UNSEEN ARCHIVES AND FOUR DECADES OF FLOWER POWER: BORA UZER ON IBIZA’S SOUND OF FREEDOM

words by MAGDALENA ROE

Earlier this summer, we found ourselves back at Ibiza’s legendary Pacha, diving into its most sought-after party: the Flower Power series, a vibrant, joy-filled celebration that pulses with the island’s spirit. From the moment you step through Pacha’s doors, you’re swept into a kaleidoscope of colour and unshakable good vibes. For more than four decades, Flower Power at Pacha has been one of the White Isle’s most enduring cultural exports. Founded in the 1980s by Pacha’s visionary Ricardo Urgell, Flower Power began as a tribute to the counterculture movements of the ’60s and ’70s. Evolved from a monthly event into a weekly phenomenon, it today stands as Ibiza’s longest-running party and a staple for clubbers worldwide.

This summer, the legacy carried on with a full-season residency, set to culminate in a spectacular closing on 4 October 2025. At its core is resident Bora Uzer, whose live sets, fusing emotional house, deep tech grooves, and global rhythms, have become the heartbeat of the night. His energy has been matched by a stellar roster of guests: Boy George, Louie Vega & Kenny Dope (Masters at Work), Purple Disco Machine, Roger Sanchez, Flight Facilities with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and many more, each channeling Flower Power’s timeless message of freedom and unity.

We were granted an exclusive look into rare archives from the 1990s and 2000s. The photographs capture the island’s golden years: hazy nights of unfiltered freedom, a dancefloor where boundaries dissolved, and a spirit of openness and connection that continues to define Flower Power today. The images, snapshots of glitter-drenched ravers and the raw joy of the early years reminding us that the essence of Flower Power has never faded. While the season draws to a close, we caught up with Bora Uzer to reflect on his residency and the magic that unfolds each week. The nostalgia that lies in the strobe lights isn’t just about looking back; it’s about channeling that radiant energy into the present, ensuring that every generation who steps into Pacha can feel the pulse that’s been echoing across dancefloors for decades.

This summer marked another huge chapter for Flower Power at Pacha Ibiza. What have been some of the highlights for you so far?
Honestly, the biggest highlight has been the energy of the crowd each week. You can feel the love in the room – it’s not just a party, it’s a movement. Sharing the stage with the London Community Gospel Choir was another standout moment for me. The combination of house energy and soulful voices was pure magic, a moment I don’t think has ever been experienced before in a club setting.

Looking back at the season as a whole, how would you describe the experience of being part of Ibiza’s longest-running party?
It feels like being part of history while also writing its next chapter. Flower Power is so deeply connected to Ibiza’s DNA, and being able to add my own twist to that legacy is surreal. To play inside a living, breathing piece of culture, and help shape it for the future, is an honour.

Do you have a favourite spot or hidden corner in the club that feels special to you?
Pacha Ibiza feels like home to me. I know the team there so well, and moving through the different spaces of the club always carries a special feeling.

Outside the booth, where on the island do you go to recharge or find inspiration?
My villa, always. I also love spending time by the water with my family – it’s very grounding. But year after year, I choose my villa to be the most peaceful place on the island, where the sound of birds surround me and inspiration comes in its purest form.

You radiate such positivity in your sets. Do you have a personal mantra or philosophy that guides the way you move through life and music?
My mantra is to live in the moment. It sounds simple, but it’s everything. Music is at its most powerful when it’s raw and present, and life is the same way. If you’re always looking ahead or back, you miss the beauty that’s right in front of you.

If you could invite anyone, past or present, to a Flower Power night, who would it be and why?
I’d invite Jimi Hendrix. I think he’d get it; he embodied freedom, experimentation and soul. I’d love to see what kind of chaos and beauty he’d bring into that room.

And if you could go back in time to the early days of Flower Power, who would you have loved to celebrate and dance with back then?
I would’ve loved to dance with the original Ibiza free spirits, the ones who set the tone for what the island became. That era of pure love, with no rules, just connection, must have been something else... and it’s a spirit I try to bring into my sets wherever I go.

CREDITS

images courtesy of PACHA ARCHIVE