Bender has quietly put together one hell of a summer at [UNVRS].
When John Summit brought Experts Only to Ibiza for its first full residency, Bender became a fixture inside the Wild Comet, playing all nine Mondays from the June 1 opening through the July 27 closing. While Summit commanded the Main Room alongside names like Max Styler, SG Lewis, MK, SOFI TUKKER, Gorgon City, Odd Mob, Eli Brown, and plenty more, Bender was building his own little world deeper inside the venue.
Then Summit’s run ended and Tiësto returned to Ibiza for five Mondays at [UNVRS] in August. Bender got the call again, and last Monday we finally got to experience one of his sets inside the Wild Comet ourselves as Tiësto closed out his residency in the Main Room with Massano and DJ Try.
The Wild Comet might be smaller than the monstrous Main Room, but that is exactly why it works. You are suddenly much closer to everything, the DJ, the crowd, the energy bouncing off the walls. Bender completely understood the assignment. His set was loose, playful, groovy, and constantly moving, the kind of house music that keeps pulling people deeper into the room instead of giving them a reason to leave.
That energy has become his calling card. [UNVRS] describes his sets around high energy, joy, and unity, and after seeing it firsthand, that feels pretty damn accurate. He never forced the moment. He just kept stacking grooves until everyone around us was locked in.
It also made the whole thing feel bigger knowing how much time he has put into that room this summer. Nine straight Experts Only Mondays, followed by another opportunity during Tiësto’s return to the island, is a serious run at one of the biggest new clubs in the world.
And the music outside Ibiza has been moving too. “The Moment” arrived in June, following his soulful house collaboration with Kathy Brown, “It’s Alright,” while “BAMBOLEO” has continued to rack up plays since landing late last year.
A huge thank you to Bender for the hospitality and for welcoming us into his corner of [UNVRS]. After watching his Ibiza story develop from afar all summer, finally getting inside the Wild Comet and seeing what he has been building made the night hit differently.
Something tells us this room has not seen the last of him either. Bender is already confirmed to return to the Wild Comet for the [UNVRS] Closing Party on October 10.
Not a bad way to cap off an incredible summer.
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