Sidney Charles Interview

Like any DJ worth their salt, Sidney Charles is going to be especially busy in the coming months, as Europe prepares for a summer of beach parties, club nights and epic festivals. To find out just what he’s got in store, we had a quick chat about returning to Ibiza, playing with Darius Syrossian and his own holiday plans.

Hi Sidney, how are you?
Hey! I’m fine, thanks.

Where in the world are you right now?
I’m just coming back to London from Paris and I’m preparing myself to move to Ibiza this Tuesday where I will spend most of my time this summer!

The busy summer season appears to have already begun for you with Road To Ibiza. Do you look forward to what the European summer brings?
We’ve had an amazing time in Europe so far… Amsterdam, Ghent and Paris were all cool and I’m looking forward to the final ones in Barcelona and Madrid! I am also excited about all the festivals this summer like Outbreak, Ceremony and Eastern Electrics to name a few.

You have a residency at Vista Club for Do Not Sleep in Ibiza; is it important for you to return to the island during the summer?
For me, personally, it is quite important. I love the island and its vibe. The people there seem to party differently compared to other spots in the world. This year is a special one as Santé, Darius Syrossian and I are the main residents and will play every Sunday from July until the beginning of September. The club looks amazing. It has a huge wall made out of glass, which will bring a proper after-hour vibe when the sun comes up in the morning. There is also a new sound system from PURE GROOVE, which has never disappointed so far!

What memories do you have of playing in Ibiza? What was your first gig like?
I spend a lot of time in the more quiet part up north. Especially in late May when it’s not so busy and you can find nice, relaxing spots and enjoy the island full on. My first gig on Ibiza was an Avotre showcase at a beach party last year, playing b2b with Santé for about five hours. We had super fun that night!

Away from Ibiza, you’re also playing festivals in the Netherlands, UK and Germany. Do you enjoy the festival experience? Do you think it’s a setting that House and Techno music has had to adapt to?
Yes I do enjoy the festival experience. It has that kind of hippy vibe to it and it’s also nice to play outside in the fresh air and not just clubs. I don’t think that House and Techno needed to adapt to this. It relies more on the skills of the DJ, whether he is able to move a big amount of people with his set or not. So the DJ is the one who mostly needs to adapt.

Outside of your festival and club dates, are you planning on having a break yourself? What’s your ideal holiday?
Oh yes, I will definitely go surfing in the south of Spain close to Cadiz. It’s a perfect spot as you have really good waves from the Atlantic, but the water is not so cold as it mixes up with the Mediterranean Sea. I will also have a longer break in January to go somewhere I’ve never been before and experience a new culture. I think once a year everyone should try to do so; it opens your mind a lot and you will lose a lot of prejudgments!

You work a lot with fellow DJ Darius Syrossian, what is it that you would say makes you a good pairing? Do you work in similar ways?
I am DJing a lot with Darius and we also made a track together last year that was released on his album. We have a similar sound and we can adapt well to each other’s mixing styles. Last year in Ibiza, we were playing a lot together and I can’t remember any negative experiences during the Ibiza season. When it comes to producing, he works in a very different way. He uses a different program for his engineering and his first approach to start a track is also not the same. He always has a certain idea before he starts his track, but I normally just start and let my creativity flow until I find an idea that I like.

We’ve been listening to your monthly charts on beatport. Have there been any standout tracks of 2015 for you?
Joy Davis Jr. – I’m Hungry (DJ Duke Edit) – I just love that tune and the vibe it is creating. It’s really hard for me to not play this one in my sets.

What tunes are going to be big this summer?
Sante and I just signed a wicked tune from Onno and Per Harmmer, which is a Techno bomb and I think a lot of DJs who play Techno will enjoy playing this one. Santé`s track ‘Dusty Roads’ also has big potential to rule this summer.

Besides music, what are your other passions in life?
I love listening to Jazz and down tempo stuff, I read a lot of books about Buddhism, especially Zen. I go running several times a week and I do yoga as well. I love to eat healthy and I try to improve my cooking skills.

Catch Sidney Charles in Europe this summer

Saturday 13th June – Traumsafari Festival, Germany
Sunday 14th June – Season Preparty at Vista, Ibiza
Friday 19th June – Avotre at Bankside Vaults, London
Saturday 27th June – Kehakuma, Ibiza
Saturday 4th July – Verknipt Festival, Amsterdam
Friday 10th July – Avotre at Watergate, Berlin
Sunday 12th July – Do Not Sleep Opening at Vista Club, Ibiza
Sunday 19th and 26th July – Do Not Sleep at Vista Club, Ibiza
Saturday 1st August – Eastern Electrics, Hertfordshire
Sunday 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd August – Do Not Sleep at Vista Club, Ibiza
Saturday 29th August – Wonderland Festival, Amsterdam
Sunday 30th August – Do Not Sleep at Vista Club, Ibiza
Sunday 6th August – Do Not Sleep Closing at Vista Club, Ibiza