“Came as strangers, left as friends”: Inside the Ibiza experiment bringing house music lovers together
White Claw and Defected flew 10 strangers to Ibiza for 24 hours as part of their ‘Find Your People’ experiment, pairing like-minded dance music fans to see if they can become lifelong friends Continue reading...
Ever found yourself wondering how those momentary dancefloor encounters would play out if they weren’t so fleeting? Meeting strangers at the club is often the best part of a night out, but they’re so often transient moments that get lost in the haze of club euphoria.
Recognising that, White Claw and Defected have come together to launch a new experiment inviting strangers together in Ibiza for just 24 hours, using “the power of house music” to see if these like-minded music fans can become lifelong friends.
After submitting videos pitching why they should be part of the ‘Find Your People’ experiment through social community app Cliq, 10 once-strangers were selected and flown to the White Isle. Indulging in a villa takeover with an intimate DJ set from Defected mainstays Sam Divine, Djammin and Joëlla Jackson, the first-of-its-kind experiment got the group partying before a swift trip to Defected ’s takeover at Chinois Ibiza to end the night.
Speaking on the experiment, selected participant Oliver said that "being passionate about house music and being around people who also are is a great ice breaker", adding: "I genuinely loved everyone’s energy. We came as strangers but left as friends, and I can’t wait to see them all again some time soon."
"A real highlight for me was that everyone made such an effort to look after one another and make sure we were all having the best time," says experiment participant Dani. "There was a real sense of community between us all, despite the fact we’d only met a few hours prior. Music truly unites us all!"
This experiment is part of the wider 'Find Your People' campaign where White Claw aims to connect 50,000 people through community, culture and shared passions. With its Ibiza experiment a success, White Claw & Defected hope to continue their quest, asking: "Can dance music create connections that last a lifetime?"
"I definitely met my people, I’ve genuinely made friends for life from the trip," says participant David. "The whole experience was honestly so, so fun. The team, the crew and the ten of us all had the best time, and I’d absolutely love to meet everyone again in another situation. It was genuinely magical, and something I’ll never forget!"
Defected’s Ibiza season runs until October 8 at Chinois, when Sam Divine is set to appear alongside the likes of Dennis Ferrer, Kerri Chandler and more. Grab your tickets here .
