Sarah Main. She's sassy, sexy and seriously stylish an in demand DJ, technically gifted producer and international ambassador for Pacha Ibiza. Whichever way you put it, this is one musical talent with a hot career continually on the rise.
Having played to audiences in over 30 countries, on every continent (except Antarctica - an opportunity that will no doubt present itself in the future), it is clear that Sydney born Sarah - Australia’s number one DJ export - is as much at home behind the decks as she is in her adopted island of Ibiza. Sarah’s busy touring schedule in 2008 saw her clock up the frequent flyer points as she crisscrossed the world numerous times over, from Egypt, Siberia and Brazil to Belgium, Marrakech, Miami, New York, Jordan, Asia and Australia to name just a few.
Whether a small intimate venue, a major clubbing institution (like her long-term home base Pacha Ibiza) or a big stage on the festival circuit, the way Sarah interacts with the crowd proves she was literally born to be a DJ, an element she finds very important in creating energy on the dance floor. Sarah has a strong, unwavering passion for house music, the sound she says has had the most impact on her life and emotions - a sound she first discovered at age 14 when her older sister would send her cassettes from English raves.
The desire to mix was clearly in her blood. ‘My first memories of mixing music come from when I was five years old, sitting for hours in front of the stereo changing tune after tune at my grandmother's famously crazy parties, she says. ‘But the first time I touched the decks I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.’
From the age of 18, Sarah focused solely on her DJing career, rapidly conquering the Sydney club scene, including Home, Soho, Kink, Sounds on Sunday and many of Australia's major festivals. In 1999, it was time to move on - and Ibiza was calling.
From the minute she stepped through the revered doors of Pacha, Sarah instantly felt at home and knew this was one place she simply had to spin. Gaining the residency she still holds to this day in 2001, Sarah says Pacha Ibiza has enhanced her life and career, playing a key part in developing her confidence as a performer and the chance to hone and perfect her skills and technique. The raw house music policy and close family work ethic of the club has ensured her loyalty to the brand - something very few DJs can attest to.
Today, Sarah hosts two extremely successful weekly radio shows, Pacha with Sarah Main on Galaxy FM (with an audience of more than 300,000 listeners) and France’s FG Radio Saturday nights, giving her the chance to explore the more eclectic side of her musical taste while also showcasing the island’s current sound and epitomising the Pacha experience.
With seven compilations to her name - including four installments of the Pure Pacha series alongside Pete Tong and Goldfish among others - Sarah’s mixes are organic and energetic.
‘DJing isn’t just about putting two and two together,’ says the girl who taught herself techniques and skills by practising eight hours a day for three months straight after being shown the basics. It’s an art form.
Calling the Pioneer CDJ, EFX1000 and the 800 mixer the essential tools of her trade, Sarah’s technical abilities are renowned across the globe. She is a spokesperson for Pioneer, featuring in advertising campaigns, was selected by Ministry Of Sound TV to present the ‘How To DJ Series’, hosted her own three hour music show on Flaunt TV and scored the ‘Pacha Fitness’ DVD. Nominated twice at the Ibiza DJ awards, in 2006 Sarah won the highly coveted title, ‘Best Ibiza DJ'.
2009 is the year of the studio for Sarah. Before embarking on her annual tour of Asia and Australia, she spent many long hours in the studio, expressing her musical passion by laying down phat beats (as she calls them!). Keep your ears out for her productions - both originals and collaborations with a number of the industry's hottest producers, including a track with Mutiny due to be released in time to wow Summer dance floors.
Coming into her ninth consecutive summer in Ibiza, expect to see Sarah hold her own beside modern luminaries such as Erick Morillo and David Guetta as she continues her long-standing Pacha residency.
Constantly working and on-the-go and as one of the world’s most recognised female DJs, Sarah not only epitomises the sound of Pacha but also its image associated with glamour, vibrancy and international style. ‘It’s the music and image I know, love and understand,’ she says. Featured in many of the club's photographic campaigns including a cover shoot for the Pacha magazine alongside Smokin Jo and Tania Vulcano, Sarah made her film debut, appearing as herself in ‘It's All Gone Pete Tong’ and is often requested by the world’s media for feature articles and photographic shoots.
Sarah believes there are no limits to what she can achieve and where her career can take her. With an action-packed year ahead with even more studio time, a busy touring schedule including Creamfields in Central Europe, syndicating her radio shows on different stations in key cities around the world and even the development of a high-end accessories line for Harrods, the opportunities are endless. ‘Anything that comes my way, bring it on!’
she says.
