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Island nostalgia with Andrew Livesey

Island nostalgia with Andrew Livesey

Words Mark Broadbent

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Andrew Livesey is one half of The Brothers Grim (our tag team DJ duo moniker) and my actual brother from the same mother. I had obviously heard of his existence and our paths had crossed on more than one occasion, but we never actually spent any real time together until around 2006. During this time frame, I was splitting my time between London and Ibiza spending five months in each place, nightclubs on the island and festivals in the UK.

The opportunity arose to send two lucky people to Australia to cover a festival we were working on in Sydney for our online socials at the time. I suggested to Andrew that if he entered the competition, he might stand a reasonable chance of winning the holiday of a lifetime. Strangely enough, he did win the competition and he and a lucky friend got an all-expenses paid trip to Sydney, Australia. On returning, he made his way to Ibiza for the obligatory de-briefing and kinda stayed. We worked together at Space for the next six years until myself and my wife Sarah jumped ship in 2013.

Andrew joined us the following year and we started DJing and promoting events together as The Brothers Grim shortly after. A shared love of west coast rock from the 70s and pitched-back electronica helped us mold our unique take on what is loosely termed Balearic music to great effect. We’ve shared residencies at some of the island’s sunset hotspots over the years and until recently, held court weekly at our fabled Sunday session in the hills of San Antonio, hosting a who’s who of the scene’s finest selectors for close to ten years. Our professional paths have separated (for the time being) and Andrew can now be found flying solo between the islands of Ibiza and Formentera, where he is the musical programmer for the island’s only nightclub, tipic.

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?

I’ve never really been into coffee and strangely for a man from Yorkshire, tea has never been my thing either. I’d say my most common first drink of the day is an agua con gas. For such a simple drink, there is a surprising amount of nuance to what makes a good one! While I don’t have a routine spot, I do have a few favourites that I like to hit up when I get the opportunity. The Vichy Catalan from the new market in Ibiza town served with fried liver is a fantastic way to start the day and a particularly Balearic experience too!

Friends have arrived – almost on time – and you’re heading for lunch. Where are we eating?

There are a few stone-cold classics that I tend to choose from. Comidas San Juan in Ibiza town for those who are looking for an instant Spanish vibe that doesn’t break the bank. Shoulder of lamb or slow-cooked rabbit washed down with a glass or two of rough local red wine will generally set you back less than 20€. Just out past the airport, Sa Caleta is probably my favourite of the more upmarket beach spots if I’m looking to impress but more often than not, the first place I take friends will be the Fish Shack at Sa Punta – my favourite restaurant on the island and a great place to spend a lazy afternoon eating simple food cooked correctly, drinking shandies con Fanta Limon…

An island institution, Andrew loves taking friends to Comidas San Juan for an authentic Spanish vibe that doesn’t break the bank.

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?

During recent times, I have explored more of Ibiza’s coastline than my previous 16 years living here combined. I’ve enjoyed these treks so much, in fact, that I have recently joined the Balearic Outdoor Adventures team where I am now one of three hiking guides taking people on their own adventures to some of the more beautiful and off-the-beaten-track spots of Ibiza. My favourite places to take people are Cala d’en Sardinas, Corals d’en Guillame and Aigua Dolça, but if I’m looking to snooze off a hearty lunch with a more relaxed trip then Es Cavallet, Es Portixol, or a few secret spots above Es Canar are where we’ll tend to head.

Is that the time? We must have fallen asleep. Shall we go and watch sunset?

I am a big fan of a sunset. There are some spectacular spots to watch along the whole west coast. I like my sunsets peaceful and without crowds, so I tend to avoid the hotspots. If you know your way around the Es Amunts national park, then there are spectacular spots to soak up the last of the day’s rays! Again, these take a little bit of effort to get to, but the reward is well worth it. This year I have taken on a new role managing the music programming at tipic. Club in Formentera. We have a small bungalow for guest DJs nearby, and from its rooftop, you can watch the sun set directly behind Es Vedrá. I think this may fast become my new favourite evening spot to enjoy nature’s finest show…

Knowing all the best spots to watch the sunset over Es Vedrá comes with the territory for Andrew Livesey, who guides outdoor hikes when he’s not DJing.

We could head home to bed… but we’re in Ibiza! The night is still young, where we going?

If we’re in Ibiza, then our late-night activities are more often than not sat around a table with friends enjoying a few too many drinks. At people’s houses, friends’ bars, restaurants and the occasional alfresco table in the campo sat beneath an old olive tree talking and drinking is a wonderful way to spend the night. However, if we’re talking clubland then HE. SHE. THEY at Amnesia Ibiza was a highlight for me last year, a very authentic atmosphere, great music and amazing performers in the one true Ibiza superclub left. For something more intimate, Ibiza Underground in San Rafael feels like the last bastion of the old Ibiza spirit, a place you can still see the beautiful people from the island mixing with the lucky tourists who have managed to find their way there.

And finally, to bed… or?

I do love going to bed, that’s for sure. But, if that’s not on the cards, let’s hop on the ferry and head over to Formentera for a night of perfectly programmed music at tipic. Dance the night away and catch the first ferry back home to Ibiza…and finally to bed.

Just a short ferry ride away, tipic. in Formentera is the island’s only club and is programmed by Andrew Livesey.

WHITE IBIZA SOUNDSCAPES 03

Balearic moments with Andrew Livesey

One-half of The Brothers Grim, Andrew Livesey is an avid outdoorsy adventurer and music programmer for Formentera’s only club, tipic.

Domenuque Dumont

Le Soleil Dans Le Monde

“A lazy Balearic standard. I can smell the pine trees, feel the sand between my toes and the sun on my face.“

The Jeremy Spencer Band

Cool Breeze

“Another beautiful relaxer. Open your car windows, turn the stereo up and head north.“

Renee

Lay Me Down

“One for the beach or taking a shady snooze somewhere with that special person.“

Nova Nova

Prisoner’s song (Extended Mix)

“I first heard this on an Ian Blevins DJ mix. We were driving down a dusty camino in Formentera looking for a picnic spot. The whole mix was brilliant (standard Blevins) but this track really hits the spot! Who knew Hungarian folk could be so Balearic?“

Terri Crawford

Gunfighter

Ruf Dug re-wound the Andi Hanli version (sadly not available on Spotify) eight times at Pikes one rainy evening for a handful of people gathered there and this moment will live with me forever.“

Mac De Marco

On The Level

“This one feels so good when the temperature hits the 30s and above. The humidity is thick here during the hottest part of the summer and these synth lines hang like molasses in the atmosphere. One from the vaults of our countless sunsets at Hostal La Torre back in the day.“

Romare

All Night

“Starting to pick the party up a bit! A fantastic hook guaranteed to get the toes tapping and again a staple from my DJing days on the island.“

T Power Vs MK Ultra

Mutant Jazz

“Drum n bass rhythms sounding more relaxed than a Peruvian pan flute band. I re-heard this a few years ago and couldn’t wait to play it back for other people, it’s just one you need to share. The initial drop tends to raise a few eyebrows but by the time the middle eight arrives most people have found the true tempo of the song is back in sync with the setting sun…“

The Rolling Stones

Heaven

“Up there with my favourite Stones records, this track has a real island feel to it. Feels like nostalgia for a place you’ve never been and works anytime of the day or night. “

Dekker

This Here Island

“And if the bottom drops out, and if we all fall out, I hope that we share ground, on this here island.’ A very poignant lyric for me. Ibiza will chew you up, but it has to spit you out again. And in the end, we will always have our friends and our island.“

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