I’m putting together a party series for the summer for a dancefloor of about 20-50 people. I’m booking DJs and challenging them to help me define “Calearic” – or Balearic with a SoCal twist.
As has been discussed here on this forum, Balearic can be hard to pin down. It was “whatever DJ Alfredo played.”
I personally love the definition of Balearic in “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life,” but when I shared it with the DJs they were flummoxed by it – it describes the spirit, but it wasn’t as helpful in aligning the DJ crew to the event I’m putting together. So I put together something that I hoped would help all of the DJs better align to a sound:
Would love to have this group’s input and thoughts on it.
I love Balearic, but I think one potential flaw with it in a modern context is that we’re a long way removed from 1985 Ibiza, and I think nostalgia is a dangerous drug that doesn’t work for the younger folks I’d like to attract. One of the truths of what made Alfredo so brilliant is that the tracks he selected were right for his specific context. If we’re throwing a party in 2025, the context is different, and the spirit of Balearic should therefore still apply: the right tune that serves the dancefloor in this specific time and location and moment.
That’s so weird - I’d been thinking about doing a thread on the Pacific’s slant on Balearic - Vancouver (Mood Hut, Pacific Coliseum etc), and going right down the coast (Dream Chimney, Sentral, Pacific Horizons etc).
There’s the famous line from Barefoot in the Hand « I put a seashell to my ear » and I’d been thinking that on the Pacific coast it would be « I put a piece of driftwood to my ear » - as driftwood defines that whole coast.
Anyway, enjoy the parties. They sound like fun! Great idea.
I apologise profusely for sharing something that was released on my label but this very much feels like it should fit the bill. Cole is SF based and this record was imbued with big Cali energy: Guitars, wistful, folky psychedelia and star gazey vocals.
I wish I’d thought of “Calearic”, I 100% would have used that in my PR!
No apology needed. I’m giving this a listen now and it totally feels like a fit. It’s really helpful to have examples and the words to describe them. Thank you!
The PNW version of this sounds really good. I like that driftwood line. There’s nothing more glorious than summer in the Seattle area… the season is so short, I feel like there’s a certain manic energy that needs to infuse your version of it. You know how people like to wear short shorts and tank tops when the first 60-degree sunny day arrives in Seattle? Like that – a desire to undress that’s so strong that the cabin-fevered animals can’t be stopped, even if the weather isn’t yet balmy and truly warm.
Hahah, I quoted that line to the DJs I’m booking, and that wasn’t enough for them to get it. =) Probably most pop music sounds good on pills, TBH. That’s too low a bar, especially when the pills are very good.
Also, overthinking is what I do best. =)
Trying to modernize a genre as nebulous and GOATed as Balearic is also a big task, so the more we can articulate the idea, the more successful I think we have a chance of being.
His name is Calvin from K Records. Was apparently on a Modest Mouse and a Beck album. Does bootleg tapes of garage rock that are apparently incredible. Supposedly he’s a bit odd.
Always liked this one, remember going into Vinyl Revival in Manchester about 20 years ago and it was playing, asked the guy working there what the hell it was and if I could buy it, it was his own personal copy so he wasn’t having it.
Not very Balearic tho, but is it Calearic…(probably not)
They release stuff right across the board - from Bill Converse (mid-west, not Cal, but hey, so was Arthur Russell) to Patrick Cowley (definitely fits your bill I think) - to Gina X.
