Ibizan DJ
Based in the world capital of electronic music, Ibiza, Andy Wilson can be heard on the island’s leading radio station Ibiza Sonica, with 2m monthly listeners worldwide, where he hosts his own weekly Balearia show and runs the programming and produces shows for the likes of Jose Padilla and Nightmares on Wax.
His move to radio came after he’d become disillusioned with the often narrow-minded musical policies of the Ibiza clubs. This led him to first take over the only English-language show on the mainstream station Cadena 100 where he revived the island’s eclectic approach to DJing with his show Balearia.
He was a principal player at the start of the island’s first dedicated music station, Ibiza Global Radio, before leaving to found Ibiza Sonica in 2006. He hasn’t given up public DJing, but you’re more likely to see him in action behind the decks at exclusive parties and venues on and off the island than in a big club.
Andy was raised on an early household diet of Beatles, Motown and Radio 1. He was born in 1964 in Manchester, the no-nonsense bastion of football and music.
He was still at school when punk turned the musical world upside down. Grabbing his guitar, he joined The Spurtz, described by The Fall’s Mark E Smith as the: “Best fuckin’ band in Manchester.” Andy’s next stop was hipster girl group, The Liggers. Then it was on to Action Holidays which survived just a little longer than their first gig, when they were supported by New Order.
But, it was with The Passage Andy enjoyed his greatest rock success. With three albums and four John Peel sessions, the band toured the world. All along they remained based in the Manchester inner-city counter-culture stronghold of Hulme.
It was here and in London that Andy began to move amongst the post-punk b-boy funky-dread scenes in warehouses, clubs and squats. He was further inspired by stays in early-1980s Berlin, New York and Thailand. These were where the seeds were sown for the birth of Acid House and the glory days of Madchester. Andy was there for it all.
Becoming a DJ was a natural progression from years of making pause-button mix tapes and spending a fortune on vinyl. Starting with two turntables and a mixer in 1991, he has travelled the globe ever since.
For most of the following decade that meant summers in Europe then escaping the cold, mainly in Asia. The winters of his 1990s were spent diving and DJing, often in Thailand’s legendary Backyard and dozens of full moon parties.
In London he was an integral part of the notorious Sancho Panza crew. At the same time he also managed Camden Town record shop, Vinyl Addiction, a part of Bar Vinyl, London’s first bar with a DJ.
Then in 1999 Andy decided the natural place to develop his musical career and bring up his family was the musical island of Ibiza. And the rest is history.
Why my Sound Souvenirs
10 – The Orb – Blue Room
Jamaican Dub meets Krautrock , Pink Floyd and Detroit Techno and a Chill Out is born
9 – Sister Sledge – Thinking Of You
Disco Heaven from the house of Chic
8 – The Stone Roses – Fool’s Gold
Baggy Manchester funk rock at it’s best
7 – Underground Resistance – Hi Tech Jazz
Shimmering , euphoric techno from another galaxy via the Motor City
6 – The Clash – White Man (In Hammersmith Palais)
A rebel anthem without a chorus from the punks who grew up.
5 – David Bowie – Heroes
Bowie’s music shone all through the 70’s and here he’s at his most romantic and uplifting .
4 – The Source featuring Candi Staton – You’ve Got The Love (Eren’s Bootleg Mix)
The finest use of an a capella ever, as inspirational gospel and house combine for the best end-of-the night track.
3 – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – Adventures On The Wheels Of Steel
The sound of a new art form as B-Boy culture went global.
2 – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Soul Rebel
Reggae masters the Wailers and Lee Perry with rebel roots that’s not been overplayed.
1 – Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Sublime and timeless conscious soul from the sweet-voiced troubled genius on the magic Motown label.
