Anna Tur is a full-blooded Ibicencan woman and a descendant of one of the pioneers of radio in Ibiza, Joan Tur, and Maribel, a good old-fashioned radio journalist. Holder of a degree in advertising and public relations and an M.A in marketing management, she took up the reins at Ibiza Global Radio in 2006, propelling the broadcasting station to the point where it has become an international point of reference in promoting and enjoying the best electronic music. It is now no. 21 in the ranking of online radio stations worldwide and has been given a number of different awards over the course of all those years.
Being the restless person she is, one and a half years ago she decided to indulge the curiosity she felt and set out to conquer the booths encouraged by friends and fellow DJs, thus revealing a new side to her. This last year she has been able to develop this aspect of herself at different residences in Ibiza, gigs in Europe and highlighting as a guest on the Burn Studios where she was able to practice and attend several master classes from artists such as Richie Hawtin and Sasha, and especially, in the recent EMI “She can Dj” contest where, after beating more than 180 candidates, she achieved an impressive second place.
Anna receives us in the colourful studios of Ibiza Global Radio, the ideal background to tell us about this sweet moment for her and her future projects.
A chip off the old block…radio has been in your blood ever since you were tiny
Let’s say that some people had a dad who was a doctor and they played at giving out prescriptions and I used to play with Revox.
You’ve been at Ibiza Global radio for many years, in what phase is the radio station now?
The radio station has been going for eight years of which I’ve been in charge for six. There will probably be a change of cycle soon starting by relocating the facilities so that we are able to adapt to everything that is coming, to the great impact the station is currently having at this time and to develop projects such as the studio, the record label, the booking agency where we will also look after talents from Ibiza, promote artists and do some other things.
Your career as a DJ is also experiencing a meteoric rise
One and a half years ago, in June 2011, I debuted in Space with Camilo Franco. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity because clubs such as Space, Amnesia or Pacha are the dream of every DJ or producer. Recently I entered the EMI Music “She can Dj” contest which even stirred up a bit of a controversy because maybe it went a bit against the principles of what I defend as a radio station on account of being “mainstream”. First of all, I consider myself to be a novice DJ, regardless of the fact that I’m also managing director of a radio station, and without a doubt it represented a great opportunity. I decided to present myself with my head held high to defend the sound of the island, competing with girls from all musical styles – a total of 180 – from whom they selected 10 and in the final I came second. This summer has been especially rewarding with my residences at Lío and Ocean Beach Club as part of the vintage festivals, at Sushi Point, Bubbles, B.for and Km5…I learned a lot and got to know the different environments in which you have to develop a set, whether it’s in a big club such as Pacha or Space or in Lío too where you come across a less experienced audience and where you have to develop what you know of psychology and ask yourself: what do these people want?
Does all this mean that you are going to devote yourself to playing professionally?
Currently I have a number of fans who are asking me for sessions, via social networks they ask me where my next set is and when I’m going to play, even outside Ibiza, some come to see me, to say hello to me in the booth and express their appreciation. This sort of thing makes me keep working and I am completely serious about this, I saw a very important and interesting opportunity and I’m going for it. This profession fills me with a great deal of modesty and respect; I would never appear before the public without preparing properly. My next challenge is production, I have been talking to Toni and David Moreno who, apart from having helped and taught me lots, are the main ones in charge of the Global label and, since I too am a floater, I sometimes write and I have a couple of lyrics out there that I hope will materialize in a vocal track soon.
How would you define your musical style?
Rebel house, in fact, when I produce my podcasts people say it’s house but it’s a bit rebellious, like me.
You have been playing outside of Spain, how is your calendar looking?
I have been to Croatia, Germany, Romania and Switzerland and right now I’m preparing a tour that will start in January. I may cross the pond as a DJ for the first time for a number of different performances, some of them under the Global label and others as Anna, for example, in Sebastián Gamboa’s “Vintage” parties or with Ibiza Style who are taking me to Austria to an amazing place in the Alps.
And how are you going to reconcile that with your work at Ibiza Global radio?
So far I’ve been able to do it by carrying on a very healthy life even though that might appear to be a lie. Now that I’m beginning to play more it’s necessary to take stock and see how far I can go and what possibilities emerge in the future, but it’s true that at the end of this season I felt that my body had reached its limits after sleeping for a week after an average of four hours a day and having to work hard at eight in the morning in a meeting with a client but also burning the midnight oil getting people to dance at four in the morning.
www.ibizaglobalradio.com
Foto: www.davepoolephotography.com
Annas outfits by Histeric Complements
