DJ Paulette reflects on The Haçienda’s enduring influence

Manchester DJ, author and activist DJ Paulette has been discussing the continuing cultural importance of The Haçienda ahead of a major Ibiza appearance celebrating the legendary club at Amnesia.

In a new interview with Ibiza Spotlight, published on September 8, Paulette looks back at her connection with The Haçienda, explains how she approaches modern Haçienda sets and argues that the club’s legacy is not simply something reserved for people who experienced its original era.

Paulette developed her DJ career through The Haçienda’s influential Flesh night and remains closely associated with the FAC51 brand.

Her latest appearance in Ibiza comes at a particularly significant moment, as Amnesia is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The Haçienda’s first Ibiza appearance of 2026 came at 528 Ibiza

Before her upcoming Amnesia performance, Paulette was part of The Haçienda’s first Ibiza show of 2026 at 528 Ibiza.

Speaking about that event, she recalled starting her set at around 6:30pm in temperatures of approximately 30°C and said she was initially unsure how the heat would affect the crowd.

According to Paulette, the audience quickly responded and she was able to build the dancefloor before fellow Haçienda figure Graeme Park took over.

She also highlighted the mixture of people in the audience, describing a crowd made up of different generations, nationalities and backgrounds.

Why The Haçienda is still attracting younger clubbers

One of Paulette’s central arguments is that The Haçienda should not be viewed purely as a historical institution.

She says its appeal extends across generations because the music continues to speak to people who were not alive when the Manchester club was originally operating.

For Paulette, the important factor is not nostalgia but the continuing evolution of house music.

She describes herself as a “bridge” between different musical eras and says she enjoys moving audiences between older records, new productions, edits and remixes.

That approach means a Haçienda set can acknowledge the past without becoming trapped by it.

‘Heritage’ is not the point for DJ Paulette

Paulette makes a clear distinction between celebrating musical history and simply reproducing it.

She explains that she does not approach Haçienda performances as exercises in heritage, despite the enormous historical significance of the brand.

Instead, she uses classics as starting points and frequently combines them with contemporary versions, remixes and new productions designed for modern dancefloors.

Her philosophy is to keep the music moving forward.

That also gives her considerable freedom when performing under the Haçienda banner, allowing her to connect tracks from different eras and genres within the same set.

A different atmosphere awaits at Amnesia

Paulette also expects her upcoming Amnesia performance to feel different from the outdoor 528 Ibiza event.

She points out that indoor and outdoor dancefloors behave differently, with crowds responding differently when they are surrounded by a club environment rather than an open sky.

That could mean a harder, more technical or more vocal-oriented set, although she says the final direction will depend on the atmosphere on the night.

Her comments underline another important part of her DJ philosophy: the set is not completely predetermined and should respond to the people in front of the booth.

Why Paulette sees parallels between The Haçienda and Amnesia

Perhaps the most significant part of the interview concerns the relationship between the two clubs.

Paulette sees strong parallels between The Haçienda and Amnesia, describing both as pioneering institutions that helped shape club culture rather than simply following it.

She argues that pioneers often do not receive enough recognition for exploring new territory and creating spaces that later generations of nightlife can build upon.

In her view, Amnesia has maintained that role on Ibiza by continuing to welcome new artists, sounds and audiences while also recognising the people and music that came before them.

Amnesia’s ‘live in the moment’ approach

Paulette also praises the atmosphere Amnesia is trying to create around its current programming.

She says the club's messaging is increasingly focused on being present rather than simply creating moments designed to look good on social media.

For her, the most important elements remain the music, emotion, sound and collective energy of a night.

That philosophy fits naturally with her criticism of excessive phone use on dancefloors and her broader belief that clubbing works best when audiences are genuinely engaged with what is happening around them.

DJ Paulette is returning to Amnesia on September 19

The reason for the interview is ultimately her upcoming performance at Amnesia.

On Saturday, September 19, DJ Paulette will join an all-star FAC51: The Haçienda lineup at Amnesia Ibiza.

The bill includes David Morales, Inner City performing live, Todd Terry, Graeme Park, Mike Pickering and Alison Limerick, alongside Haçienda Classical live.

The event is listed as part of Amnesia’s 50th Anniversary Specials and is scheduled from 11:00pm until 6:00am.

The official FAC51 website is also promoting the September 19 Amnesia date as part of its current programme.

A major night for Manchester and Ibiza club culture

The significance of the event goes beyond a lineup of respected DJs.

The Haçienda is one of the most influential institutions in British club history, while Amnesia remains one of Ibiza’s longest-established clubbing landmarks.

Bringing the two identities together creates a celebration built around the shared history of underground dance music.

For Paulette, however, the point is not simply to look backwards.

Her comments make clear that The Haçienda’s relevance depends on allowing its music and culture to continue evolving.

DJ Paulette is also writing a new chapter in Manchester music history

Away from the DJ booth, Paulette is working on her second book.

Following her 2024 autobiography, Welcome To The Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ, she is now writing Blackout: An Alternative History of Manchester Music.

The project focuses on under-recognised Black musicians, innovators and cultural figures who have contributed to Manchester’s musical history.

Paulette told Ibiza Spotlight that she had interviewed around 100 people over the previous six months and was still conducting additional interviews.

The manuscript deadline is June 2027, with publication expected in the final quarter of 2027.

The future of The Haçienda is not about nostalgia

DJ Paulette’s comments offer an interesting perspective on how historic club brands can remain relevant in modern nightlife.

For her, The Haçienda is not valuable simply because of what happened decades ago.

Its importance comes from the freedom it represents, its eclectic approach to music and the ability to bring different generations together on the same dancefloor.

That makes the upcoming Amnesia event more than another anniversary celebration.

It is an opportunity to connect Manchester’s legendary club culture with Ibiza’s own history of musical experimentation.

On September 19, DJ Paulette and the FAC51 team will bring that connection to one of Ibiza’s most historic dancefloors.

And judging by Paulette’s comments, the aim will not be to recreate the past exactly.

It will be to make another night that future clubbers might one day remember.