Over a glittering three decade career, there isn't much that Roger Sanchez hasn't accomplished.
One of his many accolades includes a multi-year tenure at Pacha Ibiza in the mid-Noughties with Release Yourself. His biggest commercial hit, Another Chance was quickly becoming an Ibiza anthem; Roger was at the height of his powers.
Although that association ended in 2008, the New York native has retained strong ties with the club. For many clubbers, particularly the old guard, the two go hand-in-hand. It's a bond that Pacha's current owners, FIVE Holdings, are not only familiar with, but invested in.
Roger Sanchez's Release Yourself at Pacha Ibiza (2006) by David Boyle
Before they ever dreamt of having their names on the deeds, they were customers themselves.
It was to Roger Sanchez's soundtrack, where they lost themselves on the dancefloor underneath the iconic cherries. Since acquiring the business in 2023, they have always sought to honour that heritage. Roger has received regular invitations back to handle some of Pacha's biggest nights.
Ahead of his latest - Pacha's final party of summer 2025 alongside Paco Osuna - Lissy Lü caught up with him at Pacha Hotel, as he went on the record about the club's history and modernisation.
Hi Roger. Thanks for talking with us.
As an artist who held residency here in the mid Noughties with Release Yourself, you have seen plenty of changes at Pacha down the years, from the layout to the ownership. What do you make of the club in its current form?
"Pacha has undergone a lot of changes. The general architecture of the club has remained the same, which is really good, but I do appreciate the updates. If anything, the current set-up has brought a bit more warmth back.
The changes have made it more of an accessible space. But it hasn't lost any of its original finca-style vibe that Pacha had back when I did Release Yourself. You know you're in Ibiza."
Halcyon days: Roger Sanchez in the old Pacha crow's nest circa 2008
"Having played at the old DJ booth which was like a crow's nest overhanging the dancefloor… That original booth reminded me of the old style New York city booths. The DJ being, like, up in the clouds.
I mean, I loved playing there, but I always preferred facing the crowd. Where the booth is positioned now, I can see all the crowd and the outlay of the dancefloor. The sound is amazing, which is really important. I really feel they've got it right.
I do like the multi-media add-on. Where they've placed those in the transition spaces enhances your experience on your way to the club space. But it hasn't taken anything away from the warmth Pacha always had back in the day."
Kabir Mulchandani's FIVE Holdings acquired Pacha Group in 2023 during the fiftieth anniversary
"I think the current team running Pacha tapped into what they loved about the club back when they were simply visitors themselves. They aren't just looking at it as a corporate acquisition or focusing solely on numbers.
To be honest, during the transition from the original owners to the next group, there was a period when Pacha felt a bit like that - more about the business than the experience.
Now, it feels like the leadership is asking, 'what made me fall in love with Pacha back then? And how do I bring that feeling into 2025?' They've managed to update and modernise without losing what made the club special."
"Aloki and Kabir used to come to Pacha and they even came to my Release Yourself nights, and experienced the club firsthand. They know what that magic felt like. And capturing that feeling is key. You need to make people feel something when they walk into a club.
For me, that feeling has returned in the way Pacha has approached its communication, style and the way customers are treated.
That's what I mean when I say, they've recaptured the DNA of Pacha."
You played at Pacha over opening weekend at the end of April and now, some 24 weeks later, you are tying things up nicely at the club's final party of 2025. What’s your verdict been on the season?
"I feel like this season has really re-established Pacha's place as one of the central clubs in Ibiza. For me, that spark from the original glory days of Pacha has returned. It carries that unique spirit it has always been known for.
The way they've programmed the different nights has been very strong. You need variety, of course, but they’ve presented it in a way that feels cohesive and well thought out."
"The way people can move through the space has also made the experience feel more welcoming. It feels like some of that old magic has come back and I like how it's continuing to evolve.
This year, with so many shifts happening across the island, it's been a bit chaotic for the clubs, lots of people moving around, artists jumping from one place to another. But throughout all of that, Pacha has remained consistent."
Do you have any personal highlights?
"Yeah, playing Flower Power at Pacha this year. That night feels like a real meeting point between classic Pacha, classic House and a modern twist. The crowd has been such a mix of younger and older generations, and the energy has been incredible.
The first Flower Power I played this season was when I really caught the vibe, but my personal highlight was the last one of the summer. It was just a special night."
Roger Sanchez has guested four times at Flower Power alongside Bora Uza in 2025
You've been going to Dubai for years and even headlined the Pacha-owned Bohemia. As someone who has experienced both scenes, how do you feel they compare?
"What excites me is that there's now almost a direct line connecting Ibiza and Dubai through Pacha. They've managed to import the ethos of the island, while adapting it to Dubai's culture. That sets them apart from other clubs there.
It's important to reference the local culture, so the experience feels relevant to people living in Dubai. At the same time, they've successfully integrated that Ibiza energy and given people a taste of what the island is like. Crowds in Dubai really respond to that energy.
Personally, my sound has always leaned into percussive, Latin elements, and I feel that connects strongly with the Dubai crowd. In the Pacha context, it makes even more sense."
Pacha Group parent company FIVE Holdings own Playa Pacha, Bohemia and Penthouse in Dubai
You were recently the special guest at Sonny Fodera's party. What did you hear in his sound that resonates with you?
"I've known Sonny for years. We first met in Ibiza when I was playing at Space way back when. He was this young Australian kid whose music I really connected with. I even asked him to remix some of my music.
What I've always admired about him is his UK-influenced sound. He understood it deeply and blended it into his own productions. Over the years, he's had some massive UK records and that success has translated to his residency here."
Roger Sanchez joined Sonny Fodera at his Monday night residency last week
"From what I understand, it's been a very strong debut season for him. The UK presence on the island has grown again this year, and many people have specifically come to see Sonny. Beyond being a talented producer, he’s a great guy and I respect what he does.
I’ve played with him before and every time it's been fun and high-energy."
What qualities does he have that you recognise in successful artists who make that leap?
"The first thing any artist needs in Ibiza is a clear musical identity: knowing who you are sonically and what you stand for. Sonny has developed that over the years. He understands his audience, puts on high-quality shows, and delivers consistent performances. That consistency is crucial.
Many big artists don’t necessarily translate to Ibiza residencies, because it's not just about being famous - it's about sustaining energy week after week. You have to create an experience that keeps people coming back and raises the level each time."
"Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. If you want it to last, you have to pace yourself. Stay connected with your audience, communicate with them and always be working on the next idea to share with them.
You also need to make Ibiza special. Offer something here that can't necessarily be found anywhere else. That’s what keeps people coming back. Sonny has managed that and that's why it makes sense for him to have this residency. It’s his moment."
Do you approach your guest appearances differently from your own headline party?
"Yes. When I'm not the main headliner, I think about who I'm sharing the night with. Am I opening? Am I co-headlining? What's their vibe, and how can mine complement it?
It's not about being the star every time. It's about setting the right mood so the night flows seamlessly into their set. For me, the experience has to last the whole night, it can't just be about my two hours and then I'm out. It's got to connect."
Moving on to the closing party, you're sharing the booth with Paco Osuna, two masters of very different approaches. For some, that might present a bit of a styles clash. What excites you about the contrast? Have you discussed going back-to-back?
"I've known Paco for a long time. He's always been supportive of what I do. We respect each other. Musically, there are points where our sounds overlap, that's where the back-to-back could make sense. We've talked about the possibility of doing one."
Paco Osuna playing at Pacha Ibiza earlier last summer for Music On
"Even if we end up playing solo, I like that our approaches contrast. He'll take things in a different direction, and I'll lean into that space. Together, it can create something unique for the closing."
What makes a Pacha closing party different from any other night of the year?
"This is the dessert after you've had the meal.
For me, it's like you can have an amazing meal, but the dessert is what really solidifies that in your memory of it being an amazing experience. So in a way, I look at the summer of having been this fantastic ten-course tasting meal, and the dessert is going to send me home happy.
That's my idea: to give that dessert at the end of the delicious meal that we've had all summer."
As summer ends and you head into winter planning, what's going on in the Roger Sanchez universe? Any projects that you're particularly excited about?
"Right now, I'm focused on my Spectrum tour, which combines light and sound in a new way through visuals and music. I've already teased some of it this summer at festivals, but now I'm rolling it out fully into the fall and next year."
"I've also got a lot of music coming out. I've just released Grinnin' - a collaboration with Fedde Le Grand. Now, I'm working on some new tracks with my wife, Kristin Knight, leaning into that Latin and tribal vibe. There are more projects I can’t reveal just yet, but trust me, new music is coming."
Every Ibiza legend has that one night that encapsulates why this island is so magical. What's yours? Take us back to the moment that reminded you why you've been enough of this place to start with.
"Before I moved Release Yourself to Pacha, I started it at what is now Lío. Back then it was called El Divino.
Those nights were special, because I would play open-to-close sets and the sunrise would filter through the glass windows as I played. That experience; watching the light come in while the crowd connected with the music, was something I’d never felt anywhere else."
"The following year, I had my first Release Yourself residency at Pacha.
I would start at midnight and play until 06:00 or 07:00 in the morning, sometimes after pre-parties at Café Mambo. That first closing party at Pacha was magical. We had dancers, performers, and then at sunrise, they opened part of the ceiling so the light could pour in.
No other club I've played in the world has recreated that exact experience. For me, Ibiza was, and still is, the place where I can connect most deeply with my audience and my music."
The years may roll past, but Roger Sanchez remains the man. Thank you, Roger.
You can catch Roger Sanchez closing out Pacha Ibiza's 2025 season on Sunday 12 October, playing alongside Paco Osuna.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased below.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Peter Young, David Boyle and Raul Sanchez
