Pictures by Gabriel Vazquez. It was one of the most exciting debut residencies to be announced for the 2017 season, not least because it was the first concept that brand new super club Hï Ibiza confirmed as part of its seven-nights-a-week music programming. And with only three weeks to go until the closing party, Black Coffee is not slowing down for even a second as he cements his status as one of the most credible and innovative music selectors on the island.

A smart move on Hï Ibiza’s side, they secured the South African DJ and producer just as his international profile was about to explode. Having won Best Deep House DJ at the respected DJ Awards in 2016 and with several other big-hitting accolades under his belt, he has become one of Africa’s most prominent music exports. Hï Ibiza CEO Yann Pissenem told us at the beginning of the season, “I love Black Coffee, his sound is crazy and he is bringing something new to the island that not everybody knows yet. There is this amazing, huge niche of music in South Africa, everyone from the hairdresser to the taxi driver really knows a lot about music, and we are hoping to bring a little taste of this unknown market to the island. I’m super excited about this party.”

Sure enough, over the course of the season Black Coffee has treated us to carefully curated line-ups which have seen him joined by the likes of Henrik Schwarz, Ame, Bedouin, Cassy, Damian Lazarus, DJ Harvey, Guy Gerber, Loco Dice, Lum, Andrea Oliva, Maya Jane Coles and many more… And last weekend promised to be another Saturday night belter with DJ Angelo and Kosme all set to take over the Theatre main room alongside Black Coffee, while &Me and Adam Port were on deck duty in the more intimate Club.

As soon as we stepped through the front doors which lead straight into the heaving dance floor of the Theatre, we were swallowed up by the dark, immersive universe Black Coffee’s deep house beats and Hï Ibiza’s incredible light system had created. With dramatic green and red visuals flashing across the kinetic light panels, and engulfing the room via ‘the twist’, an LED installation that snakes its way all around the dance floor, the otherwise sparsely lit space had an otherworldly feel to it. Black Coffee was in the booth, which had been lowered onto the dance floor for the occasion, putting him on eye-level with clubbers for a more intimate experience with an underground vibe, allowing partygoers to see the skilled master mixer in action from up close. Leading his audience into the night at a slow and steady pace, letting every beat and expertly mixed in sound effect do its talking, the music selector looked cool, calm and collected in the booth that has become his home on the White Isle.

Over in the Club, &Me and Adam Port were ruling the roost, firing off deep and driving beats enhanced with exotic vocals, house music piano riffs and tribal drums, an eclectic selection with the odd chart topper thrown in for good measure. Our (not so secret) personal favourite, in the Wild Corner Paul Reynolds was having the time of his life, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with his signature funky sound but delivered on a slightly harder edge than usual. Dancing and singing along with the crowd, the atmosphere was sky high and euphoric as people got caught up in his irresistible mix of classic anthems and house beats, a particular favourite being a mash-up of Groove Armada’s Superstylin’ and Underworld’s Born Slippy.

As the night moved into the early hours, in the main room Black Coffee was turning the intensity up a notch, delivering energetic, galloping bass lines that hit you straight in the chest. Hï Ibiza’s sexy dancers were showing off their moves clad in embellished bodysuits, dramatic black feathers and metal visors, a sight to behold that added to the futuristic feel of the venue. With the production now firing on all cylinders, the kinetic lights lowered from the ceiling and steam canons going off, we felt like we were dancing in spaceship, caught up in the storm of lights and beats. With only three more weeks to go before the official Black Coffee closing party, we cannot urge you enough to go and loose yourself in the master mixer’s hypnotic world!