Dark Mode Light Mode

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

By pressing the Subscribe button, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Follow Us
Follow Us

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

By pressing the Subscribe button, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Glastonbury profits doubled in 2024
Gabry Ponte talks new single ‘Ghost’, playing at San Siro Stadium in June and shares exclusive mix! [Interview]
Armin van Buuren and Alok share magical single ‘Euphoria’

Gabry Ponte talks new single ‘Ghost’, playing at San Siro Stadium in June and shares exclusive mix! [Interview]

Gabry Ponte / Image courtesy of PR

Gabry Ponte is an electronic music stalwart who has been involved in the industry for over twenty years. He rose to fame with the group Eiffel 65, who released the iconic track ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ in 1998. Since then, the Italian has solidified his position in the international electronic music arena with performances at Tomorrowland, Ultra, Amnesia and EDC to name just a few. As one of the most in-demand DJ’s and producers in the world, Gabry has performed over 150 times between 2023 and 2024 in 13 countries to over 1.5 million people. This year, he will make history once more as he’ll be the first DJ to perform at the legendary San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. In our exclusive interview with Gabry, he talks about the inspiration behind his latest single ‘Ghost’, performing at San Siro Stadium this year and he shares a phenomenal mix below!

Gabry, you’ve had a long and successful career in music. How did you first get into electronic dance music, and what initially inspired you to become a DJ and producer?

Ever since I was very young, I’ve had an unconditional love for music. I grew up listening to Italian music and became passionate about its distinctive melodies.

Then I discovered dance music, and it was love at first sight. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of djing, guiding people through a journey and surprising the audience with unexpected sounds. I started playing in clubs when DJs were still tucked away in a dark corner for hours on end. How much the role of the DJ has changed since then!

You’re set to play at the SAN SIRO DANCE event at San Siro Stadium in Italy on 28 June 2025. You’ll also be the first DJ to headline the iconic venue. How do you feel about such a mammoth achievement and how are you preparing for it?

It’s honestly surreal. San Siro is such an iconic place for sports, music, and culture. To be the first DJ to headline it is both an honor and a huge responsibility. I’m thrilled about the show we’re preparing, and I want the audience to leave the stadium thinking they wish they could have danced for three more hours!

You recently released a single ‘Born To Love Ya’ featuring Sean Paul and Natti Natasha. Can you walk us through your creative approach with this track?

This track was really fun to work on! Sean Paul is a living legend and Natti Natasha brings such a fresh, powerful and vibrant energy. When the initial vocal recordings came to me, I knew I wanted to tweak that iconic dancehall rhythm with electronic elements to give it a global dancefloor appeal. It was a very natural encounter, and the contamination happened spontaneously on both sides. Dancehall and EDM share the same roots and thrive on the same energy.

You’ve collaborated with so many great artists over the course of your career. Are there any collaborations that stand out to you as particularly memorable or inspiring?

Well I would say David Guetta and Bebe Rexha re-working our song ‘BLUE’ and bring it back on top of the charts all over the world was quite an outstanding one! I have a lot of respect for David, not only for the hits that he keeps making but for the enthusiasm he still have for music and for trying to raise the bar higher and higher regardless of how far he got. We share the same passion and the same mindset.

Your latest solo single ‘Ghost’ was released just a few days ago. What was the inspiration behind the single?

I’ve always been fascinated about the history of this melody, coming from the Russian folk culture and then become known worldwide thanks to the ‘Tetris’ video game. That gritty 8-bit sound is the foundation of all electronic sounds, and being able to modernize it and give it a fresh twist was truly enjoyable. A few months ago I got pitched this peculiar topline and let’s say that all the pieces fell perfectly into place on the first try—this time, it was a really fun game 😉

Tell us more about your PENTAPHONIA record label launched earlier this year. What’s your vision for the project?

I like to think of PENTAPHONIA as a free space where I can express my more Techno and club-oriented sounds. It’s a young label, but it has already given me so many satisfactions, and next year’s releases, featuring both established artists and fresh new talents, really excite me.

Do you prefer using hardware synthesizers, or do you lean more towards VST plugins and software for your production?

I’m on tour very often and having so many options and tools in the box is truly amazing and allow me to produce everywhere I am. So this is where I make most of my music.

But I remember when I started out, I had to mark mixer and synthesizers’ settings with tape, and the equipment was incredibly complex and expensive. This is where I’ve learnt how to produce and now in my studio, there are both new and vintage synthesizers. Their sound has a magic that, even today, remains unmatched.

Which is the one piece of software or hardware you’re still looking to add to your collection?

I’ve always wanted to own (and being able to use) one of those Moog modular synths that cover the whole wall if you know what I mean. Maybe one day.

How do you create and manipulate sounds to get your signature style?

I’m a perfectionist and I spend a lot of time refining my productions. Also, I’m not ashamed of saying that I have several producers who help me out when I’m struggling with a sound or when I spend too much time on a track. it’s very important for me having someone I can trust who can take over my work with fresh ears. Sometimes a track gets bounced back and forth between me and other producers for months before it’s released. To speed up the process I’ve learned to work on almost every Daw on the market.

Can you take us through a typical day in your life when you’re not performing or working on new music?

When I’m not performing, I like to go to bed early so I can wake up early the next day, bring my little daughter to school then go to the gym, or run (I love doing sports in general it recharges my mind).

If you weren’t making music, what other career or passion would you pursue?

I like to think that I could have become a researcher at CERN in Geneva. I visited this incredible place with the school, and I was fascinated. Then I studied Physics and I was just a few exams away from graduating. I’m still very passionate about it and in my free time I still like to read science articles.

What does 2025 hold for you?

2025 is a year full of new opportunities and challenges. In addition to San Siro, I have many projects that are about to take shape, and I’m determined to keep raising the bar  higher and higher. I hope we’ll soon find ourselves here talking about it together.

Stream Gabry Ponte’s exclusive YourEDM mix below:

Tracklist:

 Gabry Ponte – Dreams
Gabry Ponte – ID
Gabry Ponte, SMACK – Rock the House
Gabry Ponte, 7Skies, Jm El Mar – Storm
Gabry Ponte, DES3ETT – La Boheme
Gabry Ponte, Amba Sheperd – Chase The Sun
Gabry Ponte, Robbie Rivera – Hated on (Funkatron)
Gabry Ponte – ID
Gabry Ponte, Just_Us, Hi Gate – Dance to the beat (Pitchin’)
Gabry Ponte, Tai Woffinden, Jasmin Jane – Body
Gabry Ponte, T78 – La Techno
Gabry Ponte – Missing
Gigi D’Agostino – Bla Bla (ID remix)
Gabry Ponte, Prezioso & Marvin – Discotek
Gabry Ponte, Steve Aoki – He’s a Pirate (Save Me)
ID – We Come 1
Gabry Ponte – Ghost
Gabry Ponte – Crusade
Gabry Ponte, Blasterjaxx, 1World, Antonetta – Now we’re free

Gabry Ponte Tour Dates:

1 March 2025 – Electric Brixton, London, UK

28 June 2025 – SAN SIRO DANCE at San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy

Follow Gabry Ponte

Spotify InstagramFacebookXTikTokYouTube

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

By pressing the Subscribe button, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Previous Post

Glastonbury profits doubled in 2024

Next Post

Armin van Buuren and Alok share magical single ‘Euphoria’