Great fun night at the DJ Awards at Ocean Drive Hotel and Pacha last night - check www.djawards.com for the winners but here’s some random photos from the pre-party at Ocean Drive

	View of Ibiza Town from the roof of Ocean Drive

Best Newcomer nominee Hervé

Q: Congratulations on being nominated in the DJ Awards 2009 - what was your response when you heard the news?

A: Absolute outrage that I wasn’t included in every category - except the ones I’m totally inappropriate for.

Q: The DJ Awards has some special awards not voted for by the public - one of which is “Best Ibiza Track” - what is your biggest tune of the summer so far?

A: Jack Penate’s Tonight’s Today. I did a bit of a remix with extra beats and it looks like it’s going to come out officially! The song of the summer in my opinion.

Q: The DJ categories are decided by the voting pubic. If you win, what will you do to thank your fans?

A: I’ll take them to my house in Spain and shower them in Serrano ham and cava, maybe.

Q: What is the best thing you’ve ever won?

A: I have no idea. Make me a winner and I can tell you.

Q: Where are you DJing in Ibiza this summer?

A: I’m not out there this year as I’m in the studio finishing a few projects. I can’t escape… haven’t even booked a holiday!

Q: The winners will be gathering at Pacha on 24 September to collect their awards - would you rather be raving in the main room, grooving in the funky room, chilling on the roof terrace or splashing the cash in the VIP?

A: Due to a medical condition I’d probably try to be in all of them at once. Except “grooving in the funky room”, that sounds weird.

1. Congratulations on being nominated in the DJ Awards 2009 - what was your response when you heard the news?

The call got us when we were on an expedition in Greenland and I tell you, we couldn’t believe it! We sat there after days and days of not talking, looking at each other and smiling through our frozen beards. We couldn’t talk as it would have been a danger, because we would have risked that our tongue will froze in 23 seconds. It was a very special moment we will always remember…

2. The DJ Awards has some special awards not voted for by the public - one of which is “Best Ibiza Track” - what is your biggest tune of the Summer so far?

Unfortunately there are no real big hits yet. Lots of good tracks, but nothing that is crossing all boundaries and genres… maybe there’s still one to come…

3. The DJ categories are decided by the voting pubic. If you win, what will you do to thank your fans?

We could take one year off from DJing and write a postcard to every single fan!

4. What is the best thing you’ve ever won?

When we were younger we won quite a lot of medals in ski and judo competition

5. Where are you DJing in Ibiza this summer?

Our first gig was at Wonderland, which was a very nice night. Then we played for Monza - we’ll be back there for the closing on 1 October. And we are playing Subliminal Sessions at Pacha in August. So another fulfilling year on the party island…

6. The winners will be gathering at Pacha on 24 September to collect their awards - would you rather be raving in the main room, grooving in the funky room, chilling on the roof terrace or splashing the cash in the VIP?

Those who know us know that we are everywhere and nowhere. Like ghosts we run around and disappear the minute you see us. The fact we are two makes it easier. There’s always one M.A.N.D.Y. somewhere…

Every year the DJ Awards recognises the Ibiza Resident DJ whose music, style and personality make a year-round impact on the island’s nightlife. This year, instead of an industry panel nominating the candidates, the DJ Awards are relying on an even bigger panel of experts - the clubbers. This year the Ibiza Resident DJ award will be based on the votes of fans who can nominate their favourite DJ at www.djawards.com.
Voting is open until 10 August at www.djawards.com and all DJs who play in Ibiza year-round are eligible in this category.

Interview with Lenny Ibizarre and Jose Pascual - founders of the DJ Awards

It is the 12th Edition of the DJ Awards this year - how does the reality of the last 12 years match up to what you imagined when you conceived the awards?

Our feelings are twofold. When we began we anticipated it being small local event, but we also envisioned it gaining global recognition. To our delight we feel we have achieved a balance - keeping the distinctive character of the Awards while growing as an international event.

The theme of the Awards this year is Dreams - what does that mean to you?

Dream are the fabric of unhinged creativity, they spawn arts and philosophy, culture and music.

Ibiza is a great place to play but it can be hard to work here, how do you handle the challenges of putting on a major international event like the DJ Awards?

This is very true, but in between Pacha, which is home to the award ceremony, and the Activate PR team we feel we’re in the best possible hands.

The island has changed a lot in the past 12 years, how has that affected the DJ Awards?

Our categories and nominees have changed to reflect the evolution of music in Ibiza. For example, there was no Cocoon 12 years ago but now it is an island phenomenon.

How is the role of the DJ changing, now that technology means anyone can DJ or produce in their bedroom, and share their music instantly online?

The role of the DJ hasn’t changed, but ability to access an audience has. Now all you need to be a player is talent, time, guts and luck.

How do you choose the nominees and what criteria do you use?

The nominees are chosen through several panel selections. The initial suggestions are discussed and evaluated based on their impact in different sectors of dance culture and industry.

What is the best moment of the Awards for you?

One has got to be the cocktail party at Ocean Drive before the ceremony at Pacha. You can feel the electricity in the air as everybody is gearing up for finale - and anxiously waiting to see who will win!

Are there any new categories, or changes to the Awards, you would like to tell us about?

The Ibiza Resident and the Dance Nation [Russia] categories are open so fans can nominate their favourite DJs. In the past we selected nominees for these categories but decided doing a write-in vote would give us a truer picture of which DJs are making the biggest impression. If there’s a kid in Siberia that rocks the Russian crowds I want to know, and now his fans can tell us.

By Cila Warnke

This year the concept of dreams has been chosen as the theme of the DJ Awards 2009. Dreams are much more than a frivolous sideshow to the defragmentation of our minds during hours of rest; some dreams, for example, are the visions of a better future.

From the lucid dreaming of Tibetan monks to the mysterious dreamtime of the Australian aboriginals; dreaming have grown to become a highly sophisticated expression of our ancestral cultural in heritage.

Nominees

House:
Axwell
Bob Sinclair
David Guetta
Erick Morillo
Fedde Le Grand
Laidback Luke
Sebastian Ingrosso
Steve Angello

Techno:
Carl Cox
Cristian Varela
Luciano
Pig and Dan
Ricardo Villalobos
Richie Hawtin
Sven Vath
Umek

Trance:
Above and Beyond
Armin Van Buuren
ARB
Markus Schulz
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Van Dyk
Tiesto
Ferry Costen

Progressive House:
Danny Howells
Eddie Halliwell
Hernan Cattaneo
John Dahlback
John Digweed
Lee Burridge
Nick Warren
Sasha

Electro House:
Benny Benassi
Deadmau5
Eric Prydz
James Zabiela
Layo and Bushwacka
Mark Knight
Sander Van Doorn
Sebastian Leger

Tech House:
Dubfire
Funkagenda
Laurent Garnier
M.A.N.D.Y
Marco Carola
Marco V
Radio Slave
Steve Lawler

Minimal:
Adam Beyer
Anja Schneider
Guy Gerber
Loco Dice
Magda
Matthias Tanzmann
Michael Mayer
Steve Bug

Deep House:
Ben Watt
Charles Webster
Dennis Ferrer
Efdemin
Jimpster
Milton Jackson
Phonique
Vincenzo

Breakthrough:
Arcel Dettman
Dixon
Jamie Jones
Joris Voorn
Kaskade
Matthew Dear
Nick Curly
Valentino Kanzyani

Downtempo & Eclectic:
DJ Ravin
Giles Peterson
Jazzanova
Jose Padilla
Mixmaster Morris
Nightmares on Wax
Rob da Bank
Thievery Corporation

Best Newcomer:
Anderson Noise
Andy Moor
Ellen Allien
Gabe
Herve
Minilogue
Popof
Riktam & Bansi

Psychedelic Trance:
Ace Ventura
Astrix
GMS
Infected Mushroom
Liquid Soul
Perfect Stranger
Skazi
Yahel

International DJ:
Armin Van Buuren
Carl Cox
David Guetta
Erick Morillo
Sander Kleinenberg
Sasha
Sven Vath
Tiesto

Dance nation of the year:
Russia

Other awards are all TBC - dj awards 2009 website