I'd never been to Privilege on a Monday, however being a regular on the disco bus, I'd seen the slightly bedraggled and very colourful crowds flock on from the San Rafael super-club more than a few times. Last night however it was my turn to head to the world's biggest club, dressed in my very worst whites, to curb my curiosity and and get messy at the Neon Splash Paint-Party.
A well known EDM party on the European scene, it's now brought its 3D glasses - all will be explained - and plenty of paint to the home of all parties, Ibiza. When me and my master in crime arrived, Dutch house DJ giant Fedde Le Grand was up on the decks, playing a mix of chart toppers and commercial house, whilst paint and gold streamers covered the crowds. Bikini clad girls - neon bikinis of course - pranced and posed on stage, wielding gun cannons and spraying the eager crowds. The highlight of Grand's set had to be his remix of the new smash from the King of Pop and his successor, Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake, with Love Never Felt So Good, the groovy melodies and slick vocals ensuring everyone in the room was on their feet.
Now if covering your mates in paint sounds like fun to you (and why wouldn't it?!) then you're in luck, because at this party paint throwing isn't just saved for the dancers on stage. A large paint stall at the side of the room was busy doing business arming everyone with bottles of the colourful stuff. With my choice of ammo at the ready - pink and blue if you were wondering - I got busy transforming my companion into some sort of Barbie/Smurf hybrid, and she of course returned the favour. Once we were suitably drenched, we did what any other sane person would do and hunted the cleanest revellers cowering in the corners to cover them too.
Now to elaborate on the 3D glasses - remember them - well if you thought gallons of paint, an array of EDM classics and the biggest club in the world were enough to make a party special, the people behind Neon Splash Paint-Party would have to disagree. No, they've gone and thrown another element into the mix, 3D graphics. Not exactly a club known for scrimping on production, Privilege have outdone even their own flashy standards with this night, providing everyone with 3D glasses on entry and displaying graphics on the large screens that literally join you on the dance floor.
Following Fedde was Deorro, who kicked off with his new release READY! with MAKJ. If big electro build ups and bouncy beats are your bag, then this EDM banger will be right up your street and, even better, the pair have kindly made this available as a free download. Other tracks dropped by the American producer included Samual James' Mega and Justin Vs Simian's We Are Your Friends, making for an energetic set that had every paint covered party-goer jumping.
Mysterious duo Twoloud were up next, and while little is known about the pair other than the fact they're signed to Tiesto's Musical Freedom Label, I can confirm that they can hold their own on the decks of a super-club, keeping up the dance-heavy vibes with hits like Icona Pop's I Love It and Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais. They also gave us a taste of their producing skills, playing their 2013 track Big Bang, and with it's shuffling bass-line and frantic build ups it certainly went down well with the crowd.
Once we'd finally exhausted our energy and paint supplies, we called it quits and headed for the disco bus, where I was for once on the other end of the strange looks from the other party-goers, but more fool them! Yes, you may not look your best at the end of the night, you probably won't pull, and you're going to have to push laundry day forward, but go to Neon Splash Paint-Party and I can guarantee you'll have fun.
WORDS | Joanna Wright PHOTOGRAPHY | Neon Splash
