My Life in Ibiza: Dancefloor to Deadlines
Ibiza. The White Isle. Known for its stunning natural beauty, bohemian heritage, and those famous ley lines. A place of hedonism and spiritual energy, where the hippy trail meets luxury living.
To some, Ibiza represents simplicity—a return to nature and an escape from the noise of modern life. To others, it’s about excess: five-star villas, VIP tables, and dancing till dawn.
For me? It was something else entirely.
A New Chapter Begins
My relationship with Ibiza wasn’t love at first sight. It wasn’t even love, exactly. It was opportunity.
At the time, I was a journalist and freelance writer living in London, hungry for new stories, warmer weather, and creative energy. Ibiza offered all three—especially during high summer.
So, with nothing but my laptop, a few floaty dresses, and massive ambition, I boarded a plane bound for the island.
Sink or Swim: My First Gig
Unlike most newcomers who arrive to party or unplug, I came to work. And it didn’t take long to land my first assignment—writing for Ibiza Voice, an online publication profiling the island’s cultural tastemakers.
On paper, it was a dream gig. In practice? Far less glamorous.
Night after night, I found myself stone-cold sober in dark nightclubs at 3 a.m., trying to shoot halfway decent photos with an SLR camera I barely knew how to use. Let’s just say there was a lot of faking it till I made it.
Behind the Velvet Rope
There were moments that sparkled: in the DJ booth with Detroit's Carl Craig, Luciano and the Cadenza crew. Interviewing dance legends like Bob Sinclar and Eric Morillo. Photographing David Morales at Pacha, or Mark Ronson with Zane Lowe at Space. Circoloco in the iconic DC10. Sipping cocktails at Carl Cox’s VIP beach bash. There were fashion shows, glamourous cover shoots on yachts, opening parties, closing parties, after parties and after-after parties. It was an amazing insight into another way of life.
But while my friends basked on the beach the next day, I was glued to my laptop, hustling to meet deadlines, write reviews, and pitch the next story.
The hustle was real—but so was the satisfaction. Slowly, the writing portfolio grew, and with it, my confidence.
From Hustle to Hire
By the end of my first summer, I was writing fashion columns, lifestyle pieces, and club reviews for several publications, including Pacha Magazine, which at the time was the island's most proiminent publication. That’s when Ben Turner—editor of the magazine and co-founder of Ibiza's International Music Summit—invited me in for a meeting.
He offered me the role of Assistant Editor for Pacha Magazine the following year.
I jumped at it.
After months of freelance chaos, it felt good to have something stable—plus the opportunity to work on the magazine’s winter issue, which would show me a side of Ibiza most visitors never see.
Island Life, Unplugged
That first winter was a revelation.
The clubs closed. The tourists left. Ibiza slowed down and exhaled. Just 20,000 locals remained, and life became simpler, softer, more real.
I was living rurally near San Lorenzo, in the centre of the island, and loved it. My favourite spot was Martha’s, a family-run garden café serving fresh, on-site vegetarian cuisine. Most days, I could be found camped out at Monkey Bar with a glass of wine, writing articles and soaking up Wi-Fi (which I didn’t have at home). Morning jogs near Atzaró, quiet roads, hidden beaches—it was the Ibiza I came to love most.
Springtime and the Storm
But spring arrived quickly. And with it, the chaos.
Opening parties exploded onto the scene. Beach raves, villa after-parties, 5 a.m. finishes—it was impossible to avoid, even if you weren’t there to party.
My full-time role at Pacha Magazine kicked in, and the workload skyrocketed. Early mornings blurred into late nights. My schedule was relentless: celebrity interviews, venue reviews, editorial meetings, and never-ending deadlines.
Glamour with a Side of Burnout
There were moments of pure magic. Interviewing a surprisingly humble 50 Cent. Spending a day at Carl Smyth’s finca while he worked on new Madness music. Organising a delightfully chaotic photoshoot in his garden.
Then there was the International Music Summit, where I watched filmmaker David Lynch being interviewed via video link by DJ Rob da Bank. I was later asked to write the cover story—a true career milestone and my first ever cover piece.
But behind the scenes, I was running on fumes. The summer was hot, the work intense, and by season’s end, I was completely burnt out.
The Aftermath and the Pivot
When Ben asked me back for another season, the answer was clear.
That lifestyle—however thrilling—wasn’t sustainable. Not for me.
But I’ll always be grateful. That chapter in Ibiza shaped me profoundly. It opened doors, built my portfolio, and gave me stories I still tell today. It also helped me land a role writing features for a national Sunday newspaper in New Zealand. Creatively, it was one of the most prolific periods of my life.
Creative Roots and New Directions
Today, I’m pursuing a career in art and surface pattern design. And I still draw on my time in Ibiza for creative inspiration.
Despite its polished surface, Ibiza is a deeply creative place. Everywhere you look—boutiques, beach bars, restaurants—there’s colour, texture, and flair. It’s aesthetically rich and full of unexpected details.
Building a creative life means living deeply, soaking up experiences, and letting them shape your work. Ibiza was one colourful chapter in a bigger, ongoing story.
What’s Next
There’s more to share—more places, more people, more creative sparks. I’ll continue documenting that journey here on the blog, where travel meets creativity. Because even now, the energy of that wild island lingers—in the work, the art, and the memories.
Do you have an Ibiza story you'd like to share? If so please let me know in the comments...
All photos copyright ©Abbey Mae