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1. Since the early 1990s, you’ve been a DJ, a promoter, and a business owner. Do you remember those first big raves in Switzerland? Did you know you were helping to start a movement?
It was at the beginning of the ’90s, with the arrival of electronic music. I had just turned 17 years old at the time. I was already a DJ, but no club wanted to book us—my partner Olivier Fatton and me. So be it. We decided to organize our own parties instead: increasingly large rave events, gathering up to 25,000 people, under names like Atlantis and Sundance.
2. You and Olivier Fatton took over MAD Club in 1995. What did you see for the club back then, and how has it grown into one of the most famous places in the world ?
The secret is to constantly question ourselves. It’s an almost daily discipline, but we don’t deserve any special credit—we’ve always been passionate about what we do.
3. In 2022, DJ Mag put MAD Club at number 51 on its list of the Top 100 Clubs. After decades in the scene, what does it mean to you to get that kind of recognition around the world ?
Being ranked in DJ Mag’s TOP 100 is very important for a club today, but there are only 100 spots—and they’re highly competitive. In 2025, MAD Club is ranked 49th. It represents worldwide recognition for all the work accomplished. It’s an immense source of pride for us, our staff, and our clients. It’s also very important for internationally renowned artists who otherwise might never come to perform at our venue.
4. You’ve played more than 3,000 shows on five continents. What’s the one thing you’ve noticed about dance floors all over the world
Japan particularly impressed me. It truly feels like a world of its own, and the sensations there are very unique. I’ve performed in Ibiza, but I actually feel more behind the decks at MAD Club, for example, than I do at Space. Maybe in Ibiza I just didn’t play the right venues.
5. Your most recent song, “Timbaleros”, has the same infectious, high-energy beat that people love about you. What made you want to write this song ?
I drew inspiration from Cuba, a magnificent and colorful island that I’ve had the chance to visit several times. I added trumpet over an afro-based beat for a festive vibe and to get the biggest dancefloors in the world moving.6. 7. 8. 9. You’ve become known for remixing and bootlegging big pop hits.
6. How do you come up with new ideas when you turn a popular song into something that gets people dancing ?
I love the pop music of my generation. For me, remixes are a way of revisiting those classics and introducing them to younger audiences on the dancefloor.
7. How do you think electronic music has changed over the years, for better or worse? You’ve seen the rise of underground raves and the rise of global festivals.
Since 1995, electronic music has been changing every two or three years. That’s not a bad thing—in my opinion, it’s actually positive. Another major evolution is that music used to be very categorized back then. For example, it was unthinkable for trance fans to listen to minimal. Today, those categories have exploded. Everything has fused together.
8. Your motto is to get people to dance and share their feelings through energy. How do you keep that raw, human connection in a world where streaming and algorithms are becoming more and more important ?
What matters most to me is the real connection with clubbers on the dancefloor. It’s not easy to balance being an artist with being a businessperson.
9. How have your business instincts helped you stay in business for so long in such a competitive field?
I started out as a DJ and became a club owner by accident.
10. What still gets you excited when you step behind the decks after thirty years at the top of nightlife culture? What’s next for Igor Blaska ?
After all these years of DJing in clubs, I still feel nervous before stepping behind the decks. The truth is, I’m never completely sure people will connect with my musical universe. What’s next for me? To keep feeling the same passion and enjoyment.
