Following Solomun‘s opening the brand new Pacha Brooklyn, we caught Solomun +1 with Idris Elba in Ibiza. Yes, Elba is one of the world’s most recognizable actors, and Solomun remains one of electronic music’s most influential figures, but what made the night memorable was the sense of connection that radiated through the room. Their back-to-back set felt more like a conversation between two people who genuinely share a love of music and the communities it creates.
What surprised me most was Elba’s musical approach. Going in, I expected something accessible and crowd-pleasing, perhaps leaning into his profile as a crossover figure. Instead, he went deep. Really deep. His selections were darker, tougher and more underground than many people probably anticipated. There were long hypnotic stretches, rolling percussion and driving basslines that felt designed for dancing. The deeper he ventured, the more the crowd followed. By the time the energy intensified, the room felt completely locked in, rooted in the kind of dance music culture that rewards commitment.
For anyone still viewing Elba primarily through the lens of his acting career, the set served as a reminder that his relationship with music runs far deeper and longer. That approach also made his chemistry with Solomun particularly effective; the two seemed to understand instinctively how to guide the room together. There was a natural flow between their selections that felt organic. Both have a reputation for authenticity that resonates with audiences. Neither has built a community around an aesthetic. Instead, they’ve built one around trust, and that distinction feels increasingly important.
Solomun’s +1 residency has become one of Ibiza’s most enduring institutions because it has always been about bringing people together through shared musical experiences. The reason why I have been thinking a lot about community is because dancing shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for a select few; it should be a universal freedom, people should have the right to come together, move freely and find connection through music. Whether in Ibiza, Montreal, or São Paulo, Solomun has given us a sense of validation: we can dance, and, as a club culture community, we become a symbol of resistance and self-expression at times.
As human interaction increasingly shifts online, spaces that allow people to gather physically, like Pacha, feel more valuable than ever. For many people, particularly younger generations, a genuine connection can be surprisingly difficult to find. The dance floor remains one of the few places where strangers can share emotion, energy, and experience without needing an introduction, or you can connect with yourself. Music creates a common language. That was ultimately the lasting impression of Solomun and Idris Elba’s night at Pacha. Beyond the technical skill, beyond the status of the names, the evening served as a reminder that club culture at its best is about people. Communities are not built overnight, and they cannot be manufactured, and perhaps that is why Solomun has had his residency going on fourteen years. He plays to the audience that makes up that night, building a connection that, for a few hours in Ibiza, was impossible to miss.
Check out the rest of the line-ups for Solomun +1 this season at Pacha Ibiza:
05.07 – Skrillex
12.07 – Jamie xx
19.07 – Peggy Gou
26.07 – Anyma
02.08 – Dixon
09.08 – Solomun All Night Long
16.08 – DJ Gigola
23.08 – Max Styler
30.08 – Barry Can’t Swim
06.09 – Solomun All Night Long
13.09 – DESIREE
20.09 – KETTAMA
27.09 – Âme DJ
04.10 – Solomun All Night Long closing
