Top 100 DJs

Perennially present and forever BIG, David Guetta is one of dance music’s most potent superstars. Highly responsible for crossover dance-pop hits throughout the 2010s. Or so they said. In the meantime, he spent the decade headlining every major festival on the planet, collaborating with pop royalty like Rihanna and Justin Bieber while spending his summers playing to packed-out crowds at his F*** Me I’m Famous parties on the White Isle. 

His Ibiza party was and is one of the island’s most popular — its move to Hï from Pacha in summer 2019 complemented his BIG parties across the road at Ushuaïa for a one-two Guetta punch on Mondays and Thursdays. In more recent years, he’s released less commercial collabs, focusing more on his DJ sets and new projects and aliases. 

Guetta himself recognised his own impact on the commercial end of electronic music and returned to his underground roots in 2018, with a new project — Jack Back — focusing on the more bass-heavy, stripped-back vibe that also brought with it a new label. It’s a tone that he carved and crafted in his early days as a DJ in Paris, throwing his own parties, playing various gay clubs across the city and collaborating with the likes of house hero Robert Owens. 

Fast-forward 25 years and 2019’s been spent collaborating once more, this time with one of his top picks for the future, Morten. “My main project is the new sound I have created together with Morten and I’m super-excited about this,” the Frenchman says. 

The new approach has clearly given him some clarity as the EDM train begins to grind to a stop, but the festival headline slots keep coming. “I feel like there is a big gap during festivals between playing underground or classic EDM. A lot of festival DJs don’t know what to play since the option is either being cool and playing underground, but not giving the crowd the energy they need, or delivering this energy to the crowd, but sounding outdated by playing classic EDM.” 

Guetta reckons his new collab has the solution: “We have created that new, sexy rave sound that is the answer to this problem.” 

Former Top 100 DJs poll No.1, one of dance music’s unquestionably biggest stars, and with a career that’s spanned over three decades, Guetta’s influence on dance music means different things to different people. For some he’s the antithesis of what the industry represents, for others he’s the pinnacle. Having been a mainstay in the top ten since 2007, it’s clear Guetta’s appeal isn’t waning any time soon.

Do you submit your DJ setlists to the relevant royalties collecting society?

“Yes.” 

What more can we do to combat the mental health crisis in our scene?

“Try to live a healthy life as much as possible and take good care of your body as well as your soul. Also, enough sleep is very important. By programming your tour in a clever way you can avoid jetlag as much as possible.” 

Are you personally doing anything to improve the gender balance of line-ups?

“I’m open to book girls as much as I’m open to book guys for my nights.” 

What changes have you made this year to be more environmentally friendly?

“I honestly do have to make more efforts for the environment. I did stop using plastic bottles and try to reduce my overall use of plastic, but I really want to improve myself here.” 

What was your favourite toy when you were a kid?

“When I was a kid, I went to the music store every weekend to look at the Technics 1200 Mk2. When I turned 15, I finally bought one and it’s been my favourite toy ever since.” 

What’s your guilty pleasure?

“Being a couch potato and doing nothing at all besides watching movies. I do this twice a year and I’m doing it right at this very moment because my Ibiza season has just ended. It’s just so good!”