José Padilla is an influential Spanish Chill Out and Downtempo DJ and producer.  Padilla is famous for his long running DJ residency at the legendary Café del Mar in Ibiza and for establishing the equally famous Chill Out compilation series of the same name. Padilla has released close to twenty albums and compilations.

Early Years: 1994 to 1999

José Padilla's big break came when he became resident DJ at the now legendary Café del Mar in 1991. 

Padilla started his residency just as the dance music club scene was beginning to take shape.  The first generation of UK dance music DJs such as Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling had started to spread the word about Ibiza following their inspirational summers there in the late eighties. 

As dance and club culture began to settle down into a structure, the post-club chill out became part of the overall clubbing experience.  Watching the sun rise and set over the sea at Café del Mar listening to Padilla’s Chill Out and Downtempo sets helped define what Chill Out were in clubbing culture.

In 1994 Padilla released the first of what would turn out to be an immensely successful and long running Chill Out compilation series ‘Café Del Mar’ (React 1994).  In total Padilla compiled 6 of the Café del Mar compilation albums in addition to a 20th anniversary album. 

The evolution of Padilla’s Café del Mar compilations reflects the evolution of Chill Out music.  The earlier compilations are diverse collections of predominately non-dance music artists.  But as the series progresses more and more Chill Out and Ambient tracks produced by dance music artists start to appear.

Padilla included many of his own production on the Café del Mar compilations, such as the sun drenched Downtempo classic ‘Walking On Air’ (DRO EastWest S.A. 1996).

In addition to Chill Out sets Padilla also turned his hand to peak time house and trance sets and recorded two BBC1 Essential Mixes, in 1995 and 1997.

In 1998 Padilla recorded his first studio album ‘Souvenir’  (Mercury 1998).

Later Years: 2000 to present

In 2001 Padilla released his second, and to date latest, studio album ‘Navigator’ (DRO EastWest S.A. 2001) which included the Balearic House track ‘Adios Ayer’ (DRO EastWest S.A. 1999).  Featuring Seal on vocals ‘Adios Ayer’ is Padilla’s most successful single.

Padilla stopped compiling Café del Mar compilations following Volumen Seis – with the exception of the anniversary album ‘Café Del Mar - The Best Of’ (Mercury 2004).

Instead Padilla turned his attention to a number of new compilations including ‘Café Solo’ and ‘Bella Musica’. 

Padilla is still resident DJ at Café del Mar and additionally plays across the globe.

Throughout the 1990’s José Padilla helped shape and define Chill Out music and culture.  His long running residency at one of Ibiza’s most influential venues exposed his sets to successive generations of dance music DJs. Though Padilla has continued some significant productions to the Chill Out genre, his main contribution is as a DJ.

José Padilla was born in Barcelona, Spain, but moved to the island of Ibiza in 1975.