One of the questions we get asked most frequently in the pre-season, "when are ANTS line-ups coming out?" Well they're out now - and so too are tickets for each and every date.
Given the continued popularity of Ibiza's busiest Saturday daytime party, we just had to speak to one of the main guys behind the party - the colony's general, Andrea Oliva.
The Swiss international and party resident has become the subject of our latest island DJ episode.
Having just returned from shows in Madrid, Tenerife and Mallorca, it was the ideal time to take stock.
Coming just in time for another morph-suited summer at Ushuaïa - the first in two years - we discussed everything from fatherhood, to working with his heroes and his favourite beaches on the island. Maybe some parties too? Find out.
Q&A
Hello Andrea. Firstly, we must congratulate you on becoming a father recently! How are you finding parenthood?
"Thanks! I don't really think of what's going on in the world when it comes to my son. He's the biggest gift and I try to enjoy every second with him.
Everything around us has been depressive over the last couple of years - war and all the other things going on in the world. It's better to focus on the more positive things. And my son is super positive, so I don't get distracted by what's going on in the world.
I just try to enjoy every second with my son."
That's the kind of outlook on life we need. It's an exciting time for you in your personal life and your professional life, with your label All I Need continuing to grow. How did Kevin Sanderson come to remix Transit?
"We are only working on the fifth release on the label, so it's still very young. Already, I was able to have two of my heroes contribute and I'm going to have many more. Deetron remixing one EP and Kevin Saunderson remixing the one you mentioned, both are very special to me.
They're massive influences of mine."
"I'm a big fan of Detroit Techno. It has a certain soul to it.
I thought 'Okay, Kevin Sanderson will be my dream remix artist' because it has Detroit influence. When you go for names like this, the most important thing is that they like the original track. In this case, he really liked the original, so he agreed to remix it. I was lucky."
What else has the label got coming up?
"All I Need is not only a label, but also a fashion brand, as well as an event brand. So we're really trying to build the whole thing up. There are a lot of amazing things coming.
At the end of June, we're going to drop our first capsule. We're working on some amazing hoodies, shirts, socks, long sleeves & beachwear.
Everybody in interviews always say, 'we've got a lot of amazing things coming up, but i can't tell you.' I can tell you we're going to host one of the biggest stages at Zurich Street Parade this year. That's insane, because it's a stage holding hundreds of thousands of people."
A colossal turnout for Zurich Street Parade in Andrea's Swiss homeland
"We're also working on our own festival in the mountains in Switzerland for the winter.
Then we're going to do something for sure in Ibiza too. That I cannot announce yet, but you can figure out the location.
Release wise, we release every month, so we are very proactive on that front."
Talking of releases, you recently dropped the fourth release, Cala Bass EP. What can you tell us about these tracks?
"I try to take inspiration out of everything in my life. I think inspiration is equal to motivation. Of course, when things work well around you, you are pretty motivated to go to the studio and be creative."
"I can say also from experience, every time I finish a track, I had a lot of motivation behind me. I finish a track and then I finish an EP.
Previous releases on the label were more mainstage festival tracks. The second release was more of a House release. This one is proper club."
What is your favourite beach in Ibiza?
"You probably ask because Cala Bass sounds a lot like Cala Bassa, am I right? (laughs) There are many.
I like Cala Bassa, indeed. But I like Cala Gracioneta a lot. I like so many, there is one you may laugh at, but it's called Cala Olivera. It's small and there is a tiny chiringuito. It's really nice. There are so many beaches I'm yet to experience."
Cala Gracioneta is a favourite amongst superstar DJs and tourists alike
"That's the beauty of Ibiza. When you think you've seen everything, someone else shows you something you've never seen before. There are too many. I can't name just one. There are so many amazing beaches here."
Okay, enough beach talk. Let's talk parties! More specifically, ANTS. Before we talk about Ibiza, last month you were in London to play ANTS at Printworks. How does that compare to ANTS at Ushuaïa?
"Printworks is one of my favourite locations. One of my favourite clubs in the world. Having ANTS there was special, because it was the first ANTS show we did after two years. It was sold out and the vibe was incredible.
I had the chance to close the night, which is always special. It was just amazing. It gave me even more motivation for the summer. I really felt we could say, 'yeah, now we're back' afterwards."
ANTS in Ibiza always goes above-and-beyond with their stage design and production. This year the theme is ANTS Invasion. Is there anything you can tell us about what we can expect?
"I think the whole stage design, the whole philosophy about giving people a certain show, is as important as the line-up. I want to keep what this year is going to be as a secret. What I can say from experiences, is that every year, the production guys top the previous year."
Two examples of ANTS's elaborate stage designs from years gone by
"When you thought, 'Okay, this is insane', the next year was even better. This year won't be any different. It's going to be even better than last year (2019). It's mad to me to think they can top that, but the production guys are super creative. A lot of time and money, ideas and creativity go into our designs. This is our ace card - our magnificent stage."
Any closing thoughts for the season ahead?
"I'm not saying this to lick anyone's ass or to play the good guy - I genuinely mean it. I really hope Ibiza keeps being accessible for clubbers. For people who come to the island to party. It's obviously one of the most beautiful places on earth, but it must be affordable.
It would be sad if it only became accessible to people who can afford the prices, which are already really high right now. I hope that people who have those kinds of cards in their hands in Ibiza are thinking more about the people. It's the people who make Ibiza special.
I talk about this in interviews, as I'm not sure what else I can do.
I just hope the economy of Ibiza is not going to overrun the heart of our industry. The heart of our industry is people buying tickets because they want to have the best time, listen to electronic music and support their favourite DJs."
Andrea Oliva is confirmed to be playing for ANTS fourteen times between now and the end of summer, including the nighttime edition of the opening party at Hï Ibiza.
Tickets and line-ups are available for all dates at Ushuaïa and can be bought below. Want to raise a counter insurgency against the giant killer ants from outer space? Form the alliance by joining the colony this summer.
