With Faith back in the club this coming weekend on Saturday 20th July, we spoke to Pikes resident DJ Dibbler ahead of his appearance about his travels, Ibiza and beyond.
LHM – You seem like a true Nomad, please give us a run through of where your travels have taken you.
DJ Dribbler – I’ve lived in various cities and countries around the world; Aberdeen (born) – Edinburgh/Glasgow (90s) – NYC (99-2009) – Tokyo (2006-2007) – Dominican Republic (2010-2014)- Amsterdam (2014-2015) – Brixton (2016-2018) – Ibiza (2018 – present)
I have always pursued my craft and been inspired by DJs who are better than me. After 10 years DJing Pure, touring with Orbital and playing around Europe, I went to Body and Soul in NYC . I knew if I was serious I had to move to NYC and attend the club every week. I go where the work is and also importantly, where there is superior talent and appreciative crowds. I am influenced by the local music wherever I have lived, (esp NYC and Dom Rep). In Ibiza I can play absolutely anything from my musical portfolio.
Probably not everyone knows you are an author too, tell us about your two books and how they reflect your travels as a DJ.
I have also written two fictional novels which relate directly to my own experiences in London. After a good friend tragically hit his head and developed dementia, I started to write down our experiences and very quickly I had 19000 words (in 3 weeks). After checking how many words there are in a novel, I found there to be 50,000 and thought fuck it, I’ll write a book.. So how did I do that twice?
I applied the same principles as DJing; momentum, keeping the audience /reader/dancefloor, and keeping paragraphs/music punchy. Writing was never a commercial exercise for me. It was a goal I set myself. I sold 100 plus copies on day one of the release and I then had to quickly re-edit this book as the general public were reading it. I’m writing my third novel now when I find the time amongst DJing gigs. It is challenging to do both writing and DJing at the same time as I can’t go into character when I am focused on the music.
We’re looking forward to having you play a couple of sets on the 20th, firstly very chilled outside at the start of the party on the terrace and later when it gets lively in the ‘disco’ room upstairs.. Please give us a tune you’ll def be playing in each of those sets .
I’m psyched to be able to play chilled and dancefloor at Faith on July 20th in KOKO…. Upstairs on the terrace I’ll drop some balearic niceness, including tracks from my upcoming release with Linkwood …. For Mankind and East Coast Love Affair – Musica Para Todos. FOR MANKIND is my new artist moniker. I’m moving away from DJ Dribbler and am focused on producing as For Mankind.
On the disco floor, I’ll be sizing it up and dropping more booty shakers, a current favourite being Sukuma by Sandy B.
Has the ibiza back biting mellowed over the years or is it still a game of thrones ?
I don’t really notice back biting in Ibiza. I stay in my lane. There are plenty no-marks there who think they are important but they’re most decidedly not. There are those who create false images and lie and steal. I don’t get involved. The pretenders don’t last in Ibiza. Beware of anyone asking you for anything, anything at all. It will be all a personal agenda and you learn that very quickly. You don’t ask people for stuff here, you bring it. There’s a darker side who do nothing and pick and stab away at other people to try and justify themselves, who do manage to fool people. They talk about things 30 years ago like they’re relevant and they will probably have an online presence with clueless sycophants. No one cares about them and they get angry. Ibiza sorts out the rotters from the real.
Looking at those then and now dc10 videos do you despair about how little inspiration and imagination there is on the island now with mainstream parties or does that simply help drive the alternative ?
I never went to DC10 …. I went to Ibiza after I had lived in NYC , first time, 2010. I therefore thought all the clubs were shite, (no offence). There are two scenes, the big club and the smaller scene. Both co-exist happily and there is room for everyone. It doesn’t have any influence on me whatsoever, what others are doing. If anything it helps separate the chaffy crowds from the wheat.
With Chez Damier headlining this weekend, Faith DJs and of course DJ Dribbler amongst others, you can get your tickets for the party here
