Cristina Pedroche (Madrid, 1988) is a well-known television presenter, yoga instructor, model, and now a DJ. She became famous for her daring and controversial outfits worn during the New Year’s countdown, such as the one by Adlib designer Charo Ruiz in 2014. She has just made her debut in Ibiza in her new artistic role behind the DJ booth.
What has your relationship with music been like so far?
It’s been like a getaway. When I was little and going to school, I loved listening to music and would sing songs by Malú, for example, while I did my homework. As I got older, it became more important, as part of the fun with friends at nightclubs. Life takes you down different paths. I’ve always been a good student, very hardworking and into sports, and music has always been there for me.
Did you spend a lot of time at night and in the music scene back then?
I’ve experienced nightlife from the other side. I’ve been a waitress, a hostess… And I didn’t really enjoy the party scene because when you’re working, you see people drinking and having fun, and you see it in a different light. I’ve always found the party scene a bit tiresome. Music has been by my side in moments of happiness, when I let myself go or forgot everything for a while. Party-going never really appealed to me until I got to Ibiza.
How did you discover the Ibiza party scene?
My husband, David, told me, “You have to check out UNVRS: it’s the best club in the world and you have to go late.” I thought, “What am I doing watching David Guetta at three in the morning?” I had gone to bed with the kids at ten and he woke me up at two to say, “Let’s go? Are you coming?” I didn’t think twice and got up. When I got to UNVRS, I was absolutely blown away by its magnitude, how everything sounded, and how you could feel the music inside you. When the show started, I was completely impressed. There was a moment when I thought, “They’re not letting me leave.” I felt something primal, it hit me in my hips, and seeing so many souls dancing to the same rhythm was indescribable. I was in a kind of trance; I was dancing and felt like I had left my body. It was a total experience; it blew my mind, even though I’ve never done drugs. Another night we went to Ushuaïa Ibiza and the same thing happened to me. We went to the backstage area and it was absolutely crazy.
Is that how you got into the world of electronics?
From that moment on, I felt that this music was about something completely different, and the very next day I started listening to more tracks, other artists, and diving deeper into electronic music. I listened to Calvin Harris, David Guetta, and the more commercial tracks to start; then I moved on to the DJs, who are true goddesses. The way they move, their vibe, and the music they make – from Peggy Gou to Charlotte de Witte. They are impressive and powerful.
Does this mean that women are empowering themselves in a world as male-dominated as the one of DJs?
I don’t like the word “empower,” because it’s as if that power had been taken away from you. We need to reconnect with our power: we already have it. No one has been able to take away our power as women, even though sometimes they don’t let us express it.
Did the idea to become a DJ come to you out of the blue?
I was with David in London when Sebastián Gamboa called him to ask, “What do you think about your wife organizing the closing party for your restaurant, StreetXO?” And suddenly I thought: if someone like Sebastián—a legendary DJ—thinks I can do it, it’s because he really believes in me and has confidence in me. I thought about it for a while, and when I got back to Madrid, I met up with Sebas at the Kapital nightclub one afternoon to check out the DJ booth, and I told him, “Let’s do it.” He did a couple of sound checks and played some songs for me, and I realized, “If I work hard at this, I’ll get it. I won’t be the best DJ in two months, but I’ll be better than when I started.”
Was it a difficult learning experience?
I found the fundamentals relatively easy because I have a good ear. I started studying, listening to music, and working with Sebas two or three hours a day. I bombarded him with questions about effects, tracks, rhythms, mixes, and other dilemmas. We started with simple, minimalist stuff, and before I knew it, I was behind the decks at Ushuaïa Ibiza (laughs). He was very encouraging and convinced me I could do it. He told me, “If your energy is good and you play the music you love, everything will flow and you’ll transmit that energy and your rhythm to the people. Watch them, see how they dance, and think about which song goes well after the last one.”
Was your collaboration with Sebastián Gamboa a chance encounter or the result of your desire to learn how to DJ?
In the beginning, it was just a bit by chance, like a challenge, but then I got hungry to learn and to do it well, and I threw myself into it headfirst with Sebas and ChatGPT, to the point that I even dared to choose some songs I liked, but Sebas couldn’t find any chords for my repertoire. I wanted to develop my own creativity from the very beginning. I’m very bold and a perfectionist.
Are you afraid of criticism?
I’m not afraid because no one will criticize me more than I criticize myself. No one can be as harsh in their criticism as I am. I am my own worst enemy. The first time I heard one of my performances in the hotel room, I was moved to tears by how well it had turned out.
Have you been a good student?
I’m a good student; I work hard, with a lot of care, and I don’t rest until I’ve mastered the setup or the mix. I get very nervous, but I have to admit that the nerves I feel as a DJ are different: it’s like an internal tingling… With a rhythm. I’ve practiced at home by setting myself challenges to see how I’d do, and I’ve succeeded. I’ve done some big gigs, like the New Year’s Eve countdown and TV contests. This is my element, and it’s where I feel most confident.
Are you thinking of taking the DJ gig seriously, or have you just been doing it to promote your husband’s restaurant, StreetXO?
I wouldn’t want to limit myself to just DJing at the Ibiza party because I’m really passionate about this new aspect of my career. I’ve already bought a DJ turntable and have everything at home to practice. I’m already putting together playlists of songs I like to mix into a set, and Sebas corrects me sometimes, but I enjoy it so much that I wouldn’t rule out doing it again.
Do you know the nightclubs in Ibiza?
I know the main ones. I love the music at Hï Ibiza, Ushuaïa Ibiza, and UNVRS – those are the only ones I’ve been to so far. I haven’t discovered the underground scene at DC-10 yet, but I might do it on January 1st, at the New Year’s Eve party. Gamboa tells me it’s the most genuine and authentic scene, and a breeding ground for up-and-coming DJs.
What kind of music do you choose?
I like styles like Afro house, house, techno, and all kinds of dance music. I play what I like, what moves me, and makes both me and the audience dance. Sebas says I’m a bit eclectic in that sense. Being a DJ lets you go with the flow: you don’t have to be rigid. Everyone has their own tastes and style. I like to start with a powerful track and keep the session going with more powerful beats.
Is DJing a new challenge in their multifaceted career?
I hope so. I already have some offers, and on October 28th I’ll also be DJing at StreetXO in Madrid, the day before my birthday. I haven’t been this excited about something in a long time, and that’s DJing. It’s like meditating: I’m completely focused on what I’m doing, no phones, no problems, no emails, nothing to distract me. I’m completely present in the moment; it’s my therapy right now and I feel like a different person. I’ve fulfilled a dream I didn’t even know I had, and I’ll be eternally grateful to Sebastián Gamboa for getting me involved. Maybe if someone else had asked me, I would have said no because I would have thought they just wanted a celebrity for a party, but he’s down to earth, he’s a legend, he’s not a poser, and the fact that he trusted me was fantastic.
Is she embarking on a music career now? Is she aware of what this could mean for other women?
Women have been slow to arrive, but they’re making a huge impact and are now unstoppable. Take DJs like Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou, Nina Kravitz, and others as examples: they’re incredible. Suddenly, my idols have changed.
Why have girls taken so long to take over the DJ booths in nightclubs?
Because of the sexist and patriarchal world we live in, in every sense. It’s the same on television, where it’s very difficult for more women to take the reins of programs. This idea that “since men are the ones who make things work, we stick with the men” is not correct; we have to give women a chance. The Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte started out using a male name and, once she succeeded, was able to switch to her real name, which she uses now. If the fact that she took this step helps encourage other women to become DJs, that will mean a lot to me.
Will it make Michelin-starred chef Dabiz Muñoz dance?
I’ve already gotten him to dance, even though he’s not much of a dancer. He loves my music and what I do as a DJ.
What do you like about Ibiza?
It’s a way to escape from everything. I’m happy but sad to leave; I’m already thinking about when I’ll be back. I love the energy of the island, the sea, the atmosphere, the air. It feels like you breathe differently here; the people are incredibly kind and have made us feel very welcome. David’s restaurant, StreetXO, is absolutely buzzing. It’s a pleasure to be here, and I wouldn’t have expected anything less, because it’s one of the best places in the world. They take the food as seriously as the nightlife. It seems like nothing can go wrong here: everything is great.
You’ve been linked to Ibizan fashion because of your attire for the midnight bells. How did that come about?
My connection with Ibiza in general gets stronger every time I come. I’ll have to buy a house there: I find it so hard to leave and always want to stay longer. I’m a big fan of Charo Ruiz as a designer. She was the first to trust me in 2014 with an incredible sheer dress for the New Year’s Eve countdown, and you can see the sensation it caused. I have worn Adlib for important occasions. I couldn’t DJ in an Adlib dress because I had a commitment with Nuria Sardá: her shop is at the Ibiza Gallery and we have to support local brands. And I knew exactly what I wanted to wear.
