9:30am with another outstanding performance, leaving thousands of fans with what’s become one of the most bittersweet aftertastes on the island – pure joy at having just witnessed such momentous occasion unfold, yet utter disillusion at needing to wait an entire week just to capture the moment all over again, especially when next week's moment includes one of electronic music's most respected figures, Carl Cox.
Don't miss out on this one, as it's gonna be HUGE!!! None other than Carl Cox will be playing Amnesia's legendary terrace alongside the new king of the room, Marco Carola! This will be the event of the season, so don't miss your chance to see it and get tickets now!!
