Graham Gold has published the playlist for a special edition of Esta La Musica dedicated to the late José Padilla, widely regarded as the godfather of the Balearic sound. Scientific Sound Asia operates as an electronic music platform, radio station, promoter, DJ agency and music news publisher for audiences across Asia and internationally.
The title Esta La Musica comes from a tattoo on Graham’s right arm, which he had done while visiting Los Angeles during the late 1990s. He first gained international recognition through his weekly broadcasts on London’s Kiss 100.
Graham is also known for Peach, the influential London club brand with which he was closely associated. After leaving Kiss 100 and relocating to Southeast Asia, he launched Esta La Musica and named the programme after the tattoo on his arm.
During the early years of his career, Graham established himself through a ten-year residency at Gullivers Club in Mayfair. He performed there six nights a week and became a prominent figure within London’s club scene.
His professional career began at the age of seventeen after his interest in Afrocentric music inspired him to launch a mobile disco with his friend Duncan Uren. Together, they developed The Funky Road Show into a recognised name across London’s West End.
By the age of eighteen, Graham was playing Black music five nights a week across the capital. This led to regular appearances on London pirate radio stations during the 1980s, where he presented Reggae, Soul, Disco and Jazz Funk.
He later joined the Radio London Soul Night Out team and hosted a weekly Soul programme on Capital FM. His broadcasting work earned him the Broadcaster of the Year award in 1985.
Graham was involved with Kiss FM from its earliest years and developed an international following through his weekly programmes. His sets contributed to the station’s success and helped establish his reputation outside the United Kingdom.
He appeared in DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs list for eight consecutive years and was later included in Dash’s ranking of the most popular DJs of all time. Graham has retained a global audience through his radio programme and regular appearances at events, particularly across Asia.
Esta La Musica usually features House and Techno releases alongside promotional material supplied by labels and producers. The programme often includes Deep House, Progressive House, Melodic House and Techno, Tech House, Deep Tech, Organic House and Techno.
This edition is dedicated to José Padilla and includes Graham’s memories of meeting him at Café del Mar. Graham recalled, “I met him at Café del Mar. I went about six times before I had the courage to say hello, but to be honest, initially they were brief encounters; it was just that someone introduced us.”
Graham also spoke openly about his lifestyle during the early 1990s and explained why his conversations with José were limited. He said, “José was so focused on his sets there was not much time for chit-chat, and my memories are from his music and the atmosphere he created rather than him personally.”
José became synonymous with ambient music, chillout sessions and the Balearic approach associated with Ibiza. His selections moved freely between genres, with the location, audience and mood providing the connection between each piece of music.
During the final months of his life, José launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for treatment following a diagnosis of advanced colon cancer. The collapse of tourism during the pandemic placed further pressure on his finances and on many people working within Ibiza’s music and hospitality industries.
Graham described José’s contribution in his own words, saying, “His legacy will be how he created what sunset and chillout sets should always sound like.” He added, “Let’s hope his legacy lives on and we continue to party after all this is over.”
In the first part of the programme, Graham shares his memories and plays music connected to José’s ambient and chillout style, including a recording by José Padilla himself. The second part moves into Deep House and Tech House with music from Hoj and Newman, Betoko, Audioglider and other artists.
José María Padilla Requena was a pioneering Café del Mar DJ whose work helped establish ambient, chillout and Balearic music as a central part of Ibiza’s identity. This commemorative edition of Esta La Música honours the music, atmosphere and sunset sessions with which his name became closely associated.
Rest in Peace, José María Padilla Requena (4 December 1955 – 18 October 2020). Legendary Ibiza, Café Del Mar DJ and pioneer in the ambient, chillout and Balearic sound.
Graham Gold opens this Jose Padilla special with “Something,” placing the late Ibiza figure at the centre of Esta La Musica 372 through a warm House Music selection. Hoj and Newman follow with “Symptom Of Sound,” introducing the softer percussion and spacious arrangement of Organic House.
Betoko and Audioglider move the programme into Progressive House, before WhoMadeWho and Adana Twins add an Indie Dance shift with “The Aftermath.” Sebastian Busto’s “December,” remixed by Dmitry Molosh, returns the set to progressive structures with a deeper rhythmic focus.
Q.U.A.K.E. and Aaron Suiss featuring Haptic bring Melodic House and Techno into the middle section through Dizharmonia’s remix of “Breathe.” Noel Sanger and Nick Hook then supply two more progressive house tracks, with “Part Of You” followed by “A Night Filled With Stars.”
Classmatic introduces Tech House through the stripped-back groove of “Faux Français,” while Noissier’s “Dutch Kiss” restores the indie dance influence. Goldred’s “Flashmaster” returns to house before Dan Dan closes Esta La Música 372 with the melodic house and techno track “Devil In The Detail.”
Esta La Música 372 José Padilla Special
Jose Padilla - Something [Café Del Mar]
Hoj & Newman (I Love) - Symptom of Sound [All Day I Dream]
Betoko - Zounzpaze [Jannowitz]
Audioglider - Navel Gazer Star Chaser [Pro B Tech]
Whomadewho, Adana Twins - The Aftermath [Kompakt]
Sebastian Busto - December (Dmitry Molosh) [Odst]
Q.U.A.K.E., Aaron Suiss Ft. Haptic - Breathe (Dizharmonia) [Movement]
Noel Sanger - Part Of You [Dissident]
Nick Hook - A Night Filled With Stars (Martin Sharp) [Jeepers]
Classmatic - Faux Français [Solid Grooves Raw]
Noissier - Dutch Kiss [Jannowitz]
Goldred - Flashmaster [Barbershop]
Dan Dan - Devil In The Detail [Frequenza]
Listen on Mixcloud here.