FRENCHMAN BRUNO LEPRETRE went to the Mediterranean island of Ibiza in 1994 to sell timeshares in holiday homes. Three years later he became resident DJ at the island's - and the world's - most famous chill-out club, Cafe del Mar, and later took the helm of a multimillion-dollar music franchise. Not bad for a man who had little DJing experience and a limited knowledge of Cafe del Mar's trademark downtempo beats.
'It happened very quickly,' says Lepretre, who plays Central club Liquid tonight. He had only been playing sets at the beachside club for a few months when he was tasked with filling the DJ booth of legendary incumbent Jose Padilla. 'There was pressure,' he says. 'People didn't really know who I was so I had to prove myself, but I had enough fever and passion to do it.'
Lepretre says he tried hard to achieve continuity while imposing his personal style. 'I had the right knowledge about music because I had been into many styles; new age, acid jazz, rock, reggae,' he says. 'At Cafe del Mar you have to have an eclectic taste. But I didn't know much about ambient and downtempo so it involved a lot of hard work researching that.'
Lepretre says he concentrated on the emotional feeling of his sets, building up a session over four hours and ending with deep house grooves as darkness set in and clubbers prepared themselves for another round of all-night partying. 'Everyone plays house in Ibiza but not that type of deep house,' he says.
Cafe del Mar opened in 1980, a small club with a relaxed vibe, cool sounds and magnificent sunset view. When Ibiza took off in the late 80s and 90s as Europe's top party island, Cafe del Mar's popularity exploded. Now two million people pass through its doors every summer. Padilla had begun releasing annual compilation albums and when he left in 1997, Cafe del Mar was a major brand.
As a former marketing man, Lepretre - or DJ Bruno as his fans know him - handles the commercial side well, but says the key is staying true to Cafe del Mar's original spirit. 'It might not be the best sunset in the world, but Cafe del Mar was the first club dedicated to the sunset,' he says. 'When people come they are often surprised to see what it is. It's just a little hut and there isn't really a beach, more like a few stones. It's simple but it works.'