Legendary DJ de Melero spells out his success

Joseph Mangga, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali

I first met the lovely Mike and Sadja one evening in early 2000, on Jl. Gado Gado, at a shrine the Swedish couple had constructed especially for the worship of the one powerful "spirit" that they "Absolutely" trusted above all others. So after serving for over a decade on various cruise-ships around the world, the couple made one final landfall in Bali, and the 'A' Bar was thereby christened.

Packed with more Absolut vodka paraphernalia than one could possibly dream was in existence, the 'A' Bar has apparently flourished, for they now have opened the new and much larger 'A' Club Disco in Seminyak.

I met the legendary Ibiza DJ, Cesar de Melero, at the 'A' Club, the night before his scheduled five-hour set. De Melero is praised as one of the originators of the Balearic sound - an eclectic mix of flamenco-flavored house, soul and techno music that was born on the Spanish isle of Ibiza, and which later fathered the massive UK house-music explosion of 1988-90. Mellower versions of the original Balearic sound are probably best preserved on the Cafi del Mar record series, as well as on de Melero's own Prozak-Track label releases.

The 41-year old de Melero turned out to be a towering but gentle Spaniard, a classic overgrown man-child with impossibly bushy black eyebrows. It took no more than ten minutes of listening to his rambling and delightful, mildly-pidgin'ed English to fully fathom that he is a truly compassionate man, with a heart as big as an ocean. The Jakarta Post had a lively interview with him.

Question: What brings you to Bali?

Answer: In Ibiza, a lot of people talk about Bali, as well as in Europe, always "Bali! - Bali! - Bali!" Ok, so maybe I go there one day and play some music.

What does the term "Balearic" mean to you?

It's very easy, I tell you. Balearic is the (Spanish) islands in the Mediterranean: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. These are the Balearic islands.

(But for) the (English) people who came here in 87' - like Paul Oakenfold, Terry Rambling - they go to Ibiza for the first time, they all think it is very nice. It was my time, DJ Pippi, Alfredo, Jose Padilla (of Cafi del Mar fame). It was a very good time for us.

Then (Oakenfold and Rambling) go (back) to London and start this "Balearic music". But it was not really us, but an English (thing) that happened in 1988. They wanted to do this Balearic attitude - (the) way we played not only house music, but soul, electronica, many styles. The Balearic attitude was for the DJ to play all different kinds of music.

So what's called "Balearic" is the English interpretation of what you started in Ibiza in the early 80's?

No one in Ibiza say we are playing Balearic music. This is only what the English call this music, but not us. In 87', there (were) a lot of people (who) are famous DJ's now. I don't say (these people) "learned" (to DJ then), but they go to the cafis and watch us. And this music was very different than in England. In 87' (it was) the chart black music, not house.

Now there's (separate) British (dance) parties, French parties, German parties. This is not typical of (the) Balearic attitude. In the beginning we play for everybody. For example in Pacha (Ibiza's most famous disco), all these English people come just to hear Paul Oakenfold. They don't really know the (true) Balearic (attitude). Now it is just very big business. It is maybe dead. I don't know...

Why were you not in the top 10 DJs last year?

I was named number one House DJ (by DJ Mag in year 2000). It's important for the magazine, (but it's) not really competitive. (They were afraid) people (would) vote me again. Another DJ won because I wasn't nominated. The guy from the magazine told me this. "If I nominate you, you win again! It's not possible 2 years (straight)." They stop it.

Of all the hundreds of nights you've played, which was the most memorable?

In the 80's, it was very good in Ibiza, not commercial like it is now, no! I was playing the Ku Club (a legendary club with a swimming pool in the middle of the dance floor). It was a mixture of crazy people and the jet-set, celebrities, hippies... It was 84' or 85', (and) I had a dance with Harrison Ford! I (look down) and can't believe it! Harrison Ford!! - dancing to my music!! It was great, no?

What about the after-hours chill-out parties?

(Many) parties in Ibiza were out in the fresh air, not inside a club, on the beach. It was very funny with the people almost naked in the daytime, because people now call it "after-hours" - we (didn't) call it after-hours - just dancing on the beach, (using) umbrellas because the records would get hot and warp in the sun. The first (time) I do it I didn't know! I look down at (my) record melting and go "aahhhh!"

How did you get started as a DJ?

I can tell you, at the start, I didn't want to be a DJ. I want to be a musician, I used to play guitar in a band. Then one day - in 82' - somebody say, "Hey, do want to play DJ in a club?". Finally I say, "DJ? Why not?" So I'm 21 years old making my money as a DJ.

This was 20 years ago. (That's before and longer) than Paul Oakenfold (the world's most famous and successful DJ, according to the Guinness Book of World Records). I always look at Paul - he's a good friend of mine. He played trance and started this Perfecto Record company. I think (Paul) was not very happy when he asked me for records (to start DJing) back in 87'. He was working as a waiter in a bar called "Project", while I was (DJing).

All these people, like the number one DJ in Germany (Paul Van Dyk), they (sometimes now) take 2 million pesetas (over US$10,000) to play one night. A few thousand is OK, but $10,000 to $20,000 is too much! But if they think these people can pay (that much), they will still be asking for more! This is the business. Anyway, I am different. My way of life is very much (like a) hippie. My car is small car. My house is small house. I've got very big (i.e. wealthy) friends. I need big friends, but not (that much money).

But now (many) people want to be a DJ. People call me, people send me letters for advice. People for 16 years send letters to my house, I don't know how they stole my address, to ask me, "Will I play this club?" - "Will I listen to their music?" - "You are God!" I take the good side of this, no?, and say, "Ok, I am God. . ."

I tell you one very funny scene, it was one month ago in Valencia, Spain. I go to the toilet, I'm pissing and I hear two guys, "Ohhh, the DJ is horrible!!" (huge laughter) And I'm pissing, and I look over and say, "Ok, he is horrible." (more laughter)

What's the best advice you can pass on to aspiring local Indonesian DJ's?

That's easy! Always believe in what (you) do. Believe in (your) work. And try and find a lot of different records, but I know (that's) very difficult here. Believe in what you're doing. Try to be happy always, and don't take a lot of drugs.

One last question. After 20 years of DJing, is the magic still there?

Yes!! Of course! If it's not, when I wake up in the morning (and don't) play the radio or one record, I know it's because I'm sick or something. I play music all the days of my life. Or maybe one tango, flamenco, whatever - but I always have music!

And (that) magic, magic moment when you play the communion - what I tell you before - when you play, (the) people understand you. The music is magic, but we need to put it in the (right) way, because sometimes a good record doesn't always work. You need the crowd, the record, and the moment...!