The Story

DJ SolDado Ibz began his artistic journey at a very early age. His first steps came as a disco dancer, later evolving into funk and eventually becoming a professional breakdance performer. Over time, he made the definitive move into the DJ booth, starting his career in 1985 as a turntable assistant at Angels nightclub.

The venue, owned by Javier Cabau, had DJ Carlos — known for his exceptional mixing technique and refined musical style — as head of the booth. Located on Ibiza’s seafront promenade, Angels was an innovative club for its era, famous for its powerful sound system, its legendary slide connecting to one of the dancefloors, and its spectacular neon lighting.

During the summers of 1985 and 1986, he became part of the Angels music scene, where sounds ranged from disco-funk to house alongside the biggest tracks of the moment. In the summers of 1987 and 1988, he took over as head DJ at Éxtasis nightclub, also owned by Javier Cabau and located at the entrance to San Antonio. At the same time, during the winter seasons, he expanded his experience in clubs such as Área, Piraña, La Cabaña Negra, La Estrella Azul and Gorms Garage, exploring harder-edged styles including acid house, new beat and breaker rhythms.

The major breakthrough in his DJ career came during the winter of 1989, when he won over Ibiza’s winter crowd and built a strong reputation based on his booth energy and innovative electronic music selection — often ahead of what was being played in Ibiza’s major clubs at the time.

His rise did not go unnoticed by key figures on the island, and his name eventually reached Pepe Roselló, owner of Playboy nightclub in San Antonio. Backed by respected DJs from the venue such as Toni Brocha and Reche, discussions began about bringing him in as head DJ for an ambitious new project preparing to launch in the summer of 1989: the opening of Space Ibiza as the island’s new reference point for after hours culture.

After meeting with Pepe Roselló, the agreement was finalized and he officially joined the project as head of the booth. The club’s concept was structured around a dual schedule: a night session from midnight until 6am, followed by a continuous after hours session from 7am until 3pm — establishing an entirely new concept within Ibiza’s club circuit.

Once the agreement was completed in the winter of 1989, DJ SolDado Ibz became actively involved in the transformation of the future Space Ibiza. During this process, he worked alongside Rafa JBL on the distribution of the sound system and participated in the design and construction of the DJ booth, defining key technical aspects including equipment positioning and booth dimensions. At the same time, he continued developing his music collection, purchasing hundreds of records from legendary Ibiza record stores such as Delta Discos, Discos Galeri and M15.

The club initially opened with its night session, led by DJ Esteban — a Catalan DJ known for his highly personal style — alongside DJ SolDado Ibz. DJ Esteban would become the regular DJ for the night sessions, joined by DJ Luis “El Gitano”.

Following the nighttime opening came the launch of the after hours sessions, one of the most anticipated moments for both locals and tourists. It was during these sessions that DJ SolDado Ibz took full control of the booth.

That same summer of 1989, his after hours sessions featured guest DJs including Alfredo Fiorito, Carlos Díaz, Nelo, César de Melero and Toni Oneto, among other respected names from Ibiza’s scene.

The opening became an immediate success, attracting large crowds of locals — already familiar with his energy behind the decks — as well as industry professionals and tourists. From day one, he stood out for his musical selection and a distinctive style that opened new sonic directions within the scene, establishing an innovative approach on the dancefloor.

During the winter season of 1989 to 1990, he remained at the helm of the Space booth alongside DJ Pippi, while also combining his residency with performances and tours across Italy.

In the summer of 1990, Space Ibiza reopened in nighttime format with changes in the booth: DJ Reche became head DJ alongside DJ Giovanni. As in the previous year, the main focus once again shifted to the after hours sessions, where DJ SolDado Ibz resumed control.

During this period, Space’s after hours became one of the defining phenomena within Ibiza’s club scene. Under his musical direction, the club experienced continuous growth, developing a sound identity based on energy, connection with the dancefloor and a music selection far ahead of its time — contributing to the foundations of what would later become one of the most influential clubs in the world.

In the autumn and winter of 1990 to 1991, DJ SolDado Ibz moved to Turin, where he became resident DJ at Club Sixtina, also performing at several after hours venues across the region.

In the summer of 1991, Toni Roig took over the management of Amnesia Ibiza and brought DJ SolDado Ibz in as head DJ. During this period, he shared the booth with DJ Pippi.

That same summer, he expanded his activity with a residency at Whynot in Playa d’en Bossa, sharing the booth with DJs such as Reche and Carlos Díaz. His presence at the club boosted his international profile, leading to performances in Paris, where he temporarily lived on a boat on the River Seine.

Between the winter of 1991 and the spring of 1992, he took over the management and DJ direction of Prisma nightclub, located at the end of the Port des Torrent road in San Antonio. The club operated under an unusual schedule from 3am until 1pm, becoming one of Ibiza’s reference points for after hours culture during that era. During this stage, he shared the booth with DJ Sara and welcomed important guest DJs from the Valencia scene, including DJ Arturo Roger and DJ Luis Bonias.

In the winter of 1992, Toni Oneto proposed a partnership with DJ SolDado Ibz to take over the management of Kaoos club in San Antonio. Toni Oneto handled public relations and internal operations, while DJ SolDado Ibz took charge of the booth. The partnership generated major impact across the island, with winter and summer sessions — mainly on Fridays and Saturdays — regularly reaching full capacity and building a fiercely dedicated dancefloor, turning the project into a complete success.

To be continued…