OUTSIDE With Andrea Oliva

Words: Abby Lowe

We’re only three quarters of the way through and already it’s been a big year for Andrea Oliva. The jet-setting Swiss DJ, who’s been working magic behind the decks since the tender age of 16, and released his debut album, 4313 only a few months ago, has been hotfooting it around the globe headlining big stages, festivals and everything in between. This season he’s been a regular fixture all over the island, from ANTS – the phenomenally successful Ushuaïa party he’s been involved since the very beginning, to Space with Carl Cox, and of course to BEACHOUSE, where this year he launched islander favourite, OUTSIDE. We caught up with him ahead of the closing party on Wednesday 26 August, to talk free parties, being part of the now infamous colony, and where the story takes him from here.

Have there been any standout moments yet from this busy year?
There have been so many highlights, it’s super hard to pick just one… I’m just having so much fun on tour.

You brought OUTSIDE to BEACHOUSE this summer, why did you decide to throw a party here?
I love the venue and the whole free beach party thing, plus I can invite all my DJ friends to play, spend the whole day at the beach with them and enjoy music, drinks and food – its priceless.

The island focus these days is more about making money – why is it important for you to throw a free party?
People are here to enjoy holidays and turn off from the ordinary day mode they have back at home. Ibiza is about being spontaneous and BEACHOUSE represents just that. Bottom line is that we are where we want to be for the music ☺

You keep your guests a secret each week; do you think that adds to the appeal of the night? Are you consciously playing down your own hype?
I think it’s hard to keep up the hype for a weekly party, and because we are a free beach party we didn’t necessarily want to follow the same formula as others. If people just know they can come down and have a drink and then freak out because they suddenly see me playing with DJ Sneak, Hot Since 82, Anja Schneider, Eats Everything, Martin Buttrich and so on – then that’s hype enough. I also think it’s cool to see people all of a sudden change their plans and go nuts…unexpected things can happen – living in the moment!

Do you think BEACHOUSE has helped reinvent what the island has to offer?
BEACHOUSE is just giving a superb contribution to what the island deserves – amazing food, a free spot to party, friendly workers and good music.

You’ve been a regular alongside Carl Cox this year, what lessons have you learnt from the master?
Well it probably seems that way because I played four or five times this month on the same line up with Carl and I got invited to play his party at Space. I haven’t known him long enough for him to give me lessons, but what I admire is the way he talks to people and the way he treats people in general – he is so natural, which you definitely cant say of every DJ in this industry. When we met at the Space office, people around us thought we had been friends for 20 years or something – he’s just really easy to talk with. He is such an amazing person, definitely one of the coolest I know in this industry.

And you’ve been involved with ANTS since the beginning, are you proud of the way it’s captured peoples’ imaginations?
It’s beyond everyone’s expectations. It’s a result achieved with passion, not only from all the DJs involved – but also from everybody who has worked on ANTS since the beginning until now. It’s an amazing team effort.

So what’s the one ANTS gig that you’ll never forget?
Probably the one when I had my parents with me – they really didn’t realise what was going on with all the madness, so it was amazing to have them with me.

4313 is a reference to your hometown, how much credit do you lay with your background and upbringing for your success?
4313 is where my roots are – and speaking as a person who is lucky with what he does I think you should never forget where you come from and always be realistic, grounded and thankful for what’s happening.

And what comes next in terms of solo work, are you keen to continue the 4313 story?
It’s just the beginning of the story ☺

Are you ever happy with the final outcome of your music?
It’s difficult to understand when a track is truly finished but up until you decide it’s finished you are also never happy. Sometimes though you have moments in the studio where you go totally crazy from the beginning to the end of a production and of course these are the tracks you also just can’t wait to play out yourself.

Any new releases coming up?
I have a collaboration coming out with Livio & Roby and I also have signed a track to Loco Dice’s Desolat label. Both of those will be released after the summer.

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene as it stands at the moment, what would it be and why?
We are having a good flow at the moment. There are always negative and positive things, this is normal. But overall I would change nothing.

And if you could listen to only one track every day for the next month, what would it be?
I would be bored! Haha, it depends on the mood of the day. One day could be more downtempo and the next something way harder… faster…