Manu Gonzalez Interview

Growing up in Ibiza could be a blessing or a curse, depending on how much you like electronic music. Fortunately for Manu Gonzalez, it's been very much the former. Dropping out of school to work in the island's Discos Delta record shop, he was bitten by the bug, learning sound engineering on the mainland and returning to stake his claim as Ibiza's hot new talent. Having played everywhere from IMS to Space before it closed, his productions for Cr2 Trax and Isgud have seen this reputation is currently spreading across Europe.

With an EP already penned for Egg's What Came First label for March, Manu joins friend and studio collaborator Secondcity for his ENd party this Friday 10th alongside Mark Fanciulli. Ahead of this appearance, we found out about his roots and why Ibiza is a magical place to live, whatever the season.

Get full info on the party and tickets here.

Where are you from in Ibiza and what was it like growing up there? Is must be strange having your home invaded each year by so many tourists?

I was born in Ibiza in 1990 and I’m from Ibiza town. Growing up here is the best thing happened to me in my life! I’m so lucky to be born on what is for me the best place in the world. I can’t imagine a better childhood than the one I had and a better life than the one I have in Ibiza, my little big paradise. I love this place, I was born here and I will die here (after I turn 100, of course). For me, it's not strange at all. I don’t think anybody is invading our island. This is a free world, a free island, everybody is welcome. Tourists are the ones who make Ibiza what it is now, and of course the originals from the island. That's what makes Ibiza special, the diversity. I don’t get people saying we are invaded by tourists. I love meeting people from all over the world every season, including during the winter. The following week, maybe I'll be doing a show in their home and I will need to be as loved as we try to make everybody is when they come to our home!

It's obviously a place known internationally for clubs during the summer. What is it like in the winter?

I love the winter, it's amazing, you need to come and check it! The weather is colder but the sun is shining. There ate less people in Ibiza but it's still busy with top restaurants. I love it, it's a top way of life. It's really funny when I go to big cities like London, Madrid and other like them, and people ask me and what I do in Ibiza in the winter? They obviously think that Ibiza is just amazing in the summer, because that's when they are here, but what they don't know is that in the winter it's the same, or even better. I enjoy my winter here with my family and my friends, making music in the studio, going for walks, doing outdoor sport and eating the best food. Ibiza is 365 days a year, not just 100! Also, there are some top clubs open. I have several shows at Pacha in the winter. Last time I played with Music On boys Neverdogs it was rammed, with around 1,800 people in the club! Winter is top fun too!

Tell us about Discos Delta. When did you start working there and how much did it feel you get to where you are now?

I started working at Discos Delta vinyl store when I was 16 (2007). It was just the best place to be if you wanted to be involved in the music industry. Everybody was going there to buy records, and when I mean everyone I’m talking about Frankie Knuckles, Roger Sanchez, Sven Väth and Loco Dice to name a few. It was a legendary shop, thanks Delta family. I was a young guy who didn’t want to study so my dad got me in to that shop to work. It was unreal. I learned a lot about the values of a DJ and producer and there is where I got influenced by so many genres of music. My knowledge was growing bigger and bigger every year thanks to eight hour a day working in a record store. I still have flashbacks of that time, selling records and dreaming of playing like the DJs who were buying music from me. Now I see myself with an International DJ Award in my studio, a booking at We Are Festival, gigs at Ushuaia for Ants, Egg London and at the legendary Ibiza castle Dalt Vila for the prestigious International Music Summit, and I can’t explain the feelings.

You moved to Madrid to study sound engineering. Have you lived outside of Ibiza before? Was there ever any temptation to stay there to live afterwards?

Yes I left Ibiza to study in Madrid, which was the best thing I probably did in my life. But I knew as soon as I left that once I finished what I needed to do to start producing music I needed to be back home! There was no temptation at all. Yes I would like to live outside the island but I have everything here. I can go in and out the island, I have my studio here, my family, my friends, my dogs! It's always nice to go away and then come back, every time the plane arrives home you know you belong here! It's just magical.

Which came first, DJing or producing? Can you tell us about some of the places that you're been involved with DJing on the island?

That’s a very difficult question, I really do love both. Both came first. DJing maybe I do a maximum of four hours a week. I’m producing music eight hours a day. I've played the best places here in Ibiza: International Music Summit back in 2014 in Ibiza’s castle Dalt Vila was probably the show of my life. Playing for the biggest music conference in the world, in my home town and in Ibiza’s historic castle, trust me... the views and the energy are next level and the line-up was as well! My Ushuaia Beach Hotel debut for Ants on Saturdays was also something really special for me. Playing at Sankeys, Pacha, Blue Marlin, Privilege, Space, it's always special when you play here, you're probably playing for the best crowd in the world at the best clubs in the world, nothing can go wrong.

One of your breakthroughs was a collaboration with Secondcity. How did that come about? Do you prefer working with someone else in the studio or alone?

I played with Secondcity in Sankeys a couple of years ago, we just connected amazingly. He is such a top producer and artist and, what is first for me, a really nice guy.We played b2b back in 2016 at Sankeys official closing and we smashed, the club went crazy, everybody was speaking about it, so we decided to make music together. He invited me to his studio in London and I spent ten days with him. The energy of both of us was top that we made six records in ten days. From there it became a very nice friendship and I’m super happy to have him in my life. The first releases we had went super well, we can happily say that two of our records have been played week in week out by the biggest artist in underground scene. We've been producing for Marco Carola and he absolutely loved what we sent to him. Pete Tong on BBC1, as well, and Annie Mac to name a few more. We have two big records dropping in 2017 and we are really excited about this. I just love working in the studio, alone or with someone else, but it's not easy to work with someone else, as it all depends on the energy. Sometimes you work with someone, sometimes not... With Secondcity I feel comfortable and he does as well, it's all about the good vibes.

You've got a release coming on Egg's What Came First label. Can you tell us a little about that and what else you have coming up?

Yes, I have a three track EP which I’m really excited to release on WCF at the end of March. I have lots of new music coming out this year. This week I released a remix of Hosse on Carpe Diem Musica, then I have two bomb tracks coming out on one of the most demanded labels at the moment with my brother Secondcity. I also have music coming on Vatos Locos, Hector’s label, Material Recordings, Mihalis Safras' label, Do Not Sleep, Darius Syrossian’s label, and many more, plus collabs with OC & Verde, Neverdogs and more that I will announce soon.

Using your local knowledge, tells us five things to do in Ibiza that don't involve clubbing and you probably won't find in a guidebook?

Go to the hidden Cave of The Light in San Mateu (Cueva de la Luz). Enjoy late lunch and the sunset in Hostal La Torre (San Antonio). Rent a bike and go around the Salinas Beach Natural Park, then leave the bike and have a swim in one of the top 20 beaches in the world. Go to Fish Shack and order the prawns and the calamari. Eat the blind rice at El Bigotes Restaurant... next level.

What are three tracks that sum up what you're likely to play at Egg?

iO (Mulen) - 'Criminal Stuff'

Jhon Dimas - 'Atlantis'

Hanfry Martinez - 'Rollomixer'