THOSE who were active on the 1990s rave scene will remember the overriding concepts of peace, love, unity, and respect (PLUR).
For “disaffected” Generation X, it was a life-changing era that prioritised collective experience over individual status. A decade that is remembered for people collaborating with others from all walks of life.
Anthems of the time were inspirational, such as ‘Closer to All Your Dreams’, while a generation was arguably defined by Underworld’s ‘Born Slippy’ – an uplifting “cry for help” for the disenfranchised. The scene even had its own jargon/slang, including “hardcore – you know the score”, “if you know, you know”, “solid” and “sound”.
Commercialisation, smartphones, and “influencer DJs”
While the 90s rave scene was sparsely documented, we now inhabit a world of social media and smartphones where everything is recorded. The focus is on attracting likes, followers, and subscribers to gain traction.
Venues are not immune to this behaviour, uploading endless reels of revellers posing in front of (or behind) the DJ booth, with the emphasis on individual “performers” rather than the ‘PLUR’ ethos.
At large, commercial dance events – especially those held in global “party meccas”, including Ibiza – the crowd is commonly seen waving smartphones in the air. They are videoing, en masse, DJs who are dancing. Some of the DJs are wearing provocative clothes (females) or silly hats (males). The role has reversed. The idea is to look good on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook rather than to lose yourself in the music and vibe. It is causing something of a backlash, with the question “has it gone too far“?
As well as Instagram models posing behind the decks, “influencer DJs” are tirelessly promoting themselves on social media. While old-timers, such as (in)famous DJ Pastis, are clearly mixing skillfully on their uploaded videos, this isn’t always the case with newcomers.
As some memes point out, today’s “DJ toolkit” is a mixer with auto sync, a USB drive with a pre-recorded set, and an OnlyFans account.
One female DJ, La Bittoaj, who is living in La Alpujarra, said: “I was asked by one promoter how many followers I have. It shouldn’t matter.”
She adds: “DJing is a profession – not just something to do to get a profile. I used to practise with vinyl on decks until my hands hurt. In every field, there are those who came to do the work and those who came for attention. A smart audience knows the difference between an artist and a DJ influencer.”
“If you put influencer DJs on for an hour, you’ll soon see who can really play.”
Laura, co-founder of the London-based Syck Talent high-end DJ agency, that can deploy DJs worldwide, says: “We have female DJs who are beautiful, but they also must have all the required technical skills.”
Fortunately, for those living in Andalucia – who want an authentic rave without influencer DJs or excessive phone usage – these events do exist. There’s a thriving free party scene. This is closer in approach to the 90s rave roots than you might imagine.
Throwback to the 90s rave scene
Just as free parties held today are organic and collaborative, the 90s rave scene was born of inspiration and rebellion.
When DJs Danny Rampling, Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway, and Johnny Walker visited Ibiza in 1987, they took the music and vibe home to the UK, and replicated it at Shoom in London. The “acid house” parties soon spread across the country, in the form of illegal raves.
Held in warehouses and fields, the raves provided an escape from Thatcherite policies and social unrest. Promoters such as Spiral Tribe and DIY emphasised a communal approach. People travelled round the London orbital motorways seeking the party, sometimes in convoys, after calling a clandestine phone line. There was a genuine energy and excitement at the time – of people coming together.
Until commercial promoters and nightclubs took over the scene, it was based around free parties held by collectives/crews, guests from all social backgrounds dancing together, and DJs who concentrated on their Technics, not their appearance. Even though the “halcyon days” were considered 1987-1992, anyone who raved in the 90s (or 2000s) is unlikely to forget the decade/s.
In that era, mobile phones weren’t invented and people didn’t overly worry about their appearance – music was the key. Genres including breakbeat, jungle, techno, and happy hardcore emerged from this scene – and exist today.
Spreading through Europe – parallel scenes of VIP culture and free parties
The UK rave scene sparked a cultural movement that would mushroom throughout Europe.
While the “White Island” of Ibiza started the scene, the vibe there eventually changed. It increasingly turned commercial, glam, and expensive. Post-Covid, an expensive VIP culture took hold. This is heavily marketed via social media, pricing out many revellers. Entry to a club can cost 70 euros and a bottle of water a whopping 14 euros.
Meanwhile, a parallel grassroots scene exists in southern Spain and Portugal. It was originally driven by the New Age traveller community, which started settling in these countries during the 1990s. This especially occurred after the UK Criminal Justice and Public Order Act was introduced in 1994, making gatherings featuring “music with a repetitive beat” illegal in Britain.
This movement retained (and still does) the ethos of the UK’s early raves, offering free parties where people participate without anyone being “the boss”. This is a huge contrast to the roped-in VIP sections at Ibiza clubs where big name DJs are paid a fortune to play.’
Dragon days…
One of the most (in)famous free parties that took place in southern Spain was the Dragon Festival, held in Cigarrones, near Orgiva, from 1997 before the authorities took exception to the annual event, and stopped it in 2009, with hefty fines of some “landowners” involved.
Ironically, during New Years 2023, a multi-day rave at La Peza, near Guadix, hit the international news after the mayor said he wouldn’t mind holding it again – it had been good for the town’s economy.
Raves from the huge to the intimate can be found in the Andalucian countryside. The DJs sometimes play vinyl, as well as using digital formats. The focus is always on collective enjoyment, not individuals gaining recognition for themselves.
What will you hear at these parties?
The free parties in southern Spain have a variety of sounds.
By the late 1990s, breakbeat had carved a niche, particularly in Andalucia. Local DJs and producers embraced the genre, fusing it with the region’s own music. Málaga became a hub for breakbeat, with clubs playing the genre. It was also taken up by DJs on the free party scene, accompanying jungle, drum and bass, and techno.
These days, many of the free raves are organised by the offspring of the original New Age travellers, who have built their own sound systems and followings. The second-generation crews tend to play techno, drum and bass, and dub/reggae.
The parties, sometimes featuring marquees, dress themes, sequins, dance troupes, and fire jugglers, are spaces where people can dance safely until dawn. Sometimes, tunes from the 90s are played, thrilling the older ravers who remember them from “back in the day”….
DJ tales from La Alpujarra
Rising drum and bass DJ – DEZ-R
DEZ-R is 26 and lives in Órgiva, He started DJ-ing around two years ago.
He says: “Growing up around music and festivals made me love music and want to DJ. My parents influenced my musical taste, while my love for breakbeat probably came from Spanish friends.”
“I play jungle, drum & bass, garage, and breakbeat using a S2 MK3 Traktor. It’s a great beginners’ controller, with two channels, and I’m upscaling to one with four channels soon. My Sennheiser headphones are specialised for drum & bass, as you can hear the bass sounds well.”
“I mainly play in the underground scene – at free parties in the south of Spain and Portugal for festivals. I played a one-off jungle night in Thailand when I was travelling. Recently I’ve played local venues and events, including the ‘feria’ in my hometown of Órgiva.”
“My most memorable event was a Halloween party in Malaga, playing to over 300 people, wearing spooky gear, in a giant warehouse.”
“My top tip for beginner DJs if that if you ever mess up the mix, or load a track into the wrong channel, blaming the sound engineer or a cable always works for me, haha!”
“Using digital has made it easier and more advanced and allows DJs to do more with their mixes. Just remember to buy some WAV files for better sound quality and support your favourite artists, as the digital era and decline in record sales has made it harder for them to earn money.”
“If you want to learn to DJ, reach out to a friend for the basics and then it’s about how many hours you devote to your new skill.”
Young DJ – Tunenista
Tunenista lives in Lanjarón.
He says: “I first started DJing about seven years ago on my mum’s iPod, listening to her favourite music. At age 10 or 11, I played my first set at a local birthday party and that’s where it all started. Over time, I started to get better kit and dive into different genres like jungle, reggae, house, etc.”
“I was first influenced by Groove Armada, Prodigy, General Levy, the Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim. Now, I play drum & bass, UK garage, and house music. I mainly play at local parties and events in the area. But I have also played at Glastonbury Festival and Shambala.”
“My setup is the DDJFLX4 controller and my laptop running Serato. In future, I would like to learn how to use CDJS so I’m flexible to play at bigger parties.”
“My highlights of DJing so far have been Glastonbury Festival and playing at a local new year’s party packed full of people.”
“My opinion on the digital/vinyl debate is that vinly was being played over 20 years ago and you needed a massive skill set to mix with it. You had to carry your decks to the party and all your records. Music has moved on to the digital world and it’s crazy that you can literally carry a USB stick and play anywhere! It’s also fun to mess around with vinyl with your friends playing some old bangers.”
Check out his Spotify.
Recently arrived DJ – Tali Sella – La Bittoaj
“I live in Órgiva. I’ve been DJ-ing since I was 17 and am now 44. I started learning music at age five. When I was 14, my first boyfriend had a bunch of synthesizers and drum machines, which was my entry into electronic music.”
“At 17, a friend taught me how to DJ with turntables. I practiced every day until I reached could play four turntables at once. My musical influences go beyond electronic music. I love psychedelic rock, shoegaze, 50s music, and San Remo.”
“Currently, I play indie dance. Recently, I’ve played around Órgiva, on the beach in La Cuchra, in Amsterdam, and several clubs in Tel Aviv. I love playing vinyl but couldn’t bring my entire collection to Spain, so I play with whatever’s available in the club,but I do need a full CDJ setup.”
“I’ve had many great moments, but playing in Moscow at the Jet set was exciting, as was the famous Paradiso Club in Goa, India.”
“My advice to anyone who wants to DJ is don’t rely on machines, don’t take shortcuts, practice, and perfect their technique to the max. Study music, sound, and production, because creating your own sound will truly advance you.”