Paradise transforms [UNVRS] into tropical oasis for Sands of Solaris debut

Paradise marked the final chapter of my summer on the island last year. Fittingly, it has now reopened my 2025 return.

Barely back on the island a few hours - and fresh off a week of travelling across mainland Spain - I was thrown straight back into the fray by the Ibiza Spotlight top brass.

It certainly wasn't my intention to arrive for one of the busiest weeks of the season, with multiple parties kicking off their openings, but somehow, I had landed right on cue.

Eager to check out Jamie Jones' famed party at its brand-new Ibizan home, [UNVRS], the Ibiza Spotlight clubbing team and I assembled for a midweek night out. Consisting of pure House music madness, the night was soundtracked by only the best and biggest names in the game.

On the opening week's bill alone was JJ’s first in line accomplice Joseph Capriati, Chris Stussy, Archie Hamilton and rising star Miluhska. No punches were pulled for this season's opener.

Sands of Solaris

Upon entry, it was clear that Paradise had kept faith with its familiar Ancient Egyptian aesthetic - pyramids and hieroglyphs glowed with a mystical energy, almost as if casting a spell over the dancefloor below.

LED pillars blinked with cryptic symbols, while roof-mounted light strips zipped across the sky like shooting stars. An impressive array of moving heads also sliced through the main room with rhythmic precision.

After being carted all around Europe this winter, the disco ball (or more accurately, the ‘disco orb!) was back once again on an even larger scale, suspended high from the ceiling like a relic of cosmic importance.

It was 01:00 and Archie Hamilton had the dancefloor firmly under his command, dishing out 128 BPM, four-to-the-floor groovers that were already well in full stride. His signature blend of slick, rolling rhythms kept the crowd locked in. A highlight came with his brand-new release Badder.

A certified heater, the track blended energetic tribal percussion, a weighty sub-bass, and that unmistakable Hamilton groove, equally hypnotic and hard-hitting.

It wasn’t long before Chris Stussy took over. One thing's for certain, that man never fails to deliver. Effortlessly gliding through a selection of sleek, percussive rollers, he always brings a fresh wave of energy to the room.

Each transition was smooth, each drop perfectly timed, as he dialled things up with his trademark blend of plucky basses, deep grooves, crisp hats, tight percussion and that warm, bouncy low-end that hits just right every time.

As has become trademark, Stuss unleashed an arsenal of unreleased gems, making it tricky for us to pin down some of the night’s biggest crowd-pleasers. One standout? Definitely that unreleased Jamback tune he’s been rinsing for the last few months.

Quite frankly, it’s criminal it’s still not out. Jamback, if you’re reading, press the release button already! It can't stay in the vault forever.

Naturally, Desire, Stuss’s own weapon and a real crowd-pleaser from last year, absolutely popped off. Phones were whipped out almost instantly, while others chose to enjoy themselves in the moment, locked in the groove, and a choir of voices erupted for those familiar vocals.

Come 03:00, it was time for the main man himself.

Jamie Jones stepped up for a heavyweight back-to-back with Joseph Capriati. The pair took control and steered the night into peak-time territory, wasting no time digging into a rich blend of old and new, notably a remix of the '93 classic Deep Inside by Hardrive.

Those iconic vocal stabs wrapped in fresh percussive layers had the crowd singing along while bouncing to the driving house groove.

Another memorable moment came with Admre's Make It Funk (Joey London Remix) - a proper bouncy juggernaut with just enough swing to get the whole floor moving as one.

And then, a surprise twist of nostalgia: Sister Sledge’s Lost in Music, modernised with crisp House drums and just enough funk to keep it respectful to the original.

A true masterpiece of '70s disco, and a timely reminder that Paradise DJs don't just celebrate what’s next, they also honour what came before.

Come lasting knockings, we had been it all and were ready to get off our feet.

Twelve months on, it’s clear the brand still holds its own. Proof that you can change club, supersize the production, and still preserve the essence of what makes it special. Jamie Jones curates an atmosphere where House heads feel right at home, wherever he may land.

Paradise 2025 opens with a confident roar. If the rest of the season delivers the same calibre of music, sound and spectacle, then Wednesday nights at [UNVRS] will continue to be unmissable - a cornerstone of every serious raver’s summer calendar.

With the date completely sold out, this opening party made one thing clear: Paradise's move to [UNVRS] hasn’t dulled its magic. If anything, it's levelled up once more.

Head below and find tickets and line-up to all remaining dates, up until the 1 October closing party.