latam
“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-ear- ned. As he admitted when re- flecting on Elrow Marbella, the decision to shift his sound into a more house-driven lane wasn’t always easy. For a while, it felt like swimming
Bookings slowed, risks mounted, and the temptation to chase what was popular was always there. The Elrow booking was more than a big night; it was validation. Proof that sticking to his instincts would pay off, and that one of the most iconic brands in house music could hear what he had been working toward.
The same ethos powers his work in the States, especially
Breakaway Festival. Carter views their mission, which is to bring top-tier
served markets, as mirroring his own path. Just as Breakaway gives fans access to world-class festival production in unexpected places, Carter wants his music to do the same. He shows the ability to reach beyond the obvious hotspots, tapping into new energy and new audiences. It’s not just about playing the “big” cities anymore; it’s about growing the culture everywhere.
All of this funnels into Those Nights, his own project-turned-la- bel with Daniel Lerman. What began as sold-out parties in New York has expanded to Miami, Amster- dam, DC, South Korea, and now includes its first run of releases. Starting with the “The Answer,” Carter is planting a flag that goes deeper than his DJ sets. It’s a platform for the house identity he has carved out, one informed by Ibiza grooves, American hustle, European discipline, and years of refusing to cut corners. If 2025 was the year Carter proved himself to the world, 2026 looks like the one where he starts building his own.
experiences to under- with against the current.
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