The Berlin-based DJ spoke about his Pacha residency, technology and more on the Telekom Electronic Beats podcast.
In the latest English language edition of the Telekom Electronic Beats podcast, Dixon discussed his recent Transmoderna residency in Ibiza, his increased interest in using cutting edge digital technology in club spaces and his plans to release a new line of clubwear in 2020.
Speaking to host Jakob Thoene, Dixon broke down the thinking behind his 2019 residency at Pacha, explaining: “I was approached by clubs in Ibiza for a long time and for a while, I didn’t feel comfortable doing it. But, I realised if I say no to a residency I’d play for someone else, so why not do something myself? I always thought you had to live in Ibiza and absorb the spirit and I felt like I was hardly at home for a long time why go to another place and stay there? It’s not a horrible place though. I stayed there for two months.”
Initially put off by what he saw as a limited approach to clubbing on the island, Dixon set about reimagining what his residency could look like, incorporating dancers and new technologies into the experience. “I realised there are a lot of tools lying around that aren’t used in clubbing, media tools,” he said. “The clubbing community became really conservative, we’ve stuck to a formula that’s been in place for 30 years. There’s a sound system, there’s lights and sometimes lasers, that’s it… Now we have 3D mapping, we have augmented reality, we holography. We have so many things used in concerts and in galleries and on your phone, but not in clubs.”
As well as discussing the residency at length, Dixon and Thoene also spoke about balancing the touring schedule of a DJ with family life, with Dixon explaining that he tries to reduce the number of shows he plays by 10% every year. “[In 2020] I’m only going to play 80 shows. I like to play less and have a bigger impact on the shows and play for longer.”
Dixon also revealed his plans to expand his range of clubwear Together We Dance Alone, having already worked with brands such as Sacai and MSBHV in 2019. He told Thoene: “In 2020 we’re going to release a lot of stuff and delve deeper into what clubwear actually is.”
Listen to the podcast in full below.
