Iglesias, a British DJ/producer, has garnered a reputation as a highly skilled purveyor of drum grooves. His rhythmic sensibilities are audacious, and his percussive sound has earned him a substantial following among music enthusiasts and industry peers alike.
Photo Credit: Iglesias – Official
Over the years, his production talents have been increasingly recognized, as evidenced by his impressive achievements. He is currently ranked among the Top 50 best-selling tech-house artists of all time on Beatport and has secured a Top 5 spot for 2023, despite the previous hiatus of dancefloors.
Throughout his career, Iglesias has consistently delivered studio productions that have garnered significant attention. With a track record that includes millions of Spotify streams, multiple Beatport #1 hits, and a consistent presence in the Beatport Top 100, his work has attracted a devoted following that includes many of his own musical influences. With an ambitious approach, Iglesias has charted a unique course, consistently releasing material on prominent labels such as Hottrax, Solid Grooves, Elrow, Revival, Mindshake, Sola, Repopulate Mars, Moon Harbour, and Of Unsound Mind. With a steady stream of new releases always in the works, his music remains well-suited for large-scale audiences.
EG caught up with Iglesias ahead of his performance at Paco Osuna’s NOW HERE Hï Ibiza residency to learn more about his preparation, current endeavors, and more.
EG: Hi Iglesias! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Iglesias: Hey, thanks for having me, and likewise! I’ve been great, I’m currently on a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles as I’m in the middle of a short tour out here!
EG: First of all, congratulations on your invitation to Paco Osuna’s NOW HERE Hi Ibiza residency. You must be very excited. What can we expect from your performance?
Iglesias: Thank you, I appreciate that. So, having been involved with NOW HERE this year, as well as last year for Paco’s first season, is honestly an absolute pleasure. It’s a dream to be able to play at the number 1 club in the world alongside one of the number 1 DJs in the world. NOW HERE and that amazing Club Room is all about high energy. So that is exactly what you can expect from me 😈.
EG: How did the connection with Paco Osuna come around?
Iglesias: So, a few years ago I started sending Paco everything I was making, as I found that the music he was playing out was a similar style to the records I was writing. He really dug them and pretty much played everything I was sending him, every single set. We spoke on Instagram and we then transitioned to WhatsApp, where we started to understand how we both worked as artists, but more importantly, as humans. We connected well and the rest is history, to be honest. He’s a really good mentor and friend to me and is incredibly supportive of the people around him, including the NOW HERE family.
EG: How does one prepare for an Ibiza venue, as opposed to a festival, or a big city nightclub? What would you say are the main differences when putting together your “crate”?
Iglesias: Performing in Ibiza is a big deal and one that I will never take lightly. But just like every other show I play, there is a huge amount of work that goes into preparing my music. Typically, I will have 5/6 folders of music with around 20-50 records on each. I’ll never get through all of that in a set but I like to over-prepare for every show I play.
I also find that the people that are heading out to Ibiza are normally very open-minded. So, what I am able to do, which differs from festivals or big city nightclubs, is that I can experiment a little. I am able to push boundaries a bit more in Ibiza and express exactly how I feel about the music I am playing. The Club Room for NOW HERE is a perfect example of this, as the crowd is incredible and will allow you to express yourself freely.
“[With Paco] We spoke on Instagram and we then transitioned to WhatsApp, where we started to understand how we both worked as artists, but more importantly, as humans.”
EG: By the way, how has your summer been going? Apart from the music, have you been able to get lost in any other activities? Are you a big summer person?
Iglesias: It’s been great and it’s been my busiest in terms of tour dates since I started my music career. In terms of other activities, I am in such a fortunate position where my job is also my hobby. So as for other activities, nope – making music is my other activity haha!
Yeah, I definitely am and I really enjoy traveling and meeting new people. Soon as summer ends though, I know it’s back to the studio tan and hibernation so I try to make the most of it the best I can 🤣
EG: What would you say is your favorite part of visiting the White Island? Are there any spots you’d personally recommend?
Iglesias: I’ve been coming for many years now so there are different parts of the island I love for different reasons. I love exploring all of the non-tourist beaches, but then, on the flip side, I enjoy spending time in Ibiza town.
A few of my favorite spots to check out would be Cala Gracioneta, which is a secluded restaurant with amazing views, and also Calma Restaurante.
EG: Right now, social media seems to play a completely prominent role in the development of an artist’s career. What’s your stance on this? Is the bringing us closer than ever, or is it drawing our attention away from the actual music?
Iglesias: So, those that know me well, know that I really don’t enjoy social media. I never remember to pull my phone out to take pictures or record funny videos, as I live life in the moment. Social media, however, has helped me push my music further around the world and aid me in getting to where I am today, so I have to appreciate its importance to the industry. I think if used in the right way it is a vital tool.
This is a touchy subject, but yes, I do think it’s increasingly drawing attention away from actual artists and the music itself. Some of it makes me cringe so much, as some clearly see it for the likes and comments – but I will never put someone down for their choices on how they want to be represented. There also seems to be more than ever this rush to get rich and famous as quickly as possible, which is a little frustrating. The amount of requests I get to ghost produce for artists is just mental, haha! (Disclaimer: I do NOT do this for anyone before the Chinese whispers start 🤣)
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you recently found any good movies, books, or albums you’d recommend
Iglesias: I have this amazing cracked fire stick that I take around with me everywhere on tour, haha! I watch literally everything and listen to all types of music. Typically, I will just chuck on a punk playlist, as I don’t tend to listen to albums from start to finish (except for Blink 182’s as they are all masterpieces IMO, haha), and then for TV, it’s typically anything informative as I’m a bit of a knowledge hoarder 🥸.
“This is a touchy subject, but yes, I do think it’s increasingly drawing attention away from actual artists and the music itself. Some of it makes me cringe so much, as some clearly see it for the likes and comments.”
EG: What’s next for Iglesias? Where can your fans catch you next? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2023?
Iglesias: As I said at the start, I’m currently on a US tour playing a festival in Canada, Sound in LA, Bang Bang in San Diego, and finishing it off at Brooklyn Mirage for a sold-out Elrow Show. I also have some shows coming up with Bandidos in Chile and some incredible NOW HERE shows with Paco which are to be announced very soon! In terms of milestones, I am just gonna keep doing what I am doing as I’m living my dream as it is at the moment. What I will try and do is share more of my unreleased music as I have a tendency to keep it for myself 😜
EG: Thank you for your time, Iglesias! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you. Take care!
Iglesias is set to perform at Paco Osuna’s NOW HERE this Tuesday, August 1st. Purchase your tickets here.
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