dreamy balearica drifting from the isle of ibiza

NuNorthern Soul label founder and long-serving Ibiza DJ, Phat Phil Cooper, lays down a selection of pastel sounds perfect for sunrises, sunsets and Sunday slouch time on the sofa.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey into electronic music and DJing? When did you first discover electronic music?
I guess my earliest memory of electronic music was electro around 1983 when I was 12, but I think what really hooked me in was a trip to the Hacienda in Manchester in 1988. I was there for the first The Smiths convention and a few of us headed to the Hacienda to meet up with Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, who we had heard were hanging out there. The Hacienda was ground zero for many people in regards to electronic music, acid house, early Chicago and Detroit sounds. I didn’t really know what it was and simply called it ‘Hacienda music’ when I went to my local record stores to try and track it down.

When did you first move to Ibiza and what made you decide to live there?
I first came to Ibiza in the summer of 1991 as a tourist and started DJing there in 1996. I was hooked and subsequently have spent time there every year since, except for 2000. I have flown in and out for 24 hours, sometimes visited for a few days, months or years, but this most recent spell has been five years. I just felt a natural calling to live here and I am drawn back time after time.

What do you love about living on the island?
The weather, the great food, the nature. Initially it was the clubs, but now I spend no time in them. I play daytime and sunset venues here. I am looking to move to the Spanish mainland in the next 12 months. Ibiza has been a great introduction to Spain - almost a Spain Lite version. Ibiza is becoming unaffordable for many and I have no chance of buying a property on the Island, so the mainland has become very appealing as I want to continue living the very simple and easy life that Spain offers. I love hiking and exploring and Spain is vast, so I look forward to doing more of that!

In what ways has Ibiza changed since you’ve been living there? Is it still the ultimate destination for world class clubbing?
To be honest I am so out of touch with the clubbing side of the Island. The clubs still appear to be busy, but I have no real understanding of the clubbing landscape these days. I run my labels, my music publishing business, play sunset sessions and host my weekly radio show - all of which are heavily based around the eclectic and Balearic sounds, not the current club sounds of Ibiza.

How did you decide to approach your Lazydaze mix? Was there a concept behind it?
Chilled sounds for sunrise and sunsets and slow mo beats to slouch in your sofa. This is the sound I play here in Ibiza, condensed into a short mix / blend. I play 4-5 hours per session here on the Island and musically go through the gears, but this session reflects the pre and post sunset moments.

What’s your all-time favourite chill out album? The one you always go back to?Impossible to answer, plus I don’t really listen to chill out albums. I am on a never-ending musical journey of discovery that I have no chance of ever completing. Though I can say an album that is a constant in my life is Terry Callier’s What Color Is Love.

What’s coming up for you in the future? Anything you’d like to share?
Heading to Bali in August. Putting out more eclectic, Balearic inspired releases on my NuNorthern Soul label. Soundtracking sunset sessions in Ibiza and continuing my mission to slow the fucking world down through the medium of music!

Check out the full tracklist for Phil’s mix over on SoundCloud.