For more than three decades, Mark Knight has been one of the most influential figures in house music. As the founder of Toolroom, a globally respected DJ and producer, and now the driving force behind the rapidly growing Fool’s Paradise brand, he continues to shape electronic music culture while staying true to the values that built his career. We caught up with Mark in Ibiza just hours before his set at La Troya at Chinois. Fresh from the gym and preparing for another busy summer on the island, he spoke about discipline, mental wellbeing, his favourite place in Ibiza, the importance of genuine connection between DJs and clubbers, and why he believes Ibiza should still be setting trends rather than following them.
Interview Mark Knight:
Hello from Ibiza, I’m here with Mark Knight, straight from the gym.
Straight from the gym, no days off.
You’re going to the gym every day?
Every day, yeah, I try to. Yeah.
Oh, really?
Yeah, nail it into my routine. If you get up and go every morning – I take my son to school, then go to the gym first thing. And then the hours are kind of non-negotiable. It’s an hour for me. Give me an hour and I’ll give you the world, you know, it’s the way I look at it. I think it’s important to do something for yourself first in the day, especially in the industry we’re in and the position I’m in. The amount of people who want my attention, you know, through the label and other things that I do. I like to achieve something for me first, then I’m ready to give. So, I think psychologically it has more benefits than physically. But, you know, in the industry you’ve got to keep looking young, so I think it works on all levels. So, yeah, no days off.
So, it’s your way of keeping your mind fresh and clear?
I think it’s important to achieve something for yourself first every day. Once you’ve done that, I think that’s a great foundation to give for the rest of the day.
We’re in Ibiza and I’m wondering, what’s your favourite spot on the island?
That’s a great question. Well, I’m going to say Ibiza Golf Club. I was there earlier today. We’re going to play golf today. Golf is another great outlet for me as well, to clear my mind, to disconnect. And it’s a brilliant way to try and better yourself because it is you against you as well. I’ve achieved so many great things in music and other walks of life. I’m yet to achieve greatness in golf. So, it’s great to be able to come here and play. So, that’s now my new favourite spot.
Tonight you are playing at Chinois for La Troya, which has a long history here on the island. So, are you excited for this party?
I am, you know. And respect to the guys at La Troya. I’ve worked for them for many years at many clubs. I’ve done the opening and closing parties when they were at Privilege, which is now UNVRS. And they’ve booked me most seasons. They always do a fantastic job. It’s very difficult to pull off a party that has lasted for so long. But they’ve done it so well. And they put so much passion and love into what they do. And it’s a great place to come and play.
What’s the difference between playing at Chinois and, let’s say, the more commercial clubs here in Ibiza?
What I love about Chinois is that it has that kind of personal connection. And for me, that’s what DJing is about. It’s about creating a connection with the people. I think sometimes when you’re put on such a big pedestal, which I still now struggle to understand the concept of why people are looking at me? It’s like I’m just putting records on, you know. It isn’t a concert; it’s a soundtrack. But when you’re playing at Chinois, you have that personal connection. You’re right next to the audience. And that’s how you build a great night, I feel. When you’re disconnected, straight away, psychologically, you’ve got this disconnect between where you are and where the audience is. And house music’s not about that. It’s about creating this unity, this kind of journey, this soundtrack. And I find that a lot harder when you’re disconnected. So when you’re playing Chinois, you’re right in the mix. And you can really get under the bonnet and have some fun.
Chinois is not the only place where you’re playing this summer. But you are at Cova Santa this summer as well, right?
Yeah, do you know what? I’m making my debut at Cova Santa for Sam Divine’s 555. Respect to Sam for giving it a go and doing her own night. So I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve never played there. I’m playing Cova Santa, playing 528, playing Pacha, Chinois. So once a month is about right for me now. I like to come strategically, periodically. I’ve done my seasons of doing 23 shows a summer, and that kills you. It’s great fun, but I’m getting too old for that. So one a month is perfect.
Why is Ibiza so special to you as an artist?
I don’t know. I think it’s very special because of what it is and what it’s set up to be. It’s a music-oriented destination. It’s still an opportunity to push musical boundaries, to play new music, to educate people who have come primarily for that. That’s what this place is about, and let’s not forget that. It’s easy to take shortcuts and go for the jugular and play a lot of commercial, obvious things. But Ibiza should be about setting trends, about moving the musical journey on. That means a lot to me as an artist and a record label owner, that there’s a forum and an opportunity to do that. I love coming here. I’ve been coming here since 1989.
What’s new with Toolroom?
Wow, what’s new with Toolroom? Something’s always new with Toolroom. We just did a Toolroom Academy event at Fabric in the UK on Friday, which was brilliant, like a seminar. We did a Toolroom show at Fabrik Madrid on Saturday. We’ve got loads of great new music coming out. Wow, it’s just so difficult. We’re always so busy. It’s hard to coin that. People ask me that question a lot. Loads of great music. Primarily, that’s what we’re about. Some brilliant new music. I’ve got a new record coming in the summer. I’ve got a reboot of Ibiza, the record I did in 2016. I did a 10-year anniversary version of that. That sounds really big. I’m looking forward to playing that tonight. Just loads of great stuff. Watch this space.
Is there any artist from Toolroom that we should keep an eye on right now?
I think Tony Romera is the guy who is about to blow, is about to pop. He’s so clever in what he does. He sits perfectly between releasing with us, releasing with Solid Grooves, and everything in between. And that’s again because I think he does things with integrity and with his sound. So I think he’s a guy that you can’t avoid, let alone watch out for.
Is there anything else that you want to share with the electronic dance music world at the moment?
I guess the new project that we’re working on is Fool’s Paradise, our disco and soulful house brand. That’s a big deal for us. That’s gone phenomenally well as a label. We’ve just done a big show in London at Fabric, which was sold out, a daytime party, and it’s something we want to bring here to the island next year. Hopefully we’ll be doing that regularly. But the label’s gone phenomenally well. We’ve been running that for two years. We wanted the brand to be rooted in music and to establish our foothold in that scene with authenticity before we moved into events. We’ve just started to do events. We’re doing a big festival in the UK in a couple of weeks. I mean, it’s gone phenomenally well. It’s gone from here to here really quickly. So really proud about that, and that’s something we’re putting a lot of focus on at the moment.
Do you think that daytime events are the future of the electronic dance music scene?
A hundred percent. I think we’re living through the next evolution of what we built, is the way I like to call it. There’s a really interesting movement going on at home in the UK with people of my age who were in it in the early ’90s. They went away and had kids, had a life, and they’re like, “You know what? I’m not old enough to hang up my boots yet. There’s still life in this old dog yet.” And I think if you create situations and environments that fit that context, people feel comfortable with it. And I think that’s a daytime thing. No one really wants to be out till six in the morning anymore. I think that’s a massive trend, and it’s so big in the UK now. Daytime parties are the one. At nighttime parties, I find it harder to compete.
And I think with the kids as well, kids are way more health-conscious now. Healthy living is very much dialled into the way they live, so I think that’s again complementary to not only the older generation having their second innings, but the new guys coming through. That feels like a more appropriate way for them to enter. So I think you’re right, daytime is going to be the way forward.
I think so. Thank you very much, Mark, for having us here, and enjoy Ibiza and La Troya tonight.
I certainly will. Thank you so much for having me, and good luck with LoudLife.
