Ares Carter: from Pacha dreams to global momentum

For Ares Carter, 2025 has been a year of full-circle moments. The New York–born DJ and producer cut his teeth in the early 2010s, hustling for teenage slots at the now-defunct Pacha NYC. More than a decade later, he spent his summer living out the dream in Ibiza, splitting his time between Defected at Pacha, a Mixmag takeover at Amnesia, and Pantheon’s open-air nights at Cova Santa. Add to that a global festival calendar and the launch of his own label, Those Nights, and you get an artist defining his lane with house music as his compass.

“It was always a dream of mine to base myself on the island for the summer while touring, and this was the year we made it happen,” he says.

“Ibiza is really where you hear what’s next, so going to parties like Circoloco at DC-10, Paradise at UNVRS, and Solid Grooves gave me a lot of inspiration, which I fueled into my shows and into the studio.”

For Carter, playing Defected at Pacha was more than just a booking; it was a return to where it all began.

“I started my DJ career in 2012 at the now closed Pacha NYC,” he recalls. “They would host Pacha U18 teen nights, and I would sell tickets to my friends just to perform. Being able to play at the original Pacha in Ibiza was a huge full-circle moment for me. Additionally, being given the opportunity by a brand like Defected was a huge honor. I ensured that my set paid homage to the label while incorporating my own sound. I definitely hope to do more with Defected in the future.”

At Amnesia, the challenge was different but just as meaningful. With Armand Van Helden headlining, Carter leaned into the timeless energy of house.

“Opening the room is a fun challenge. At first, you’re playing slower to a handful of people wandering between the dance floor and the bar, and then suddenly the room is packed and you have the opportunity to bring up the energy. There’s nothing like it.”

Cova Santa, meanwhile, gave him the chance to channel Ibiza’s natural magic.

“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.”

Beyond the White Isle, Carter’s schedule was stacked with festivals across Europe, Asia, and the US, Parookaville, Mysteryland, Ultra Korea, Family Piknik, Elrow Marbella, and more. Each gig taught him something different.

“Stateside, my experience with Breakaway has been incredible. They bring a top-tier festival experience to underserved markets in the US, 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 feels 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 for their afterparties, where the energy was wild. We even had Francis Mercier jump on the decks one night. It was definitely one of Those Nights.”

Carter admits that 2025 has been about leaning fully into house music, 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 educated 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 successful 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 scale and spectacle, Ultra Korea pushed him into high-octane delivery, while Family Piknik and Electric Love rewarded groove and patience. Carter absorbed it all, demonstrating his ability to seamlessly transition between cultures and continents without losing his identity.

That identity has been hard-earned. As he admitted when reflecting 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 against the current. 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 with Breakaway Festival. Carter views their mission, which is to bring top-tier experiences to underserved US 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-label with Daniel Lerman. What began as sold-out parties in New York has expanded to Miami, Amsterdam, 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.