People of Ibiza: David Piccioni
The founder of the legendary dance music imprint Azuli Records and Ibiza's beloved Amante and Aiyanna beach clubs muses on a life spent at the cutting edge of the global underground music scene.
'I grew up in Huddersfield, a northern English town where, frankly, I never felt I fully fit in. My dad was Italian, a miner who’d left his homeland to work in England’s pits, and my mum was South African. Their backgrounds were worlds apart, and I felt like I straddled two cultures without fully belonging to either. Dad became an ice cream man after leaving the mines, and I spent three summers helping him. There was something humbling and honest about that job, though as a kid, I didn’t yet appreciate it.
I was a rebellious teen, and at 15, punk rock drew me in. I’d take the train to see The Clash, The Ramones, and other bands, living for those loud, frenetic gigs. Punk made me realize I didn’t have to conform to my small-town reality—I could shape my own life, even as a working-class Northerner. Dance music soon became my new passion. My friends and I would frequent clubs like Gemini in Huddersfield, soaking up the music and the freedom of those nights.
When I went to college in Liverpool, a few friends and I started our own club night called Busting Loose. We rented a local gay club and spun mostly early dance tracks from Black American artists. To our surprise, it was a hit, and soon enough, the club gave us Saturday nights. That club changed me. I knew I’d found my calling.
After college, I wanted to dive into dance music’s epicentre—New York. In 1986, with only $300 in my pocket, I took off. New York was the pulse of house music back then, and I soaked up every beat at places like the legendary Paradise Garage. It wasn’t long before I got my first DJ set in a small club, eventually leading to a Saturday residency at The World. Those days were electrifying. There was a fierce, unstoppable energy to New York back then.
Those days were electrifying. There was a fierce, unstoppable energy to New York back then.
But after five wild years, I returned to London with my now-ex wife. London was a different beast. Unlike New York’s open energy, it was more closed-off and cliquey. I worked at a record shop, then bought it, and eventually launched Azuli Records. We put out hundreds of records, and for 25 years, the shop thrived as a hub for music lovers and producers alike.
By 2007, digital media had upended the record industry, so I took a leap of faith and moved to Ibiza, where I’d long dreamed of transforming a beach venue into something magical. Everyone told me I was mad, but I pressed on, trusting that gut feeling I’d always relied on.
Now, Amante and Aiyanna are recognised among Ibiza’s best beach clubs, but for me, they are more than that. They are the fulfilment of a vision I’ve carried with me from those first club nights in Huddersfield, through New York’s vibrant dance floors, and across decades in the music and hospitality industry. I’ve learned to blend music and hospitality to create experiences that resonate deeply with people. Whether it’s through an extraordinary track or a beautiful moonlit supper on a beach, it’s always about crafting moments people never forget. I may not be a traditional restaurateur, but I’ve found a way to stay true to myself and share my love for unforgettable experiences.'