There has recently been a seismic shift in the clubbing landscape of Ibiza, from club closures to club openings and everywhere in between, a new chapter of underground music on the island is on the horizon. Longtime Ibiza aficionado Miller and his Real Gang brand have called the White Isle home for many seasons, but now there is somewhere more concrete for them to lay their hat – Tomodachi.
Having recently announced that he would be opening his own venue, Miller has been burning the midnight oil in a different way to fully realise his dream. We thought it only right to speak to the man himself about how the club came to be, “It really is a dream come true for me. As the years of my career went on, it was always in my mind, one day I would put my heart, soul and experience into my own venue.” Being a product of the sweaty, close-knit UK and Ibizan scene, Miller goes on to explain how the venue concept took shape, “My love for intimate capacity venues has grown year on year, to inject what I have learnt along the way to create a 10/10 experience for both the artist and client. I grew from a boy into a man in Ibiza, so this was always the location for my dream to take place. The concept bubbled, we found the right place, and the stars aligned.”
Ibiza’s reputation as a lux clubbing destination is well-storied, and with the (re) arrival of a certain large capacity club, this seems to be a far cry from the carefree island of the 90s and 00s. It is also well known that large capacity events do not lend themselves well to underground events, as the onus is more on connection rather than that big room experience. This ethos is echoed by Miller, “Ibiza is super club central. A circuit of powerhouse venues with mass crowds and large room ethos. This venue will be somewhat the opposite. An intimate space focused on presenting underground music as an art form, rather than just a party. Extended sets that encourage each artist to express themselves in a storytelling manner. A welcoming home for the underground community, in which a moment in time is our key focus and business-driven ethos is left at the door.”
Miller has clearly done a fair amount of soul searching when it comes to breathing life into his dream venue, and when it comes to Ibiza, the island almost demands that creators bring their A game. To say that Miller has met this remit would be the understatement of the year. He starts by giving us an insight into the concept for Tomodachi, “Worldwide underground talent coming from close by, far and wide to play on an incredible system with an aesthetic to match. An almost instant, comfortable and safe space for the artist to take us through their record collection. Offering a music policy that is across the spectrum of the underground scene. The intimate space will bring out the natural, deeper sides of each DJ.”
Turning dreams into reality is never an easy task, but one that Miller seems to be methodically working his way through. “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, as they say, and it was also not built by one person, as Miller explains, “I worked with my architect to turn my vision into a reality.” He continues to give us the lowdown on just how individual the club will be, “We looked at every detail to create an aesthetic that equally matched the effort and intention of the sound. Walnut wood throughout, every piece of furniture made by hand, from booth to bar and beyond, everything is bespoke. My intention was to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, an amber glow from all corners of the space, with slowly modulating light that will complement each performance.”
Opening a brand new venue in Ibiza is no mean feat, and with the added pressure of catering for a more experienced clubber means that every detail needs to be on point. It is clear that the interior will be rather special, but we were very interested to hear Miller’s plans for the sound equipment, “For a project like this, sound and aesthetic are everything. It has been an honour to partner up with my friends at TPI Sound, to create a 1 of 1 system for the club. Handmade in Leicester, UK, it’s an incredible project in which top electrical engineering meets sound. We will have installed the prototype of their 4-channel, analog powerhouse mixing desk. Again, for now, a 1 of 1, and a true showcase for the combination of both system and mixer from TPI. Individual to the venue.”
With a lot of the finer details being under wraps for now, at this point we can only imagine the calibre of artists that Miller will be bringing to Tomodachi over the course of the season. From speaking to a tight-lipped Miller, he hints at some rather special collaborations on the cards, “Tomodachi; meaning friends in Japanese was the concept of me inviting my artist friends whom I have met along my journey so far. A programming to work with brands and DJs that have injected years of their life into their craft, and committed time and effort into the continuity of the underground scene. With us preparing our lineup announcement, we tell all to hold tight, and keep an eye on our socials to see our year one of establishment.”
With the first season of Tomodachi running from June to October on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday the anticipation is already at a fever pitch. Not wanting to wish away this iconic first season, we were keen to find out Miller’s plans for the future of the club, “Act with love, care and attention to take our step-by-step approach of achieving the highest quality all round. Our responsibility of presenting a new home for our culture, and with each night we open the doors, we understand that it is a singular moment in time.” As always, Miller’s thoughtful and welcoming tone strikes the perfect balance between artist and dancer as he rightly romantices on the impact such a venue has on our community, “By following this ongoing ethos, our end result is the memories we look back on, seeing our underground heroes come to the island and making a timestamp on the moment we shared. We follow this, and leave the rest to the natural progression of life.”
More information is coming soon, and we will have exclusive coverage of the first season programming and those first mouth-watering shots of the club.
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