In a rare and candid keynote with Pete Tong at IMS Ibiza, Martín Ferrer Vega, son of Amnesia founder Martin Ferrer and now the club’s managing director, opened up about legacy, identity, and what it means to keep one of Ibiza’s last truly independent institutions alive in the era of corporatised clubbing.
“I’ve been on the dancefloor. I’ve taken the drugs. I’ve DJed the gigs. I’m not looking in from the outside,” Ferrer said early in the conversation, staking his position not just as a business owner, but as a true clubber turned custodian. “I learned from my father, yes – but I added my own feeling.”
A Heritage of Risk and Rebellion
From launching Cocoon with Sven Väth in the ’90s, when people said techno on a Monday would never work – to birthing the edgier Pyramid in more recent years, Ferrer has long leaned into risk. “Sometimes it works. Sometimes it’s a disaster,” he admitted. “Last year I brought Caribou live and only a thousand people came. But I was on the dancefloor like anyone else. That’s all I could do.”
That underground ethos is something Ferrer fiercely protects. “We’re not here to just book the biggest names. We’re here to create experiences. We’re not putting screens everywhere. It’s about music, sound, and vibe.”
On Sound, Neighbours & the Spirit of Resistance
That last word – vibe – isn’t just lip service. After noise complaints threatened Amnesia’s operational license, the club invested in a new soundproofed ceiling and upgraded the system with legendary engineers from Integral Sound and Sonic Lab Audio, whose credits include Coachella and Twilo. “We’ve doubled the power. The terrace still feels like the terrace, but now it hits.”
While competition from corporate-backed mega-venues across the road looms large, Ferrer isn’t interested in playing their game. “We can’t outspend them, but we can out-feel them,” he said. “We market through our identity. That’s what we have left.”
Boiler Room, Boilerplates & What Comes Next
Despite the challenges, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year. Amnesia secured a full-season residency with Boiler Room, marking a powerful alignment of underground credibility and global visibility. “It just fits,” Ferrer shrugged. “Ask them why they chose us – but I think they get it.”
He also highlighted new bookings like Homoblock, showcasing live acts such as Stereo MCs, and legendary returns from artists like Asher ‘Groove’ Giacone. “Every year, I need to try something once or twice that’s not obvious,” he said. “That’s the only way the island evolves.”
On Legacy, Alfredo, and the Loss of Soul
The conversation turned reflective as Pete Tong brought up the late DJ Alfredo, credited with pioneering the Balearic sound. “He played when no one else wanted to. From reggae to house to weird stuff – he didn’t care. That spirit is what we’re missing,” Ferrer said. “Nowadays, people are influenced by influencers. Not their ears.”
As one of the last family-run Spanish businesses in Ibiza’s nightlife, Ferrer sees independence as both privilege and pressure. “Yes, we’ve had offers. Yes, it’s tempting. But I still believe we can do this our way – until someone offers us so much money that it doesn’t make sense to say no,” he grinned.
The Takeaway? Less Eyes. More Ears.
In a world chasing clout, Martín Ferrer Vega makes a case for deeper connection. “Back in the day, people came for the music. Now, it’s about brands. That’s dangerous,” he warned. “We need less Instagram. More instinct.”
His vision for Amnesia? Simple. “A place for great parties – not just great lineups. A space where people can come and feel something real.”
Because in the end, as Ferrer says, “We don’t owe anyone anything. But we owe everything to the dancefloor.”