After a winter slumber, Ibiza's super-clubs are just starting to wake up. There's no dancing just yet, but we're in the thick of announcement season. Partying is not far away. In the meantime, the island's global influence continues elsewhere in the world.
During the low season, we bring you club reviews from Ibiza favourites at other party destinations from around the world as we build hype towards summer. This is the road to Ibiza 2024.
Next up, we get back to the Greenwich Peninsula, for Defected's final stop before it embarks on a brand new Ibiza adventure at Ushuaïa.
Defected London | Studio 338 | Saturday 16 March
Corrugated iron hoardings, closed pedestrian walkways, road diversions and cranes as tall as skyscrapers - the Blackwall Tunnel approach is in a constant loop of regeneration and today is no different. It's our first time back in North Greenwich for a while and much is changing.
The same can be said, too, for Defected.
This is the party brand and label's city, but its first visit back at Studio 338 post-pandemic.
The workers may have clocked off for the weekend, but all around Boord Street, the signs of construction are visible. In a similar respect, the bookers at Defected have been working on an ambitious project of their own, constructing the party's move to Ushuaïa for summer 2024.
Already under the two-month countdown, Studio 338 would provide a glimpse into those plans. A roadmap to Ibiza, if you will.
Riva Starr and Low Steppa have both been staples of Defected's Ibiza programme, in recent years. Both were not only present but in fine form. In fact, the whole of tonight's line-up will be appearing on Ibiza this summer. Monki, lau.ra and Paisley Jensen all have dates, while Enzo Is Burning is confirmed for off-shot pool party D4 D4NCE.
Straying ever so slightly off script, Riva Starr unloads Café del Mar by Energy 52 and Da Hool's Meet Her At The Love Parade back-to-back, complete with blasts of CO2 for the authentic Ibiza experience.
Later, he plays an edit of stone-cold classic La La Land, of which, there's a very real chance we'll be hearing at Ushuaïa this summer - Green Velvet's alter-ego Cajmere is booked for the 1 October closing party.
There's also room for Mousse T's Horny and Angie Stone's I Wish I Didn't Miss You before Low Steppa is next up. New music comes from the likes of Julio Bashmore, Darius Syrossian and his own carnival-esque Bullerengue, but also House classics, each one taking the roof clean off.
Alongside the music, the other vital ingredient at any Defected party is the crowd. At various points around the club, posters proudly display that "WE STAND FOR RESPECT AND INCLUSION." This is evidently true.
Aside from the mix of ages, races and sexualities present, we can't recall a time before we've seen three individual wheelchair users on the dancefloor at the same time - and each of them having the time of their lives. Defected is committed to spreading the love, wherever it goes.
Prior to this summer's move to Ushuaïa, the party spent five seasons in San Antonio. The rationale for doing so was to keep things affordable for its young fanbase. Does the flip to Playa d'en Bossa backtrack on that promise? Actually, the reverse.
The move has made Ushuaïa more accessible for them. Not only is Defected Ushuaïa's cheapest weekly party, with general admission €60 all summer long, but with pre-17:00 and pre-19:00 early entry tickets, there are two levels of discounts providing further savings.
Ushuaïa's profile and size, also gives Defected more headway to get creative with line-ups, something that was limited in San Antonio. With Disclosure, Kerri Chandler, Eliza Rose and Gorgon City all part of the roster, that is something that is already coming to fruition.
Beyond the home comforts of London is the great unknown.
Unmapped territory lies ahead for Defected CEO Wez Saunders and his team. You can bet they're building something special - something that will last. Whilst there might be some potholes to navigate on the way, it's going to be a lot of fun getting there. The road to Ibiza is on!
PHOTGRAPHY | by Jack Kimber
In the interim, we'll bring you more Ibiza worldwide reviews from the UK and beyond over the coming weeks, just before the season gets underway.
Anyone lucky enough to find themselves on Balearic soil, can head to our party calendar to cater to any immediate dancing needs or to plan for summer.
For all the latest Ibiza 2024 news, bookmark our magazine homepage or brush up on what got announced in January, February and March.
