David Guetta News
Interview with Gabry Ponte: From ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ to San Siro Stadium – Reflections on 2024 and 25 Years of Success
Italian DJ and producer Gabry Ponte has been a defining force in electronic dance music for over two decades. From the global phenomenon ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ to his upcoming historic show at San Siro Stadium, Ponte continues to push boundaries in the dance music scene. In this exclusive interview, the former Eiffel 65 member discusses his Grammy-nominated track’s enduring legacy, his milestone-packed 2024, and his vision for the future of electronic music. From launching his new label PENTAPHONIA to collaborating with industry titans like Steve Aoki and Sean Paul, Ponte shares insights into his creative process and the evolution of dance music.
Before jumping into your 2024 highlights. Let’s start things off with a bit of nostalgia. ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ is undoubtedly one of the biggest dance tracks of all time and has become a global cultural phenomenon. How do you feel about the track’s enduring legacy, and did you ever imagine it would still be so popular decades later?
It’s hard to explain the phenomenon of Blue (Da Ba Dee), also because it takes on forms and dimensions of such magnitude that even I am amazed! Blue has been at the center of a movement and the evolution of dance music worldwide, and just thinking that after 25 years it received a second Grammy nomination thanks to the rework by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha speaks volumes about its longevity and relevance.
I am, and always will be, grateful for this track. It’s evergreen…actually, everblue!
Concerning the impact of ‘Blue’, we’ve all heard numerous remixes of the track but which remix or interpretation of ‘Blue’ has impressed you the most?
As mentioned before, David’s remake is one of a kind!
It gave the track a second life without distorting it, while making it contemporary. There have been many reworks and remixes of the song, but this one stands out above all, without a doubt.
Your ’25 Anni di Dance’ tour celebrated 25 years of your music career and kicked off 2024 in style. What were some of the most memorable moments from the arena tour?
The celebratory tour for my 25-year career will leave so many beautiful memories in my mind, but if I have to choose one, I’d say stepping onto the stage in Milan for the first show, with a venue of over 12,000 people completely sold out, was a fantastic moment. When, at the end of the show, a group of fans started chanting “San Siro, San Siro” over and over, I became convinced that we could put on a great show at the “Scala del Calcio”, as the Meazza Stadium in Milan is often called.
You launched your boutique label PENTAPHONIA earlier this year, exclusively on Beatport. What inspired you to create the label, and what’s your vision for discovering and promoting new electronic music talent?
Pentaphonia was created to be a space dedicated to club releases, as free and experimental as possible. We’re just at the beginning of this journey, yet we’ve already achieved results that have exceeded expectations, with numerous tracks charting in the most relevant genres. This makes me realize we’re on the right path.
For next year, we already have an exciting release schedule, featuring both top-tier names and emerging artists whom I can’t wait for you to discover.
This past year saw some incredible cross-genre collaborations from Tiesto and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s remix of ‘Mockingbird’ to your track with Steve Aoki’Save Me’ and the dancehall-inspired ‘Born To Love Ya’ with Sean Paul and NATTI NATASHA. What has been the most rewarding part of collaborating and what has been the most challenging part?
Collaborating with artists of this caliber and such immense talent is a constant source of inspiration and pushes you to raise the bar of what you demand from yourself. The artistic encounter with any artist is enriching in itself, and having the opportunity to work with talents of this level is truly an honour.
Speaking of recent music, your single ‘Ghost’ closed out this year, can you tell us about the creation of this track?
‘Ghost’ was a fun project because it let me tap into my nerdy-nostalgic side. Reworking such a well-known theme is no small challenge. Everyone recognizes that melody, and in my opinion, when you approach these iconic musical pieces, your task is to give them a fresh, contemporary feel without altering their essence. I had a lot of fun creating this track, and the audience’s excitement when I play it live is truly incredible.
You’re set to headline Milan’s San Siro Stadium – a massive milestone for any electronic artist. What does this event mean to you, especially as an Italian DJ who’s been pioneering the dance music scene?
It’s a dream come true to be honest. San Siro is a legendary venue, and to be the first DJ to perform there feels like a huge win not just for me but for the entire dance music community too. When I started djing back in the days there was not such a thing as “superstar djs” the dj was supposed to be playing in clubs and today I have the opportunity to perform in front of more than 50k people I still can’t believe it. It’s a chance to showcase how far our scene has come.
You’ve taken to some epic stages this year including Tomorrowland Brasil, Arabax Music Festival, Moon & Stars Festival. Are there any moments behind the decks from 2024 that stand out?
The thrill of performing in front of thousands of people is truly indescribable. You never get used to it—it gives you a unique adrenaline rush and creates a connection with the audience that is unforgettable. Thousands of hands and hearts beating in unison amplify the emotions conveyed through the music to the highest degree. It’s a collective ritual of immense power.
Electronic music is constantly evolving with technologies like AI and immersive experiences. How do you see these emerging technologies potentially transforming music production and live performances in the next few years?
Music is an extraordinary testing ground for technological advancements and has the unique characteristic of always being at the forefront, embracing and being influenced by innovation earlier than many other forms of artistic expression. I see AI as a tool that can assist artistic intuition and speed up certain processes. However, without the awareness and the ability to control the machines, it will never reach its full potential. Therefore, studying music and production remains essential for everyone—to be the drivers of this change rather than being overwhelmed by it.
As someone who’s been at the forefront of electronic music for 25 years, looking ahead to the future, what emerging trends or new sounds in the global dance music scene are you most excited about, and how do you see yourself potentially incorporating these into your future work?
A notable trend is the revival of sounds that were huge around the period I started making music. I’m thinking about iconic synthesizers like the Korg M1 or sampler like the 909 or the 303 which shaped electronic music in the 90s. These elements are being reinterpreted and the results are pretty cool to me.
Catch Gabry Ponte live in 2025!
Gabry Ponte, Electric Brixton, London on 1st March 2025. More info here.
Gabry Ponte, SAN SIRO DANCE, San Siro Stadium, Italy, 28th June 2025. More info here.
David Guetta AMF 2026 confirmed for Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday, October 24, 2026
AMF returns to the Johan Cruijff Arena during Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), announcing global icon David Guetta as the first headliner for its 2026 edition, returning after six years. The French superstar and number 1 DJ in the world brings his Monolith Show to Amsterdam on Saturday, October 24, 2026, marking a major moment for both the festival and the artist. Pre-registration is now open, with tickets going on sale Wednesday, March 25. Pre-sale tickets will be available from 12:00 CET, followed by the general sale at 15:00 CET via amf-festival.com.
David Guetta Returns to AMF After Six Years
David Guetta’s return to AMF places him back at the centre of one of ADE’s most visible stages, with the event continuing to close out the week inside the Johan Cruijff Arena. His previous appearances at AMF go back to the period when the show consistently filled the arena with crowds of around 40,000, with lineups that included Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Tiësto across different editions. David Guetta appeared on lineups such as AMF 2019, before returning again in 2020, which is the last time he performed at the event.
That six-year gap is what gives this booking more weight. AMF has remained a fixed point in Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), but the names leading each edition have shifted across recent years. Bringing David Guetta back into that closing slot for 2026, which also aligns with ADE’s 30th anniversary, places him again within the group of artists historically tied to the final night of the week. While ADE unfolds across clubs and venues such as Paradiso, Melkweg, and Shelter, AMF stands apart as a single-night stadium show, which is where this return carries significance.
What the Monolith Show Actually Is
For AMF 2026, David Guetta is set to present his Monolith Show, a production format introduced across his recent large-scale performances. According to the official Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) announcement, the show is centred around a vertical LED monolith structure, supported by 3D mapping and a detailed lighting system designed for stadium environments. This gives a clearer picture of what is being brought to Amsterdam, especially within a venue the size of the Johan Cruijff Arena.
The same concept has been tied to upcoming stadium shows, including dates at Stade de France, where the production is described around the same monolith-based structure. That continuity suggests that the version presented at AMF 2026 will follow the same format, adjusted to the scale of the arena. In practical terms, this points to a set where visual production plays a central role alongside the music, consistent with how David Guetta has been presenting his recent headline performances.
AMF 2026 Ticket Sales and Pre-Registration Details
With David Guetta confirmed for AMF 2026, pre-registration is now open ahead of the first ticket release. This phase has been used consistently by AMF to manage early demand, particularly once the first headline name is announced and interest begins to concentrate around initial ticket phases.
Pre-sale begins on Wednesday, March 25 at 12:00 CET, followed by the general sale at 15:00 CET via the official AMF platform. In previous editions, the main floor inside the Johan Cruijff Arena has typically been the first to sell out, alongside premium and VIP options that offer designated viewing areas within the venue. With the first announcement now confirmed, further lineup additions are expected in the lead-up to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) as the full AMF 2026 lineup is revealed.
[UNVRS] has a hugely stacked lineup for the coming Ibiza season which they’ve just added to with one of the biggest B2B sets in history from two legends of the game. Carl Cox, and David Guetta.
The announcement of this B2B came as part of Carl Cox’s storming residency at [UNVRS] Ibiza. He’ll be taking to the stage every Sunday from June 21st to October 4th 2026 bringing a variety of genres, guests, and his signature infectious energy. In the build up he’s teased fans saying, “expect the unexpected, always” and the reveal of him performing with David Guetta certainly comes as a surprise. Despite both being staples of the electronic music scene for several decades they’ve never shared the stage with each other. Making up for lost time on July 26th they’ll be going B2B for the whole night to create history and add to their spectacular legacy.
Get your tickets for Carl Cox at [UNVRS] here.
Both Cox and Guetta have their own residencies at [UNVRS] with David Guetta bringing back his ‘Galactic Circus’ residency. This will be running every Friday from June 11th to October 2nd 2026. Support artists for Guetta are yet to be announced but Carl Cox has revealed an outstanding set of artists who will be joining him over the summer. Along with David Guetta the likes of Chris Stussy, Richie Hawtin, Miss Monique, and Camelphat will all be making some noise at [UNVRS].
Tickets for the David Guetta back2back are available here.
The scale of the lineup for [UNVRS] over the summer cannot be understated with Carl Cox and David Guetta going B2B possibly being the crown jewel. Two legends with cataclysmic pedigree meeting on stage for the first time for a full night of music is a recipe for history making.
View the full lineup for Carl Cox’s residency at [UNVRS] below.
David Guetta has been crowned the World’s No.1 DJ for a record-equalling fifth time at DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs 2025 awards in Ibiza.
David Guetta has been crowned as The World’s No.1 DJ, as DJ Mag announced the results of Top 100 DJs 2025 at an awards show at [UNVRS] Ibiza. The historic win comes 14 years after his first crown in 2011, which was followed by a spell of dominance in the early 2020s, which saw him win the title in 2020, 2021 and 2023. By reclaiming top spot in this year’s public poll, the Frenchman has become only the third person to have won the title five times, alongside Martin Garrix and Armin van Buuren.
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Now more than four decades into his career, Guetta continues to operate at full speed, releasing over a single a month in the past year. 2025 has been one of his most varied too, with releases including the trap and hip-hop influenced track ‘Lucky’, with MORTEN, collaborations with Afrojack, Martin Garrix, Hypaton, Nicky Romero, Hugel, MK, Fatboy Slim, a new single with Sia, in addition to a remix for fictional K-pop group Huntr/x.
This creative drive extended to the live arena too. His new [UNVRS] residency, Galactic Circus, which ran from June to October, saw him perform extended, improvised sets. Internationally, he is touring The Monolith, a large-scale show featuring advanced LED staging and visuals, with recent landmark performances at AlUla in Saudi Arabia and Paris’ Stade de France.
Speaking of his history-making win, David Guetta said:
To win Top 100 DJs again, for joint-record fifth time, is an honour, it means a lot to me because the greatest feeling in my life, truly, is playing new music for people and seeing their reactions. It might sound crazy, but I still make music every single day, because I see it as a hobby and a passion. The most exciting thing for me is being creative and going away from what everyone else is doing.”
For the first time in Top 100 DJs history, the World’s No. 1 DJ was crowned live in Ibiza with the Top 100 DJs Awards taking place at newly opened [UNVRS]. David Guetta performed a two-hour headline set at the venue, as part of a genre-spanning bill that also included Armin van Buuren, Miss Monique, Boris Brejcha, Indira Paganotto and Jazzy.
During the awards ceremony, hosted by Arielle Free, awards were presented to David Guetta (The World’s No.1 DJ), Armin van Buuren (The World’s No.1 Trance DJ & Outstanding Contribution), Michael Bibi (Highest New Entry), Sara Landry (The World’s No.1 Hard DJ), Jazzy (Future Star) and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike (The World’s No. 1 DJ Group). Additional award winners include Charlotte de Witte (The World’s No. 1 Techno DJ), FISHER (The World’s No.1 House DJ), and Solomun (Highest Climber).
As part of the results rollout, DJ Mag hosted a fundraiser, in aid of Bridges for Music, the groundbreaking non-profit and music academy based in the Langa township, South Africa. DJ Mag canvassed artists featured in the poll to consider giving back by sponsoring students from under-served communities to join the Bridges for Music programme, a holistic initiative combining music, mental health support and entrepreneurship, and providing access to the music industry. At the time of publication, the partnership had raised £149,442.
Read the full Top 100 DJs results now at https://djmag.com/top100djs
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