Dexter Jones

Ed Lynam on Ibiza worker culture, Trance, and the West End years

In this Ibiza Worker Special of The Dexter Jones Podcast, we sit down with Ed Lynam to talk about Ibiza, trance music, and the wild, formative days of San Antonio’s West End.
From his first season working on the island in 2004 to becoming a regular name on the European trance circuit, Ed shares a candid, funny, and deeply nostalgic account of Ibiza life before it changed forever. From Curry Club shifts to early DJ sets, this is a story many Ibiza workers will instantly recognise.
We talk about worker culture pre-Brexit, Shipwrecked boat parties, Es Paradis nights, and the friendships that defined entire summers. The conversation also moves forward into the evolution of trance, the realities of building a DJ career in the digital era, and what the future holds for the scene.
Ed also reflects on working alongside and being influenced by artists such as Lange, Armin van Buuren, and Scot Project, as well as the enduring legacy of Robert Miles and why Children still hits decades later.
This is not a polished highlight reel.It’s a real conversation about graft, community, music, and the Ibiza experience that shaped a generation.
If you’ve ever worked a season, loved trance, or still feel the pull of the island, this episode will resonate.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🌴 Working in Ibiza before Brexit
🍛 Curry Club days and worker life
🏴‍☠️ Shipwrecked boat parties
🎧 First Ibiza DJ sets and building confidence
🪩 Es Paradis and San Antonio memories
🔊 The evolution of trance music
📱 Social media and DJ growth today
🎶 Collaborating with Lange
🌌 Trance legends and lasting influences
❤️ Robert Miles’ legacy and Children
Chapters:
00:00 Intro, birthday chat, and Aquarius link02:30 First season in Ibiza06:15 West End culture and changes post-Brexit10:00 Working at Curry Club13:00 DJ journey begins16:00 Es Paradis memories and iconic parties20:15 Trance passion and early influences24:30 One More Time shows and future plans28:15 Staying connected after the season30:45 Dublin events, Lange collaboration, and bookings36:00 Shipwrecked boat parties38:15 Trance scene evolution42:00 New producers to watch45:15 Social media and DJ growth48:00 DJ identity and production challenges51:00 Favourite club, track, and advice52:45 Robert Miles tribute
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

Mark Doyle on Hed Kandi, Ibiza, and building a global dance music brand

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Mark Doyle, the creator and founder of Hed Kandi, to tell the full story of one of dance music’s most influential global brands.
Hed Kandi was more than a record label. It became a cultural movement that soundtracked a generation, from instantly recognisable artwork to packed dancefloors across the world. For the first time, Mark shares a first-hand, unfiltered account of how the brand was built, the ambition behind its expansion, the realities of corporate pressure, and the legal battles that ultimately changed everything.
We go right back to Mark’s early career at Jazz FM, the creation of New Cool, and the moment Jason Brooks’ artwork helped define a visual identity that became iconic. From there, we follow Hed Kandi’s rapid rise, international success, and its move to Ibiza, including the defining years at El Divino.
This is not a highlight reel.It’s an honest conversation about creativity, control, ownership, mistakes, and legacy — and why the Hed Kandi story is not finished yet.
If you lived through the era, danced to the compilations, or want to understand how a music brand really scales and fractures, this episode matters.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🎙️ Early career at Jazz FM
🎨 New Cool and the first Jason Brooks artwork
🎶 The birth of Hed Kandi
🌍 Global expansion and international success
📻 Radio promotion and early Hed Kandi parties
🏝️ Moving the brand to Ibiza
🪩 El Divino and the Hed Kandi Ibiza era
🏢 Corporate acquisition and internal conflict
⚖️ Legal battles and their aftermath
🔮 The future of Hed Kandi
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and early career at Jazz FM15:00 Creating New Cool and the first Jason Brooks image25:00 The birth of Hed Kandi35:00 Global expansion45:00 Early parties and radio promotion55:00 Moving the brand to Ibiza01:05 El Divino and Ibiza focus01:10 Jazz FM acquisition and internal conflict01:15 Legal struggles01:18 The future of Hed Kandi
Hed Kandi today
Mark Doyle and Hed Kandi now present a weekly two-hour radio show across Mixcloud, DAB, and podcast platforms.
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hedkandi📲 Instagram & Facebook: @hedkandi
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

Rob Tissera on acid house, illegal raves, and the birth of UK club culture

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Rob Tissera, one of the most important and authentic voices to emerge from UK rave and club culture.
Rob sits right at the heart of the story. From the first wave of acid house to illegal warehouse parties, early club residencies, and moments that would change his life forever, this is one of the rawest, funniest, and most original accounts of the UK underground you’ll hear.
We go deep into the illegal rave era. Rob shares uncensored stories from playing at The Haçienda, raving at Sunrise, DJing Blackburn warehouse parties that ended in riots, and the night that ultimately landed him in prison. We talk sound systems built inside abandoned spaces, dodging the police, and the thin line between freedom and consequences during the wild west years of rave culture.
This is not nostalgia dressed up for clicks.It’s an honest, first-hand account of chaos, creativity, and how the underground shaped everything that followed in modern dance music.
If you care about acid house, rave history, warehouse culture, or the roots of UK club music, this episode is essential.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🔊 Discovering acid house and UK rave culture
🏭 The life-changing first trip to The Haçienda
🎧 Playing alongside DJs before they became household names
🚓 Illegal warehouse parties and dodging the police
🔧 Building sound systems inside abandoned spaces
🔒 The night that led to prison
🚗 Surviving a serious car crash
⚡ How the underground shaped modern dance music
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

Adam Wilson on Ibiza worker culture and how Garlands made him do it!

In this Ibiza Worker Special of The Dexter Jones Podcast, we sit down with Adam Wilson, a DJ, promoter, and nightlife veteran whose life was permanently shaped by Ibiza during the mid-2000s.
From the chaos and creativity of the Garlands era to wild nights at DC10, West End madness, and working across some of the island’s most intense nightlife environments, this is a first-hand account of what Ibiza worker life really looked like between 2005 and 2007.
We trace Adam’s journey from clubber to DJ, PR, and entrepreneur, including working at Eden Ibiza, running boat parties, and eventually founding the Acid 87 clothing label.
Along the way, we talk sobriety, family life, and how Ibiza can both break you and help you build something meaningful.
This is not a highlight reel.It’s an honest, nostalgic, and grounded look at passion, perseverance, and why the island remains so magnetic long after the season ends.
If you worked a season, lived the West End years, or still feel pulled back to Ibiza, this episode will resonate.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
⚡ Ibiza worker life between 2005–2007
🕺 From clubber to DJ and promoter
🙌 Wild West End stories and Eden nights
👟 Fancy dress culture and lost-and-found Ibiza chaos
🎧 Garlands and the community it created
🏴‍☠️ Boat parties and street-level nightlife graft
👕 Launching Acid 87 and turning party culture into fashion
🧠 Sobriety, balance, and building a family life in Ibiza
🧲 Why Ibiza keeps pulling people back
Chapters:
00:00 Garlands made him do it01:30 First summer in Ibiza and West End madness04:10 From getting sacked to finding direction06:00 First DJ set at Orange Corner07:45 First wild trip to Ibiza09:40 Life in Santa Eulalia12:00 Garlands: the brand, chaos, and community14:40 Fancy dress, Bart Simpson, and DC10 stories17:10 Becoming PR manager and running boat parties19:50 Taking over Ushuaïa street PR22:00 What makes a DJ stand out today24:20 How Ibiza shapes club culture26:40 Tech, lasers, and the modern club experience29:10 From clubber to entrepreneur: Acid 8732:00 Seeing the brand worn in clubs33:30 Balancing nightlife and family life35:15 Ibiza’s sober scene and lifestyle shift37:00 West End shenanigans39:20 One More Tune41:00 Outro and reflections
🔗 Acid 87 clothing brand:www.acid87.co.uk
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

Nathan Viva on the Ibiza hustle: from €1 beers to €35M villas

In this Ibiza Worker Special of The Dexter Jones Podcast, Dexter sits down with Nathan Viva, one of the most recognisable entrepreneurs to come out of San Antonio’s West End.
Nathan’s story is pure Ibiza graft. From selling €1 beers to workers, to owning bars, clubs, a concierge company, a real estate agency, and becoming a published author, this episode charts the full arc of how hustle, timing, and sheer resilience can build an empire on the island.
We go deep into the rise of Viva Workers Bar, promoting nights with Tiësto, Timo Maas, and Roger Sanchez at just 22 years old, and how Nathan navigated the chaos of Ibiza nightlife while building multiple businesses at once.
We also unpack the realities behind running six businesses on the island, helping launch DJ careers, surviving the post-Brexit property shift, and selling €35 million villas to footballers and high-net-worth clients.
This is not a motivational soundbite episode.It’s a raw, first-hand account of ambition, mistakes, momentum, and what it actually takes to succeed in Ibiza.
If you’ve ever worked a season, dreamed of staying, or wondered how people really build long-term businesses on the island, this one delivers.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🍺 The rise of Viva Workers Bar
🎧 Promoting Ibiza nights in his early twenties
💸 Running six businesses simultaneously
🎯 Helping develop DJ careers, including Hannah Wants
🧼 Managing Ibiza’s wildest nightlife moments
🏨 Turning venues into clubs
💃 Launching Taboo Ibiza
🛥️ Building a concierge empire
🏠 Selling €35M villas through Ibiza International
🔄 Brexit, property shifts, and long-term survival
Chapters:
00:00 From the bar to the boardroom01:30 First summer in Ibiza (2000)05:50 Running a club with Tiësto on speed dial10:45 Birth of Viva Workers Bar15:35 €1 beers and pre-internet promotion19:50 The Viva tattoos25:20 The wildest dancefloor story30:15 Launching DJ careers35:00 Owning the West End scene38:40 Flipping a hotel into a nightclub42:20 Starting Taboo Ibiza47:45 Building the concierge business53:10 Selling €35 million villas58:00 Ibiza International real estate01:03:20 Property crisis and Brexit fallout01:07:50 Lessons from running multiple businesses01:12:00 Advice for starting a business in Ibiza01:15:10 Final reflections01:18:00 One More Tune
Links & contact:
📘 The Entrepreneur’s Playbook: https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurs-Playbook-Step-Step-Professional/dp/106831771X
🛥️ Ibiza Concierge: https://ibizacc.com/
🏠 Ibiza International: https://www.ibiza-international.com/
💃 Taboo Ibiza: info@taboo-ibiza.com
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanviva
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanviva
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-seal-viva
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com
 

Marco Loco on Space Ibiza, the West End Ibiza, and earning respect the hard way

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, we sit down with Marco Loco, a DJ whose journey perfectly captures what the Ibiza grind really looks like.
From playing free gigs in San Antonio to becoming one of the most-played resident DJs at Space Ibiza, Marco shares a raw, emotional, and deeply honest account of persistence, rejection, belief, and timing.
He tells the full story of how he blagged his way into the world’s number one club not once, but twice. How he waited all day just to get five minutes in front of the right person. How he held down up to ten gigs a week across beach bars, boats, and clubs. And how his final Space Ibiza season ended with an emotional set that later saw Carl Cox play the very same closing track hours later.
We also explore life beyond peak club culture. From Shipwrecked boat parties and Salinas Beach sets to chillout albums under his Laylo alias, moving to Thailand, and openly discussing mental health, burnout, and balance after Ibiza.
This is not a shortcut story.It’s a full-spectrum Ibiza journey about earning respect the hard way and knowing when it’s time to evolve.
If you’ve ever worked a season, chased a dream on the island, or wondered what happens after the dancefloor, this episode will resonate.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🎧 Starting out with free gigs in San Antonio
⏳ Waiting all day for a single opportunity
🪩 Convincing Space Ibiza management face-to-face
🌴 Building credibility at Salinas Beach
🔊 Becoming a Space Ibiza regular
🎶 Playing alongside Carl Cox and Café Olé
🤝 A defining moment with Roger Sanchez
🚤 Shipwrecked and beach-bar culture
🌅 Chillout music as Laylo
🧠 Mental health, burnout, and life after Ibiza
Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction00:06:00 How it all started00:19:37 Getting gigs and respect00:25:50 Waiting all day for a shot00:26:48 Convincing Space Ibiza management00:27:40 Building credibility at Salinas Beach00:28:04 The breakthrough moment00:30:30 Space Ibiza gets a new boss00:31:47 Becoming a Space Ibiza regular00:34:29 Playing for Carl Cox, Café Olé, and more00:42:37 Final emotional seasons00:47:37 A hug from Roger Sanchez00:57:31 Launching Rock the Boat in Thailand01:10:15 Chillout alias: Laylo01:24:44 One More Tune
Marco Loco links:
🎧 Mixcloud (club mixes): https://mixcloud.com/marcolocoibiza
🎶 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marcoloco
🌅 Laylo Mixes: https://mixcloud.com/laylomixes
🎼 Laylo Productions: https://soundcloud.com/layloproductions
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcolocomusic
📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcolocomusica
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

Nick Ferguson on One More Time Ibiza & Two Decades as an Ibiza Promoter

In this special episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with my partner Nick Ferguson, the driving force behind One More Time Ibiza, now recognised as one of the island’s most consistent weekly parties for Ibiza classics.
We tell the real story of how One More Time began not in a boardroom, but inside a viral Ibiza workers Facebook group, before growing into a full weekly institution at Eden Ibiza.
This is an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about independence, resilience, and why nostalgia still matters. From consistently booking DJ legends to surviving Covid, navigating post-Brexit staffing challenges, and resisting the pressure to over-commercialise, Nick and I break down what it actually takes to build and sustain a weekly party in modern Ibiza.
We also talk crowd demographics, multi-generational clubbing, the balance between classics and new music, and why One More Time prioritises atmosphere, connection, and fun over phones and hype.
This is not a promo piece.It’s a transparent look at the realities of promoting in Ibiza — the wins, the stress, and the long-term vision.
If you care about Ibiza culture, classic dance music, or how real club nights are built from the ground up, this episode delivers.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
📱 How One More Time started from a viral Facebook group
🪩 Turning nostalgia into a weekly Eden residency
🦠 Surviving Covid as an independent promoter
🇪🇺 Post-Brexit staffing and Ibiza living conditions
🎧 Booking legends and curating line-ups
👥 Multi-generational dancefloors
⚖️ Dexter vs Nick: dividing roles behind the scenes
🎶 Classic vs new music debates
📵 Why fun matters more than phones
🔮 Looking ahead to Summer 2025
Chapters:
00:00 Intro and bending Nick’s arm to talk00:45 The origins of One More Time02:00 The viral Ibiza workers Facebook group05:00 Early challenges and Covid pivot07:15 Becoming a weekly party09:00 Nick vs Dexter: team roles11:00 Staffing struggles post-Brexit13:00 Ibiza living conditions then and now15:00 Naming One More Time16:30 Crowd demographics and appeal18:00 Nick’s Ibiza origins20:00 The Windmill event and early culture23:00 DJ friendships25:00 Planning for Summer27:00 Curating line-ups and flow30:00 Classic vs new music32:00 Booking DJs today33:30 Kevin & Perry origins35:00 Godskitchen and major partnerships36:15 Bringing back clubland37:00 Fun over phones38:00 Nick’s One More Tune – Children39:00 Final thoughts
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com
 

Andi Durrant on UK dance radio, lost mixes, and preserving club culture

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, we sit down with Andi Durrant, a broadcaster, curator, and the man behind one of the most important archives in UK dance music history.
From his teenage years sending letters to Kiss FM, to hosting shows on Galaxy and Capital, Andi was there as UK dance music broke into the mainstream. He hosted future superstars like Calvin Harris, deadmau5, and Swedish House Mafia long before they became household names.
But Andi didn’t just live through the era. He preserved it.
We go deep into the creation of the Dance Music Archive, the painstaking work of digitising lost tapes, DATs, flyers, and forgotten mixes, and why radio still matters in a world dominated by algorithms and streaming platforms.
We also talk Ibiza memories, rare finds like a Frankie Knuckles DAT tape, nostalgia as a cultural force, and why preserving club culture matters more now than ever.
This is not a look back for clicks.It’s a conversation about memory, responsibility, and protecting the history of dance music before it disappears.
If you care about radio, rave culture, archiving, or the foundations of UK club music, this episode is essential.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
📻 Teenage years breaking into Kiss FM
🎙️ Galaxy, Capital, and dance radio legacy
🌟 Hosting future superstar DJs early in their careers
📚 Creating the Dance Music Archive
🎶 Lost mixes, DAT tapes, and rare recordings
🧠 Why radio still matters in the streaming era
🪩 Ibiza memories and club culture stories
🧾 Flyers, nostalgia, and forgotten scenes
🤖 AI, podcasts, and the future of music preservation
Chapters:
00:00 Intro and early radio days04:26 Sending letters to Kiss FM08:52 First radio show at 1613:18 Galaxy, Capital, and dance radio17:44 Hosting artists before they were famous22:10 Birth of the Dance Music Archive26:36 Why radio still matters31:02 Scenes, tribalism, and youth culture35:28 Nostalgia and forgotten gems39:54 Rare finds and Frankie Knuckles DAT tape44:20 Archiving club culture48:46 Ibiza stories and Privilege memories53:12 The future of dance music57:38 AI, podcasts, and creative shifts01:02:04 Closing thoughts
Links:
🗂️ Dance Music Archive: https://www.dancemusicarchive.com
🎧 Distorted: https://www.thisisdistorted.com
▶️ Andi’s 1998 NYD Mix: https://youtu.be/ixvA2-G9ZoA
🌐 Andi Durrant: https://www.andidurrant.com
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andidurrant
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thednaofdance
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com
 

Tristan Ingram on Ibiza, DJing, Judgement Sundays, and building a long game in dance music

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Tristan Ingram — DJ, producer, promoter, and a true trooper of the Ibiza and UK dance music scene.
Tristan’s story is not an overnight success narrative. It’s a long-game career built on hard work, consistency, and turning up year after year. From his first season in Ibiza as a Club 18–30 rep, to throwing his own parties, managing Judgement Sundays, and producing tracks that landed global recognition and “track of the summer” moments, this is a grounded, honest look at what it really takes to survive in dance music.
We talk about sharing stages with major artists, playing iconic venues including Space Ibiza, Cream, and returning to Amnesia Ibiza during Kevin & Perry week. We also dig into the realities of modern promotion, social media pressure, and how the industry has changed post-Covid.
This episode isn’t hype-driven.It’s about graft, longevity, and staying relevant 25 years in.
If you care about Ibiza culture, dance music careers, or the behind-the-scenes reality of making it work long-term, this conversation will resonate.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🎧 Breaking into one of the toughest scenes in the world
🌴 Early Ibiza seasons and Club 18–30 graft
🪩 From bar gigs to major clubs and festivals
🔊 Managing Judgement Sundays
🎶 Producing globally recognised tracks
🧠 Lessons from DJ, promoter, and producer life
📱 Social media and self-promotion today
🔄 Post-Covid changes for clubs and festivals
🔮 Longevity and staying relevant
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction01:15 First Ibiza season as a Club 18–30 rep04:20 Getting into DJing07:05 First gigs: bars to clubs10:40 Soul City and early Ibiza venues13:25 Career highlights: Cream, Judgement Sundays, Space16:40 Memorable gigs: Space Terrace and Creamfields20:00 Longevity and loving the work22:30 Returning to Amnesia (Kevin & Perry week)26:10 How Ibiza has changed30:20 Social media’s impact on club culture33:45 Post-Covid promoter realities36:50 How the Random Events brand started40:15 Future goals: Hï Ibiza and Glastonbury43:10 Production highlights and collaborations46:30 One More Tune48:15 Wrap-up
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

Slipmatt on UK rave culture, Raindance 1989, and 35 years at the heart of the scene

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Slipmatt, one of the most defining figures in UK rave culture.
With a career spanning more than 35 years, Slipmatt has lived through the birth of rave, the explosion of dance music culture, and the evolution from illegal warehouse parties to global stages. Few people can tell this story from the inside like he can.
We go right back to the origins of rave culture, starting with Raindance in 1989. Slipmatt shares first-hand accounts of those early nights, the community that formed around the music, and how a passion for rave became a life-long career. This is a deep dive into electronic dance music history, told by someone who was there when it all began.
We also talk about Ibiza, legacy, and why staying connected to the culture still matters decades later. From preserving rave history through Slip Back In Time to reflecting on what rave culture means today, this is an honest conversation about longevity, responsibility, and community.
This is not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.It’s a grounded look at how rave was built from the ground up and why its values still resonate.
If you care about old school rave, UK dance music history, or the roots of club culture, this episode is essential.
🎧 Take your time with this one.
We talk about:
🔊 The early days of UK rave culture
🏭 Life at the centre of the rave movement
⚡ Raindance 1989 and the birth of a scene
🔄 How rave evolved over 35 years
🏝️ Slipmatt’s long relationship with Ibiza
🕰️ Slip Back In Time and preserving rave history
🪩 What rave culture means today
🔮 Returning to Ibiza and the next chapter
For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter:rave@onemoretimeibiza.com