Spotlight: Tell us about how the whole process of Compiling the album came about?
Alex: This is my fith year at Cafe Mambo and to get to do the comp was a great privilege as I knew the rich history of the place and all the DJs that have played there over the last 16 years. I wanted this to be the start of a new era for the compilations, that was more about the changing mood of the bar rather than a chill out cd. I play from 7pm till 3am and in this time I mix different tempos shifting through every style and focusing on enhancing the vibe rather than dictating it.
What were the problems you faced putting it together?
As everyone knows Ibiza has a very mañana attitude so that always conflicts with 9 to 5 UK, but I had an excellent team working with me such as Damian Wilson at CR2 who lives on the island and can make things happen, together with the belief of the label and full creative control making this a great platform to build on so next year's CD can be even better. The CD is a snapshot of the current sound of Mambo and where it is heading musically. It is to capture the imagination and create the majestic Mambo atmosphere wherever you are.
What else have you been up to in Ibiza this year?
Well, I am resident at Cafe Mambo playing 3 to 4 nights a week and resident at We Love.. at Space playing mainly the warm up slot on the covered terrace. This is great for me because I can get to play all my vinyl in a more club style. I just love playing tunes that are ten, fifteen years old that sound so warm and fat. I have had some amazing gigs there this summer playing with the likes of Prins Thomas, Ralph Lawson and Jason Bye.
I spend 2 days a week in the studio, which is a big thing for me as this is my fifth season in Ibiza and I have finally got the balance and made several tracks over the summer, which is something I don't normally have time to do. This is such a great feeling as the inspiration I get from this island is one of the main reasons I keep coming back and it is great to convert it straight away rather than trying to remember it on a cold winter's night in Liverpool.
Listen and buy here
So what tracks have you been producing and what are your plans for after the season?
I have been busy in the studio under the guise "Acid Mondays" which is myself, Dan Ward (Negghead) from Nightmares on Wax and Garry Todd. It is more of a techno sound we have created with a little left of centre madness thrown in for fun. We are signed to 2020 Vision and the next EP is ready to drop before christmas. Check out "I Married A Pineapple" for a sample of what's to come.
I am also resident at Circus in Liverpool where we've just had our 7th birthday this month and there is also with our legendary Halloween bash in October. It's such a special place with an unbelievable crowd, definitely something you have to try for yourself.
I am going to be busy in the studio over the winter starting Mambo Records. This will be anything from Balearic sunset disco to deep house with some proper songs just like you would hear down at Cafe Mambo. The main aim is to globally promote Mambo, as one of the cutting edge figures in the music scene that it is. There's loads of exciting collaborations in the works and with everything thats in the pipeline, i'm looking forward to next year already. Mambo World tours will be taking over the winter months from Australia to America and everywhere in between, so keep an eye on our website to look if the tours are coming your way.
