Homies on Vol. 3, Ibiza and a Decade of Doing Club Culture Differently

A bed in the middle of a dancefloor. Pyjamas, slippers, pillow fights and, by the end of the night, feathers covering almost every surface. It might not sound like the conventional foundation for a decade-long journey through Ibiza and international club culture, but then Homies was never interested in following conventional club rules.

When Christian Len and Camilo Miranda launched Homies at Pikes in 2014, the intention was deceptively simple: create the feeling of being at home. “The comfort of a house party, where you do not need to show off, where you can be honest, sincere and express yourself freely,” Christian explains. Beds, pillows and pyjamas initially made that philosophy literal, but over the following decade it grew into something much bigger. “Today, it represents an international community of like-minded people. Balearic Homies.”

Now joined by avid record collector and DJ Luca Averna, Homies reaches its tenth anniversary with Homies Vol. 1, the first of a compilation trilogy celebrating the music, friendships and Balearic outlook that have shaped the collective. Vol. 1 is available on Beatport now HERE.

Its roots, however, lie partly in dissatisfaction with what Ibiza clubbing was becoming. “I was already bored with the traditional dynamics of Ibiza’s clubs eleven years ago, and even more so now,” Christian says. “There was often something too serious about them, too much showing off, and too much focus on everything surrounding the party rather than the party itself.”

“For us, the most important element of any party is the people,” he continues. “We wanted everyone to feel genuinely welcome, to come as they are, express themselves freely, have fun, be playful, childish, sexy or whatever they felt like being, but always within an honest, warm and intimate atmosphere.”

That philosophy runs directly through Homies Vol. 3. Curated by Luca, the collection features Lovefingers, DJ Pippi & Willie Graff, MLiR with Laurence Guy, Rune Lindbæk, Christian himself and numerous other artists inhabiting different corners of the Homies universe.

Rather than prescribing what contributors should make, Luca deliberately did the opposite. “I wanted every artist to feel completely free, so I simply asked them to send me the music they genuinely felt represented them, without giving too many directions.”

The results move between downtempo introspection and dancefloor energy. “More than a collection of songs, it’s a snapshot of who we are and what we’ve created together over the last ten years.”

The trilogy itself was almost accidental. There was simply too much music for one compilation. Consequently, Luca views the three volumes as a continuous narrative, with the third completing rather than reinventing the story.

Likewise, the mixture of recognised Balearic figures and newer artists was never an exercise in strategic programming. “Homies has always been about people rather than status or popularity,” Luca says. “What really matters is having a genuine connection, sharing the same musical vision, and understanding the spirit behind what we do.”

That emphasis on discovery is inseparable from his relationship with vinyl. “Collecting isn’t just about owning music; it’s about the thrill of discovering it,” he says. Hours spent digging through flea markets and second-hand shops have taught him “to be curious, patient, and always search for music with personality and a story behind it.”

Ultimately, though, Homies Vol. 3 is intended to live beyond DJ booths and dancefloors. “It’s really about a lifestyle,” Luca explains. “It’s about the moments that surround the music, the sunsets, the beach, long drives, afterparties, mornings after, and all the memories created along the way.”

That lifestyle also represents an Ibiza that the collective believes is increasingly obscured by the island’s global superclub image. Luca sees the compilation partly as a declaration that another culture still exists. “This compilation is also a statement that says: we’re still here,” he says. “There are still artists and people creating music with passion, authenticity, and a strong sense of identity, outside of the island’s mainstream sound.”

Camilo hopes visitors become curious enough to find it. “So much of what makes Ibiza special goes untold,” he says. “There is a whole creative community that exists just outside that spotlight, quietly shaping the island’s musical identity.”

Having lived there since 1998, he has watched Ibiza transform repeatedly, yet his connection remains strong. Paradoxically, travelling helps preserve it. “Every trip gives me something that I can bring back to Ibiza, whether it’s music, friendships or new collaborations.”

Those friendships are perhaps the most important thread running through the Homies story. Christian calls trust “the most valuable capital a community can have,” while Camilo says his partnership with Christian remains one of the easiest and most natural professional relationships he has experienced.

Their collaborations with other promoters, venues and crews operate similarly. “They have never started as business opportunities,” Camilo says. “They always begin with a feeling, with a genuine understanding of each other, and only then do they become professional collaborations.”
Perhaps that explains why some of their most cherished memories have little to do with conventional notions of clubbing. Alongside that feather-covered first party, Camilo recalls a Berlin tribute to the late DJ Alfredo organised with Alfredo’s son Jaime Fiorito.

“We cooked for everyone, shared tortillas, gildas and food with friends, held a conversation about Balearic music, Alfredo’s legacy and the origins of what we do, and then spent the rest of the day playing music together,” he remembers. “It became much more than a club event. It felt like a genuine cultural exchange, where music, food, conversation and friendship all came together in the same spirit.”

After ten years, Homies may be growing, but Christian has little interest in abandoning that foundation. “I would say that we are curators of ethos more than curators of DJs or music,” he says. “We are simply surfing our own wave. The project is becoming bigger and more serious, but ethically and emotionally, we are still doing the same thing.”

And perhaps the simplest definition of Homies comes from what they want a stranger to feel after experiencing one of their parties. Camilo calls it “a gustito”: “That feeling of being exactly where you’re supposed to be, surrounded by people who make you feel comfortable.”

Christian has an even more fitting measure of success. If somebody leaves wanting to sit down, continue talking about life and perhaps invite them over for a paella, then the night has worked.

After a decade spent turning strangers into friends, that feels like Homies in its purest form.

Homies 10 Year Anniversary album is being released on Beatport across three parts. Volume 1 is out now. Grab it HERE.

Read the full interview with Homies on The Night Bazaar HERE.