Contributing Writer
Alex Gold, a pioneer of the Balearic sound and a fixture in Ibiza’s legendary electronic music scene, is back with a renewed vision for Xtravaganza Recordings. With a career spanning over three decades, Gold has witnessed the evolution of electronic music from its early days to its current global dominance. In this exclusive interview, he takes us on a journey from the sun-soaked beaches of Ibiza to the emerging hotspot of Tulum, offering insights into his musical inspirations, the relaunch of Xtravaganza, and his perspective on the ever-changing landscape of electronic music. As Gold continues to shape the industry with his ethereal sounds and gut-driven approach, he proves that true passion for music never fades – it only evolves.
Hi Alex, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with Music Is 4 Lovers today. Congrats on your latest releases, “Eternal” and “A Trip To Tulum,” both are mega tunes!
Your return to Xtravaganza Recordings in 2024 seems like a big moment. What inspired you to re-ignite the label, and what can fans expect from this new phase?
It just felt like a good time to get back in. We never really went away but sometimes you need to go quiet, regroup, and come up with a new interpretation of your sound.
I’m certainly really excited about what I’m doing right now (and the wider electronic music output) and there are loads more tracks in the works from this camp.
Finding the right teams to work with in this “now not so new” digital space also took me a long time. Being from the old-school way of doing things, one needs to grasp the mechanisms. There’s so much more to it than just good music, so it took me a minute to figure things out.
Having been a part of the Ibiza scene since its early days, how do you see the evolution of electronic music there, and what makes Tulum stand out as a new hotspot for electronic music?
The original Ibiza feeling lives with me every day of my life. I’m fortunate to have held sold-out headline residencies in iconic clubs such as Privilege and Space. And to have had those early Virgin experiences way back in the late 80s as just a college kid.
I think Tulum has a wonderful virgin feel about it which is reminiscent of the original Balearic Ibiza feeling. Ibiza is, and always will be, No. 1 but it’s really cool to have Tulum in the opposite season.
You’ve been known for your residency at major Ibiza clubs and your influence on the Balearic sound. Has your sound and style evolved at all, if so, how? What elements can we expect to see in your DJ sets today?
Yeah! It’s a hard thing to describe in words but you can expect some very ethereal moments. I think the common Balearic thread always runs through everything I do musically. I think my sound has certainly matured but it remains always faithful to the Balearic feeling!
As a DJ and producer, how do you navigate the ever-changing landscape of electronic music genres and trends while staying true to your signature sound?
I just always go with my gut feeling and what sounds right. I’m always so excited to hear a hot new track. I’m never fazed, always on the search for hot new quality ethereal and emotive music and I have an insatiable thirst for it.
The more quality music I can consume the better. This may include many of the sub-genres of Electronic Music all at the same time.
When I’m curating my radio show The Xtravaganza Mix(which is broadcast in Ibiza every Thursday night) and my Spotify playlist (Alex Gold Selects), I try to go multi-genre within the electronic music space whilst remaining true to my original sound.
How do you typically prepare for a DJ set? Are there any rituals or routines you follow before hitting the stage?
Depending on what kind of show I’m going to be playing, I would prepare a set according to the time of the slot. So if it’s a festival set of only 1 hour, for example, I would tune the set to first go up, get busy, then go deep and come out the other side nice and fluffy. This would normally also be the case with my 1-hour mix radio show.
If the slot I was playing was an extended 3-hour set, then I would program accordingly to take the venue on a long trip through several barriers and genres. This is the style I was known for during my Ibiza residencies. Preparation is everything.
What artist or artists inspired you to make a career in the music industry? Who are your current inspirations today? By extension, are there any rising artists that you’ve been following that you think really have “it”?
Gosh, I have so many inspirational artists I love from back in the day, and way too many to get into. But I think Tangerine Dream was a great influence on me in particular their work on the Risky Business Movie soundtrack. Also, Trevor Horn was notorious in the 80s for his early “midi” and synth production. Both of these were a major influence on me.
It could be that Xtravaganza was also a great influence on the scene we know today having released the very first track of Armin Van Buuren. A track entitled “Blue Fear”.
In modern-day terms, I think the leading Electronic Music act for me currently is Kasablanca. They are an excellent and very consistent synth band with emotive vocals and strong songwriting ability. Talking about one like today.
On the DJ producer artist side, I really like artists such as Genix, Dosem, Darren Tate, and Simon Doty. They all understand the Balearic and ethereal sound and Genix in particular keeps that fire burning very well. Dosem is actually Spanish I believe and he captures the spirit of the Iberian peninsula pretty much on everything he records. Simon Doty is Canadian but very well-educated in house music production values and pretty much everything he does just hits the spot. Darren Tate is a musical and classically trained genius whose work I admire and in particular his latest collaboration with Solarstone. These artists all record for Anjunabeats which is of course Above & Beyond’s label.
There’s a very famous story right there actually as Above & Beyond, who is now a stadium act, nearly signed to Xtravaganza back in 2001. I saw it then, and I absolutely see it now. These guys are a huge musical talent worthy of the place they hold in the upper echelons of Electronic Music Royalty.
Right now I also really like what Sasha is doing on his label Last Night On Earth. In particular, his latest track (at the time of writing) “Glastacy.” I’m also really liking what Adam Ten and Mita Gami are doing on the underground scene in LA. They run some amazing events and are fantastic DJs and producers! In 2024, I heard Adam Playing a floor-destroying remix of the classic track from Snap “I’ve Got The Power” in his sets. I’m sure this will no doubt surface sometime soon.
What advice would you give to aspiring producers and DJs who are looking to make an impact in today’s rather competitive industry?
Firstly, find a sound that you’re happy with. Stick with what you personally believe in even if it goes against the grain. And don’t be swayed by musical trends or what the pack is saying. Be individual and produce your music with conviction. And develop a thick skin. People will always tell you NO. They will always tell you that you’re no good. But it’s important to believe in yourself, you will always go higher in this case!