Andy Baxter will be in Cape Town, South Africa playing some fresh day tunes at the New Year’s Day party at The Grand Cafe & Beach, 1 January 2012. We catch up with him via online channels to pick his brain about his favourite tunes, spotting young talent, his eclectic music taste and his favourite Ibiza memory…

You are known for mixing a variety of genres in your sets. How do you balance this and manage to sound fresh and original?

The thing is, I like – no, sorry, LOVE – so many different types of music, keeping on top of everything is impossible… otherwise I’d be a possessive junkie spending my very last cent on music! I just do what I can with the time I have, checking out as much new music online as I can, online and from different record shops. I admire guys like Gilles Peterson – he is constantly up to date with new, great music… he is an inspiration to me.

Describe for us a session at ‘We Love… Sundays at Space.’

Playing for We Love… is a totally different experience for me, as the musical outlook is very different to Pacha. It’s a younger, more festival-style of crowd. I dig around for more electronic, eclectic and Detroit influenced sounds to suit the flavour of the party.

How different are those parties to your weekly residency at El Chiringuito?

El Chiringuito is my weekly retreat from the hustle and bustle of disco business! It is simply amazing, and has grown to be my favourite restaurant over the past few summers. Here I can get into a beach style frame of mind, browsing through an endless supply of across-the-board beats. Oh… and did I mention there’s a guy slicing the finest Iberico ham right beside the DJ booth every Sunday? Mmm…

The Fix with Andy Baxter on Ibiza Sonica 2011 by andybaxter

What are some of the things you look for when scouting for new talent?

The first thing, if I can visually see the talent, is that person’s charisma when playing music and then their sounds. It is always nice to be surprised when listening to their sound, for variation, originality and depth of musical knowledge.

Regarding your propensity for genre mixing, what can we be expected to be treated to at the New Year’s Day party at The Grand Cafe & Beach?

Expect groovy rhythms, tribal beats, warpy bass and a few classics thrown in to remind us why we love house music.

Your most recent and favourite Ibiza story?

My memory is a bit hazy whenever I am asked this question – I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad! But here is one of the most recent: two weeks ago I held my monthly Pachatronica party with some of my closest friends DJing with me. After an amazing party wrapped up at around 6am, we heard there was another party still going on at the infamous Underground club. We drank, we laughed, we danced, we vomited, and at the end of the day we were all playing records in the glistening sun, enjoying the fact we are ‘gente de Ibiza’.

Top of your personal playlist this week?

Wow, there you go again with the tough ones, This week I’m torn between a brand new Guti track called BAM, which is about to be released on SAW, and the awesome Touch You Gently by Art Department which is also due out in January on the brilliant Crosstown Rebels record label.

Just in case a fan would like to say thanks for the set that will surely be rocking, what is your favourite drink at the bar?

Without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite drink – and I do have a term for this beverage as the drink of the gods – dark rum and coke, preferably Havana… but I’m not fussy!