Fearless selections: Milou
I’ve known Nici (Milou) for – I’m guessing – more than 15 years now, first meeting her at The Zoo Project early one summer at a ‘workers and residents’ party ahead of the tourist hoards. She was one of the resident DJs there and we immediately clicked over a shared love of obscure Germanic beats ‘n’ pieces. Our friendship grew further in the following years and often we’d find ourselves playing together or on the same bill (generally because I’d booked her to play at my parties).
If we played together, we’d be playing poolside and this dictated that the music be more downbeat or chilled, but primarily Milou has house music running through her veins, a pulsing beat that caught her as an Austrian teenager and drew her across the border to the heady nightlife of Berlin. She fell in with the Tellekollegen crew there and made her mark on the city playing at various underground events in and around, East and West, slowly honing her craft before finally making her way to Ibiza in 2008.
I love the way Milou plays. She is fearless and brave in her track selections, and she really feeds off the crowd and no matter how big or small the numbers are. She plays at some of the biggest events on the island but can often be found at really intimate venues, which is where I prefer to listen to her selections now, the wonderful juxtaposition of such soulful and sweet music coming from someone I used to associate with main-room, peak-time, house music is very hard to beat.
You have awoken to another fabulous day in Ibiza, assuming you went to bed last night! Where do you take your first cup of coffee?
As a passionate coffee lover, it’s a morning ritual of mine to take my first coffee on the terrace at home here in the campo, feeling very lucky that I live peacefully in the middle of nowhere, enjoying the tranquillity and early morning atmosphere on this beautiful part of our island, listening to the birds with a quiet thankful heart.
Friends have arrived – almost on time – and you’re heading for lunch. Where are we eating?
I have some lovely ideas on where to go to and all of them are right on the beach or at least facing the sea. I like to give my friends that ‘welcome to Ibiza’ feeling as soon as they arrive. We head either to Sa Caleta for fantastic fish options and their authentic and made-with-love Cafe Caleta, or one of the cliffside restaurants on Cala d’Hort, with the most magical views on the island right in front of Es Vedrá. Another choice is the ever-popular Fish Shack at Sa Punta. So busy now with everybody knowing about it, but still, it never fails to impress with its simple choices and wonderful view of the old town of Ibiza across the bay.
The rugged rock formations of Punta Galera are one of Milou’s favourite spots to catch the sun’s rays with friends.
That’s a lot to eat for lunch, let’s sleep this off on a beach somewhere. There’s over 80 to choose from, which is your favourite?
There are still some secret beaches which I absolutely love that I’m not going to make the mistake of telling you about here! The ones that I will share with your lucky readers are around Cala Xarraca, where the water is just perfect for snorkelling. I also love Es Codolar and Punta Galera as both have such a different feel, being either on rocky outcrops or pebbles rather than the usual sandy beaches you find around Ibiza, but for clear turquoise water both Cala Llenya and Cala Saladeta are hard to beat.
Is that the time? We must have fallen asleep. Shall we go and watch sunset?
Definitely! There is nothing more beautiful than Ibiza’s sunset, let’s head to Cala Conta – without a doubt one of my most favourite spots. Even on crowed days, there’s always a space you can find away from everyone to enjoy a contemplative moment alone or with close friends.
For Milou, the iconic and bohemian beach of Cala Conta on the island’s west coast has long been a favourite sunset destination.
We could head home to bed… but we’re in Ibiza! The night is still young, where we going?
The perfect scenario would be to gather my people and hang out for a while before heading off. I love to go to Kumharas on Friday evening as the music there is great, hopefully catch some friends from Ibiza Sonica who will be doing their weekly live broadcast, have a few drinks, enjoying conversation and quality time together. If everyone’s hungry I’ll suggest San Rafael for Italian food at Es Tanco where they make what I consider to be the best pizza on the island or maybe eat some meat at Can Pilot, depending on who I’ve asked to join me. I’m also really digging the new restaurant at Las Dalias: Palo Santo. It only opened this year and is causing quite a storm amongst the island residents.
And finally, to bed… or?
Most of the time nowadays it’s to bed as I’m working a lot during the night-time and it’s important to get the balance right, but every now and then I still feel the urge to dance. I love the music at Club Chinois on Saturdays at their TRIP party. Or ANTS at Ushuaïa Ibiza. I love the concept and theatre of the event, the change of atmosphere as day moves into night. It’s an outdoor event and this is also something that I love, it reminds me of our own incredible parties at The Zoo Project which sadly have now become less frequent. Another event I try not to miss when it’s on is Sven Väth at Las Dalias, Papa Sven always delivers. Ibiza has great places to visit and take part as a dancer, but my favourite thing is still going to work, sharing my love for music around the island, which even after all these years makes me still incredibly happy.
The electrifying day-to-night ambience and forward-thinking musical programming at ANTS at Ushuaïa Ibiza gets Milou out from behind the decks and onto the dancefloor.
WHITE IBIZA SOUNDSCAPES 04
FEARLESS SELECTIONS: MILOU
Milou is the Austrian-born, Berlin-influenced, Ibiza-based DJ who’s brave and fearless in her selections, whether in a big or small room.
DJ Pippi & Willie Graff
Lunares
“I have to start my selection with two of my most favourite Balearic artists, DJ Pippi and Willie Graff. Lunares is a little bit of slow burn sunrise bliss, I love to hear this first thing in the morning. A Balearic sound that truly inspires me and brings me right into the mood for a day on the white isle!”
The Disclosure Project
Down Time (Black Pudding Remix)
“I absolutely love the original, but this remix is just perfect for the playlist today. I love to play both in my sets and they never fail to cheer me up, they just feel so sunny and bright with the super jazzy elements that I absolutely adore!”
Naked Music
Hurry (Blue Six Dub)
“When I first felt the true island vibes, arriving in Ibiza back in 2008, I also discovered my love for pure House Music! And this track in my opinion – now and for always – is House music with a capital H at its best, timeless, sweet, deep and full of beauty!”
William DeVaughn
Be Thankful for What You’ve Got (David Todd Remix)
“Another track I just fell in love with way back when, that’s still on repeat after all these years! The lyrics say it all. Simple as that.”
Digby Jones
Under the Sea
“Such a beautiful interpretation of the classic Air track, La Femme d’ Argent. Imagine yourself at Café del Mar, this is how it feels, enjoying the most beautiful sunsets with all the colours and atmosphere, carefree for a few hours, with your favourite people around you, sipping a well-deserved cocktail.”
Nightmares on Wax
You Wish
“This opened up such a wide horizon of different music to me and I guess I became the biggest fan of Nightmares on Wax when I first went to Wax Da Jam, the regular night hosted at Aura Ibiza back in the day. It seemed the whole island gathered weekly and George Evelyn (Nightmares On Wax) described it as: “people arriving as individuals but leaving as one.” I truly felt that. I could have used so many Nightmares on Wax tracks on this playlist but You Wish is for sure the one that brings me back to those special moments and memories.”
St. Germain
Sure Thing (Osunlade Yoruba Soul Mix Radio Edit)
“I’m totally addicted to the original, but I also love Osunlade’s rework and I think it fits better here on my playlist. It’s another track that just sounds and feels like summer. It’s got sun, the beach and smiles all around in bundles.”
Energy 52
Café del Mar (Ricardo Villalobos Remix)
“I was over the moon when I have found this track on vinyl, I truly believe you all know the original track – it’s an absolute classic but I just adore Ricardo’s version! If I have to choose just one track that stands for my 15 years on the island, representing the love I have for Ibiza with all the memories made, it would be this remix, an absolute stone-cold killer.”
Dave Mathmos
Your Love (Contemporary Soul Mix)
“It’s been so much fun going through my memory banks to find the tracks that really matter most to me or represent a time and place for me here on Ibiza. Here’s another one that never gets old for me, a track that truly warms my heart and soul.”
Patrice Rushen
Haven’t you Heard
“Last one, an oldie and such a goldie! This is mine and my best friend Tina’s song – ‘the song’ that belongs to us. We listened to this track after nearly every one of the Zoo Project events that we partied at together. A track that brings back such beautiful memories. This is what Ibiza and music means to me, making memories you’ll never forget, with some pretty amazing people on the island.”
