Few DJs have a track record as expansive as David Guetta’s. Not only has the French producer been credited for pushing electronic dance music’s explosive mainstream crossover, the two-time Grammy winner has surpassed two billion streams on Spotify and won Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Artist award in May. His latest single—“This One’s for You” featuring Zara Larsson—was the official anthem for the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer tournament.
Even with all the accolades, Guetta keeps it real. Having returned to his dynamic XS and Encore Beach Club residency over Labor Day Weekend, he spoke to us about the secret to keeping the party going all month long. Hint: It’s the fans.
“I’m very happy to come back,” Guetta says of his return to Vegas, which continues through the 1st of October. “It’s quite magic, Vegas is. It’s about the people. They come to my shows because they just want to have a good time. They want to go crazy, and that’s what I’m trying to do with my music: a lot of energy and happiness.”
It’s what he does best. From chart toppers like “Hey Mama,” with Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack, to “Dangerous” with Sam Martin, Guetta continues to explore new boundaries, fusing electro with pop and hip-hop to create gigantic anthems.
Coming on the heels of his celebrated “F*ck Me I’m Famous” summer-long party in Spain, the Encore residency is a perfect fit for his club bangers. “It’s actually the same idea really, because I’m the only DJ in Ibiza to do two parties a week.”
While his Ibiza sets—at Pacha nightclub and poolside at Ushuaia—mirror the over-the-top intensity of his Strip club appearances, there’s something about Vegas crowds and their intensity that makes the experience here one-of-a-kind.
“We get along good, Vegas and myself,” Guetta says. “I’m so pumped after being away the entire summer. That makes it even more exciting.” David Guetta at XS at Encore, September 9, 16, 18 & 24; at Encore Beach Club, September 10, 17, 24 & October 1.
