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Music

Solomun's White Isle Journals no. 9: What Makes Mladen So Special

DJ Tennis comes to town and we're given a professional's opinion on why the Diynamic boss is so widely loved.
Welcome to my White Isle Journals, where you'll get an inside look at my life in Ibiza during my Solomun +1 residency this summer at Pacha.

Every week, I'll bring you deep inside Ibiza life, up-close and personal and behind the scenes. Then, I'll pick my own +1 from the island to show you the beating heart of the White Isle––the people. Lastly, I'll pick the track that took over the airwaves for me that week. There's so much going on, and on this party Island, you tend to forget fast. That's why I wanted to write it all down, so I can remember it all and share with you.

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Last Sunday, I had the big, big pleasure of Italian DJ, producer, and Life and Death label boss DJ Tennis joining me in the booth at Pacha.

We had some problems at the beginning, though. His flight from Amsterdam was four hours delayed, so we couldn't have dinner together beforehand, and he couldn't play alone during the night. He just arrived in time for the back-to-back session!

But I have to say, this was a very intense b2b set. It just flowed immediately, and that's why we, of course, didn't stop when Pacha closed. We went on in the infamous basement club, joined by Adrian of Adriatique for an extended b2b2b that went on at a villa party after the basement club was closed.

Exciting night and day – and too short time to recover, on Tuesday I left to Tel Aviv.


Introducing Kenza

Kenza is a very special person. Besides her good taste in music and party atmosphere, she is a really nice and humble person. She works in Casablanca as a psychologist, and besides her normal work, she also takes care of children who have problems but are too poor to pay for the sessions, so she gives them consultations for free and this is something really quite amazing.

It's always nice to have her around and, of course, I don't want to miss saying happy birthday to her via this medium, since it is her birthday this week!

What's your name?
Kenza Mekouar

Where do you come from?
Casablanca, Morocco

Why did you come to Ibiza?
Because I have such intense work and this is the only place in the world where I can inhale all the positive and let go all the negative. Music, good people, spirituality, all the things I love! It's not only a party place, it's also a very spiritual one.

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Why a Solomun party?
Besides the music, and all the Diynamic music is absolute genius to me, I think Mladen has a special connection with the audience. I have seen many DJs, but on his parties, there is love in the air.

What will you do after finishing this interview?
Since it is my birthday I hope that my friends will surprise me later. They already brought me some cake while I was in bed, trying to save some energy for tonight, so let's see what's happening!


Kenza on partying with Solomun

One thing about Mladen that I think is really special is that he always wants to be in touch with the people. Whether he is DJing or also when he is just enjoying a party or having a walk in the city.

Last year after his Solomun+1- closing party at Pacha, and after a long villa afterparty in Es Cavallet, we landed at the DC10 Closing-party. Dixon was playing and we were dancing in the booth but when we went on the terrace it was so crazy how the people all came to him, all wanted to share a story, do a picture, get a hug and tell a story. And I really thought at some point Mladen would say: give me a break guys, I have been on for days, but he didn't, and kept on giving love and taking pictures. I remember perfectly this moment when I said: You have such a good heart, please don't change.

Mladen always tries to reach the last person on the dancefloor, he has the same passion everywhere he goes.


Solomun's Ibiza Track of the Week: Pig & Dan - "Sandstorm"