caribbean
“I was playing just as the sun was setting, so I built my set around that energy. The crowd reflected it, and I was able to go more melodic towards the end. It was one of my favorite nights of the summer.”
A SUMMER ON THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT
Beyond the White Isle, Carter’s schedule was stacked with festi- vals across Europe, Asia, and the US, Parookaville, Mysteryland, Ultra Korea, Family Piknik, El- row Marbella, and more. Each gig taught him something different.
“Stateside, my Breakaway
ble. They bring a top-tier has
experience been
experience to underserved markets, so the fans are always super excited, even for up-and-coming artists like myself. Elrow Marbella was another massive milestone. A few years ago, I changed my sound, and this was my first booking from such a big brand in the house music industry. It hasn’t always been easy, but receiving that support showed me I was doing something right.”
Clubs, though, remain where he fe- els most free.
“In clubs I can freestyle, which is honestly more enjoyable. Since I’m playing for two hours or more, I’ll have a huge playlist ready and go from there. At festivals, I usually have only an hour to 90 minutes, sometimes less, so everything is more carefully planned. But in both, I always feed off the energy in the booth. The crowd feeds off that energy too.”
One of his most memorable club moments this year was The Surf Lodge in the Hamptons, where he played direct support for ANOTR and Mita Gami.
“The vibe there is really special. It’s rare to see artists of that caliber in such an intimate venue, and it’s also a place I grew up visiting, so I’m always surrounded by friends. I even had the chance to bring my Those Nights party
afterparties, where the energy was wild. We even had Francis Mercier jump on the decks one night. It was definitely one of Those Nights.”
180 for their
incredi- festival
with
DEFINING HIS HOUSE
Carter admits that 2025 has been about leaning fully into house mu- sic, shaped by the contrast between Europe, Asia, and the US.
“Performing in Ibiza and Europe really taught me what it means to be a house DJ. In the US and Asia, playing songs the crowd might know is a higher priority, but in Europe, the crowd tends to feed more off the groove and the vibe. That taught me a lot, but I see the US and Asian crowds becoming more edu- cated as the house grows worldwide. I’m proud to take what I learned in Europe and bring it home.”
That education will carry into the next phase of his career, both in the studio and with his label, Those Nights.
“I have a remix for Oxia’s classic ‘Domino’ that’s been making the rounds with support from Mita Gami at Burning Man and clubs worldwide.”
“My next release, ‘The Answer’ with my partner Daniel Lerman, will serve as the launch for the Those Nights label. After creating a success- ful party in New York, expanding to Miami, Amsterdam, DC, and even South Korea, launching the label was the logical next step. I’m excited for more records as we continue building the brand.”
Looking back at 2025, it’s clear that Ares Carter’s rise has been anything but accidental. His Ibiza season set the tone, but the momentum carried across the global circuit. Festivals like Parookaville, Mysteryland, Ultra Korea, Electric Love, Family Piknik, Ypsilon, and Machac weren’t just line-up credits; they were tests of versatility, each with its own crowd language. Where Mysteryland demanded
Ultra Korea pushed him into high-octane delivery, while Family Piknik and Electric Love rewarded groove and patience.
absorbed it all, demonstrating his ability to seamlessly transition between cultures and continents without losing his identity.
Carter scale and spectacle,
That identity has been hard- ned. As he admitted when flecting on Elrow Marbella, decision to shift his sound a more house-driven lane w always easy. For a while, it fel swimming
Bookings slowed, risks mou and the temptation to chase was popular was always there Elrow booking was more than night; it was validation. Proof sticking to his instincts would off, and that one of the most ic brands in house music could what he had been working tow
The same ethos powers his in the States, especially Breakaway Festival. Carter v their mission, which is to top-tier
against the cur
served markets, as mirroring own path. Just as Break gives fans access to world- festival production in unexpe places, Carter wants his mus do the same. He shows the abil reach beyond the obvious hots tapping into new energy and audiences. It’s not just a playing the “big” cities anym it’s about growing the cu everywhere.
All of this funnels into T Nights, his own project-turned bel with Daniel Lerman. What b as sold-out parties in New has expanded to Miami, Am dam, DC, South Korea, and includes its first run of rele Starting with the “The Ans Carter is planting a flag that deeper than his DJ sets. I platform for the house identi has carved out, one informe Ibiza grooves, American hu European discipline, and yea refusing to cut corners. If 2025 the year Carter proved himse the world, 2026 looks like the where he starts building his ow
experiences to un
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