Photography by Victor Spinelli
One of the things no one ever warns you about when you’re planning an event is that sheer moment of terror, right before the party starts, when you really, truly believe (despite all the positive RSVPs, dinner reservations, OTT promotion and just general faith in one’s own popularity) that no one is going to turn up!
Yes, it happened to Miss W last week, when I arrived at Supperclub Novum Ibiza in broad daylight before it opened for the Lazy Garden Party (presented by White Ibiza) and realised what a giant space it was to fill. Yowzers! All those big, luxuriously set tables and that l-o-n-g row of luxe white day beds – what were we thinking? Did we really know enough people in Ibiza to fill it up? Even Miss Sunny hadn’t arrived yet – had she decided to ditch me too?
Of course, we had called in the experts at Lazy Ibiza – long time party planners and the folk who brought us the truly legendary Dirty Diamonds Villa Parties (back in the day!) – to collaborate, so the responsibility wasn’t all on my not-quite-tanned-enough yet shoulders, but I was so freaked out I instantly had to soothe my nerves with a glass of cava and a quick bout of retail therapy in the swish Kurru Kurru boutique just inside the big gold Supperclub doors.
Because everyone knows a new outfit makes all the difference in the end!
As the beautifully styled Supperclub staff shimmied around in preparation, the first few guests tricked through the door – greeted by gorgeous Supperclub hostess Camilla Tuhuleruw then whisked off to their chosen setting – followed by the next, and some more after that, and even more again. Many familiar faces mingled with new faces, and my anxiety soon became excitement, as I could feel we were in for a pretty special evening.
Photography by Victor Spinelli
As the sky above turned pink – conveniently matching the lighting illuminating the garden terrace – the A-list’s favourite DJ Samir selected track after track of uplifting, positive music, from soul to house classics and was soon joined on stage by Ibiza’s favourite percussionist Shovell and saxophonist Deva. Over dinner (the hugest sushi platter I have ever seen!), Lazy resident Gianluca de Tiberis took the reins, with just the right amount of aplomb… not too loud that you couldn’t enjoy your meal, but loud enough that toes and heads were tapping at every table.
And then… like a vision… the face of Supperclub, Sunny Jansen glided across the terrace, between the daybeds (to the delight of those perched on them – those of us down in the restaurant had to rubberneck to see properly in some parts), singing (ahem) Whitney Houston’s The Greatest Love of All, every inch the diva herself. Bravo sister!
A hard act to follow, yet Assad Phoenix – straight off the plane from Paris – clad in nothing but white body paint and a chalked face (oh, and some teensy tiny little white hotpants!) flexed, twisted and dramatically danced the bolero, up and down the aisle to the sounds of Ravel’s famous Bolero… A standing ovation! I’m sad to say however, he moved so rapidly under the soft lighting that none of my photographs do him justice.
See what I mean? You really had to be there... or go there again to check him out!
From thereon in, we left our tables and mingled under the starry night sky, until it was time to take the party – which had grown yet again inside thanks to a post-dinner influx of guests – inside to the debaucherous surrounds of the Red Room… with DJ Antz at the helm.
Well whaddya know? Turns out we threw quite a party… so good in fact, we’ll be doing it all again on Wednesday July 27! Let’s see if I can do it without the nerves next time!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: I get the feeling that Supperclub is coming into its own in Ibiza now summer is in full swing – did we ever doubt it? The tables were full, the beds were completely booked out (and chock full of glamourpusses might I add) and the shows really seemed to really work in the Supperclub context, just like Amsterdam with the added benefit of being beneath the stars!
THE BAD: Getting people to ditch the cancer sticks – yeah you heard me, CANCER STICKS and by that of course, I mean evil cigarettes – and get inside to dance. Is it really necessary for all you naughty smokers to linger outside for almost two hours once the party had moved inside? I mean really… pop outside for a smoke, but come back in afterwards. It’s just plain rude not to!
THE GOSSIP: While the fabulous Sunny Jansen blew us all away with her ‘rendition’ of Whitney’s biggest hit, there were plenty of folk in the audience who actually believed she was singing! Talk about a talented lip syncher… but we’re still waiting for Sunny’s piece de resistance performance to be unveiled in Ibiza. What are you waiting for Sunny? Our next party is Wednesday July 27… hint hint, nudge nudge!
Sunny or Whitney? You be the judge...
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