Arno Cost is a man with a natural instinct for controlling the dancefloor. His innate intuition for when to build, when to let loose and when to keep it locked in the groove has made him a club favourite ever since he first arrived on the scene back in 2006. His ability to balance melodies with floor crunching beats has not only made him one of the world’s most respected dance producers but has kept him a firm favourite with club crowds around the world too.
A regular fixture here in Ibiza since his inaugural season in 2008, Arno has consistently won over the crowd at clubs like Pacha, Amnesia and legendary pre-club Café Mambo with his effortless mixing style and consummate knowledge of house music. Ibiza captured his heart upon his very first visit, something that has not dwindled in the slightest throughout the four intermittent years. His 2012 schedule has seen another busy Ibiza season, but here at Essentialibiza we have also heard murmurings of new music on the way too. Excited to get the low down on everything that’s he go going on, we caught up with the dynamic Frenchman over the phone to talk Ibiza, tunes and beaches…
Do you think Ibiza is still the most important place in the world for the electronic music industry?
Yes of course. Ibiza has such a special spirit. That in itself attracts large numbers of people from May right through until October every single year. Nowhere else in the world can boast to having an intense demand for the industry on that kind of scale, so it has to be the most important place on the planet for electronic music.
You played three dates for David Guetta’s F*** Me I’m Famous party – what do you learn from playing alongside an artist of such stature?
David is especially good at connecting with his crowd. He knows what they want and he is more than able to give it to them. That’s just one of the reasons he is such a highly rated DJ. David is a great guy and a true music lover. His strong passion for what he does shines through for everyone to see.
Do you ever feel any pressure playing such a popular night?
No, I never really feel any pressure. Maybe a little bit nervous at times, but in a good way. I’m usually more excited than nervous. There is no need to feel any external pressure as that is likely to have a negative effect on your performance. I just stick to what I do every time, I play and that leads to having more fun. If the DJ is having fun, he is more likely to enable his crowd to have more fun too I think.
Are there any drawbacks to playing nights like this?
There aren’t really any drawbacks to be honest. Sometimes I prefer to play more intimate rooms but I love playing the bigger ones too. The vibe you can create can sometimes be unreal!!
We hear you have also been in the studio with David this summer?
Yes we have been working in the studio together throughout this summer. It’s great working with him as we have a very good working relationship. However, both of our schedules are very demanding, in particular his, so finding the time to finish things off and get our work out there is hard. But it is definitely on the way and we’re both super excited to unleash it to the world.
Which Ibiza club is your favourite?
Each one offers different things about it that I love, but if pushed, I would have to say Pacha. It’s an amazing looking club, the sound system is immense and the people are crazy. What more could you want?
Do you get to spend much time in Ibiza in between gigs?
Not always, but sometimes I get the odd few, sneaky days to hang out there. It’s such an amazing Island with so much to do. Whenever I have time off there, I split my time between seeing loads of cool music with getting to relax on the beach and eat at great restaurants. Just talking about this now makes me want to go back immediately – not long now though!
What do you like to do to relax and rest away from music whilst on the island?
There are so many beautiful beaches across the island. I always seem to find new ones each time I am there. I spend a lot of time exploring them when I have time off in Ibiza. My favourite beach is Sol Den Serra. You access it along a dusty dirt track and then it just opens up to this magnificent view – It’s amazingly relaxing. I also love Talamanca beach near the Marina. It’s a lovely beach, plus there are loads of really interesting bars and cafes nearby for when you just can’t take the sun anymore. I also go out to some amazing restaurants too and generally just relax and take it easy with family and friends. It’s a great place to truly unwind after a big night of clubbing!
What have you got coming in the next few months?
I always have a tonne of different projects that I am working on and now is no different. In fact, I’m working on more than usual right now so keep your eyes and ears to the ground for more news soon. But for now, I can tell you that I will be releasing new music with David Guetta plus more original tracks of my own, t’s an exciting time for me right now!
Words: Tom J
Arno Cost Images: Steve Black