- In 2013, Nightmares On Wax's DJ E.A.S.E. told me that his Ibiza party, Wax Da Jam, wasn't "trying to compete with anyone; we're simply offering an alternative." In a scene so saturated with banging 4/4 nights, that's a shrewder move than it sounds. Wax Da Jam is in its sixth season now, and its third at Ibiza's oldest venue, Las Dalias. For the past two summers the residency has run weekly, but in 2015 Eveyln and co. have scaled back, putting all their effort into three dates. The second of these, which took place on July 16th, was also the most high-profile, headlined by a Bonobo DJ set.
There are a few things that set Wax Da Jam apart from the rest. The venue, located half-an-hour north of Ibiza Town, is off the beaten track and aesthetically unique. The outdoor courtyard is a colourful, inviting space, marrying earthy furnishings with plenty of plantlife. There are a couple of bars, a small restaurant and stalls selling everything from baggy hippie clobber to vinyls and spray-painted fans. It's classy but understated, much like the crowd that goes there. It's not uncommon to see entire families of locals and holidaymakers milling about—the age range when I was there easily stretched from seven through 70. This is partly thanks to the music, which is an accessible mix of funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae and more, played live and by DJs. "We represent the foundations of dance music," as Evelyn put it.
The night opened with island fixture Mr. Doris, who worked his way through some balmy bits of easy listening. Geneva-based duo CaramelBrown followed, performing jams of their own sedate R&B amidst covers of Kendrick Lamar and Lauryn Hill. At the front, ten-year-old girls busted out dance moves well beyond their years, while hippie types toked on spliffs and a man with a giant hula hoop vied for attention at the back. Just before midnight, the music moved inside, where decks, a drum kit and some congas shared the small stage.
In that same interview, Evelyn said he liked the club room for its "community centre" feel, and you can see what he means. It's a simple, slightly shabby space that gets hot and sweaty very quickly. For Nightmares On Wax's live show, DJ E.A.S.E spun organic hip-hop and electronica, flanked by Shovell on percussion (congas, agogo, güiro), Grant Kershaw on drums and reggae vocalist Ricky Ranking on the mic. The show had a wild, spontaneous energy to it, thanks in part to the crowd's proximity to the action. Bonobo's headline set was less engaging, let down by several sloppy transitions and bland house cuts (though Floating Points' "Nuits Sonores" did go down a treat.) The final Wax Da Jam of 2015 is scheduled for July 26th, and Evelyn has lined up A Guy Called Gerald and Mark Farina. If you're in Ibiza and looking to break away from the norm, this party has everything you're after.