Ahead of Melon Bomb Records’ launch on May 23, we had a chat with the Ibiza-based collective about their transition from DJ crew to label heads, their evolving sound, and their vision for the future.
Curating and programming nights in Ibiza, a destination revered for its discerning musical tastes and dancefloor, connoisseurs require more than just good track selections. It demands an instinctive understanding of rhythm, energy, and the intangible magic that transforms a party into a legend.
For Melon Bomb, the collective formed by Scott Gray, Paul Reynolds, Ben Santiago, and Corbi, this challenge has been met with a decade of unwavering dedication, sharp curation, and an almost telepathic connection to the island’s pulse. What began as a passion project has evolved into a defining force in Ibiza’s nightlife, with their residencies at Pikes and appearances at Hï Ibiza’s Wild Corner for Glitterbox solidifying their reputation as masters of both intimate, sweat-drenched grooves and large-scale, euphoric moments.
Now, as they celebrate their 10th anniversary, Melon Bomb is stepping into a new era with the launch of their own imprint, Melon Bomb Records. The label is a natural progression for a group that has spent years not just playing music, but shaping the very fabric of Ibiza’s underground scene.
The debut release, a two-track EP featuring the sun-drenched ‘Sunshine’ and the deeper, late-night vibes of ‘Underground,’ serves as both a tribute to the island that shaped them and a statement of intent for the future. Landing just as Ibiza shakes off its winter calm and erupts into another summer of hedonism, the timing couldn’t be more perfect, syncing with the International Music Summit and the season’s opening parties, where Melon Bomb will once again take center stage.
Alongside this significant label launch, Melon Bomb is diving into a fresh series of residencies for 2025. They will be making a welcome return to their cherished “spiritual home” at Pikes and are also poised to kick off the season with a high-profile set at the Hï Ibiza opening party.
This confluence of milestones – a decade of influential DJing, the birth of a record label, and a new season of anticipated performances – offered a perfect opportunity to delve deeper into the journey of Melon Bomb, exploring the genesis of their label, their distinctive DJing style, and their aspirations for the future.
TFword: Reflecting on 10 years of Melon Bomb, how would you describe the evolution of your sound and your place in Ibiza’s nightlife?
Melon Bomb: We started off as a small party in Pikes, of just friends wanting to hear and play great music. Since then, it has grown over the years to something we could only have dreamed of back when we started! Our music has grown with us over the past 10 years, always great house music but with great energy and nothing ever too serious! We like digging for those tracks that keep the fun on the dance floor but people might not have heard before.
TF: What have been some of the most defining moments for the collective over the past decade?
Melon Bomb: We have had some incredible parties and bookings over the years, from iconic clubs such as Space, Hi Ibiza to the beach party in our second year getting shut down because so many people had turned up (that’s when we thought we might be onto something special), right through to bookings at Glastonbury and incredible festivals such as Suncebeat and Defected in Croatia and Malta. There are so many incredible memories.
TF: Your connection with Ibiza, especially with places like Pikes and Glitterbox at Hï Ibiza, feels deeply rooted. What is it about the island that continues to inspire you?
Melon Bomb: Ibiza has a pure magic running through it; everywhere you turn, it has music running through its veins and all the people here are here for the same reason. You can draw so much inspiration from all corners of Ibiza, whether it be in a club or in its beautiful nature or listening to a local band; there is so much inspiration here.
TF: You’ve described your music as immersive and soul-stirring. How do you translate those abstract ideas into actual sounds?
Melon Bomb: We know what we like and we think we know what the punters will like. When you come up with the right ideas, you can just feel if it’s going to work or not straight away. And collectively, we have to agree that it has the right vibe for a Melon Bomb track.
TF: What inspired the decision to start your own label now, in your 10th anniversary year?
Melon Bomb: It was a combination of things. We’ve long talked about doing it as it’s a great way to put our own music out with short lead times. A lot of the labels we’d like to release on are so stacked that it can be well over 6 months before they can put it out, meaning we may miss the summer season. Plus, we’ve recently taken on management, and they were really supportive of the idea and helped make it happen.
TF: How does the label reflect the ethos of Melon Bomb as a collective?
Melon Bomb: Well, it’s a bit early to say as we’ve only released one EP so far! But we fully intend to use the label not only as a vehicle for our own music but to widen our collective to include our peers who have played for us over the years, especially at our Pikes events.
TF: ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Underground’ feel like a love letter to Ibiza. Was the EP intentionally crafted to capture different sides of the island’s energy?
Melon Bomb: Both tracks explore both sides of what Melon Bomb would put into a set, from the uplifting sounds of Sunshine to the deeper grooves of Underground. We like to keep the sets and the dance floor interesting.
TF: Will the label focus solely on your own productions, or can we expect collaborations and signings from other artists?
Melon Bomb: To start with, we will concentrate on our own music to build the label, then start to collaborate and release tracks from our friends and guests who have played a focus over the year and have contributed to our sound and our parties.
TF: How would you define the “Melon Bomb sound” you want the label to represent?
Melon Bomb: The Melon Bomb sound is just great house music, and we want that to come through with the label. Music that will still stand up in 10 years time.
TF: Will the label explore different genres, or is there a specific sonic direction you’re committed to?
Melon Bomb: At the moment, we will stick with the house music vibe as this is where we are right now while we are growing the brand and the label but who knows, in the future, we could release more diverse sounds but only once the brand has solidified its name.
TF: How do you see the label evolving over the next few years; any long-term goal?
Melon Bomb: We have always been about things growing organically in Melon Bomb. We just want to release the music we love and hope everyone else enjoys it as well.
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