Labyrinth, Hot Since 82’s brainchild, is the multi-sensory maze taking over the legendary Pacha Ibiza every Friday night with its mythical theme and impressively curated roster of acts, featuring everyone from Balearic veterans to underground up-and-coming names. Nearly at the end of a second prolific summer, last Friday DJ Harvey and Erick Morillo were the melange of hot acts set to warm-up the illustrious booth; two icons we were eager to see but not before a very special invite to join Hot Since 82 and his team for dinner and drinks! A rare opportunity to enjoy a culinary pre-party with the man behind it all, we got insight into the evolved concept of A Labyrinth Story like never before…

A stone’s throw away from Pacha, our table for the evening awaited at IZAKAYA Asian Kitchen & Bar, the spectacular eatery famed for its impeccable service; our mouths were suitably watering. Daley Padley – aka Hot Since 82 – joined us alongside his manager and long-time friend at our poolside table. An intimate affair with just eight of us in total, it was an exciting evening of getting to know the inner world of the hands behind the hugely successful Friday night residency.

With humble roots, having started his rite of passage as a seasonal worker, Daley was warm, welcoming and a natural host. Keeping our glasses topped up with a vintage white and the table adorned with plate after plate, the no expenses spared dinner saw a medley of melt-in-the-mouth monkfish, sushi rolls, beef tataki, shrimp salad and wagyu gyoza alongside several veggie accompaniments. Lapping up the sensational dishes amongst some friendly discussion, we talked everything from work to life and of course the future of Labyrinth. On what he was most proud of, Daley had to say, “the new renovation and working with Pacha. It’s been phenomenal this year, super nice to work in the club with a great sound system, they’ve done a great job and we’re just excited to see what we can bring to the table next year.” Hang on, is this confirmation Labyrinth will return for a hat-trick?

A final lick of the spoon with dessert in the form of IZAKAYA’s signature Chocolate Explosion and we set off to the club, ready to feast our ears on a hot house soundscape. DJ Harvey was up with an early crowd out in force, no doubt to catch sight of the music maestro. Expertly delivering an effervescent set full of amorous rhythms and uplifting disco tracks, tribal-clad dancers swarmed the booth sashaying underneath the neon lights and giant Aztec-inspired head statues; spinning and bobbing to the beat.
The vibes were high for this mythical maze of an extravaganza as the dancefloor was kept pulsating with revellers fully basking in the infectiously danceable rhythms, an air of family uniting the crowd.

After much getting-to-know, we just couldn’t wait for Hot Since 82’s onset and, it was an arrival that exploded everything into unmistakable action. Turning the tempo up several notches, Pacha became alive with a trumpeting sound as Daley amped up the fervent crowd with insatiable track after insatiable dance track; a kaleidoscope of lasers and confetti cannons colouring the air.

Displaying his appreciation of quality house music, the tune selections were fresh and sent plenty of wild reactions out on the floor. Feeling like we’d been absorbed into another dimension, a lingering energy of feel-good vibes followed us home long after. Luckily, there’s still time to lose yourself in the Labyrinth. With Sasha, Nic Fanciulli, Adam Beyer and Nick Curly just a few of the golden acts still to come, you are truly spoilt for choice with several unmissable nights!