Backstage at ANTS: ADEZ Interview

ADEZ is a house DJ from Italy based in Amsterdam. He’s the 2026 winner of ANTS: NEXT GEN. His signature sound fuses a classic Italian touch with groovy minimal house beats. The rising artist has released heaters on Tamango Records, elrow, Deeperfect, MOXY Muzik, and Mood Child, and his music has been supported by Dennis Cruz, Jamie Jones, The Martinez Brothers, wAFF, and others. His entry into the annual competition stood out amongst mixes from thousands of DJs from around the world. ADEZ sent in a serious set made up entirely of his own productions and was crowned the rightful winner back in July.

As the winner of ANTS: NEXT GEN, ADEZ will receive a package of artist mentorship, including the huge opportunity to perform at ANTS at Ushuaïa Ibiza on 19 September 2026. He also receives a support package from Ableton, AlphaTheta, and SoundCloud, a dedicated feature in DJ Mag, alongside a full marketing rollout across ANTS channels and a takeover of the official ANTS playlist.

We sat down with ADEZ ahead of his ANTS debut to discuss the swapping MP3s in school, performing under pressure, and the Amsterdam scene.

Hi ADEZ. Great to meet you. So, what can you tell us about growing up in Italy?

I'm from a small town called Biella, which is close to Turin, north Italy. I have to say that the music scene in that little town is not that present. That's why at the age of 20, I decided to move to Amsterdam where the music was pumping and resonating. In Italy I was constantly on YouTube looking at the festivals in the Netherlands. It was a dream for me to move to the city. In Amsterdam I really discovered this world in first-person, you know? I went from watching it on a screen to being in those clubs and festivals. Everything started to roll in the right way. I was getting closer and closer to the music industry. 

Were there any important clubs or festivals for you at that time?

The first one that I remember that really impressed me was called Studio 80 and it was a really small club in the heart of Amsterdam with a hidden entrance. At that time it was probably one of the few clubs with a 24 hour licence. In that place, I really discovered the underground. The music you don’t see on videos on YouTube, or whatever. Then the first festival I went to was Awakenings. So I saw the differences between the really underground, small clubs and the big stages at the festival. 

Great. They’re both important parts of the scene.

Yeah, you really get to experience the goosebumps of a small club, when you’re in an intimate crowd and with not huge production. Then you experience huge production with a sea of people and how that can make you feel. 

Let’s take it back a bit. Do you remember a moment when you fell in love with electronic music?

I remember going to high school and people older than me were sharing MP3 keys with everything from house to techno to hardstyle. I started to absorb all those influences but I realised I wanted to do this as a job when I came to Amsterdam. That’s when I started deeply exploring the culture. 

When it came to making your own music, were you influenced by anyone in particular?

I’ve been really influenced by the wave of music from artists like Jamie Jones, that sound really shaped my music journey. Hot Creations, that label that really inspires me and always did. Back in the day, I was really influenced by Avotre, Sidney Charles and Santé. I was also really influenced by PIV, Prunk and Chris Stassy in the early days in Amsterdam. Toman and others were playing in small clubs, building their careers. That range of music really gave me direction.

And they’ve all gone on to great things.

Yeah, and the evolution of sound is really pleasant. It started with that deep house sound, then it evolved into a more minimal sound. That transition is really pleasant to me.  

How do you approach making music? Where do your ideas come from? 

My ideas come from doing activities sometimes. Like, the more time I spend surrounded by inputs, like hanging out with people, or travelling, or going to clubs, or just spending time outside. That really recharges me. There’s sometimes a moment where I’m just listening to music and some melodies spark in my mind or some ideas come, so I put down everything and open my laptop. From that moment, it starts. 

What’s your relationship with Ibiza like?

It’s a place that I’m still discovering year by year. I first went to Ibiza four years ago, because I have some friends living there. I started clubbing there and then two years ago it happened; my first little gig on the island. I can really smell music in the air here. The vibe gives you that adrenaline when you wake up till you go to sleep. You really feel like you want to connect with people. It's like a fresh touch of energy.  

So, tell me about your application to the ANTS: NEXT GEN competition.

I’d never tried to apply in the past but I always wanted to since the first edition. I never felt confident in making and sending out material. This year was in the studio with a friend, showing him some tracks and he said, “Man, you should really send this to the ANTS contest. They’re looking for a 100% own productions mix, and you’re loaded with tracks.” I was doubting myself, I didn’t know if I could compile a good 60 minute mix with my sound. I had a reminder in Google Calendar every day, to make the ANTS mix, make the ANTS mix. Then I ended up doing it on the last day, two hours before the deadline.  

That sounds way more stressful than it needed to be.

[Laughs] Well, I do my best work under pressure. With these tracks, I wanted to tell a story, where I'm coming from, to where I am heading. I started with hip hop-based music, which feels like something that’s a really big part of me. I go a little bit more into a Latin groove, but not commercial, just a Mediterranean rhythm. From there I go more into the UK sound, a little bit ravey and garagey. These are the genres that define my style.

Do you remember where you were when you received the news that you’d won?

I was actually in the studio. While I was working I saw that I’d received an email from ANTS and I felt the sweat immediately. Then I called my mum and I was like, “I made it! I made it! I won!” Then of course I kept the silence, until ANTS had published the official announcement. During those days the adrenaline was really up and it was just an amazing moment.  

Amazing. Have you been to any ANTS events before? 

Yes, in Amsterdam. It was in 2024 and Easttown was playing. Also, Andrea Oliva, Chelina Manuhutu and Joris Voorn. It was my first ANTS and it was massive. I really had a lot of fun. It was really good. 

Great. Have you been to Ushuaïa Ibiza before? 

This is going to be the first time I’ve walked into Ushuaïa Ibiza. It looks like a big stage, but it’s still got that connection with the crowd. Halfway between a club and a festival stage.  

What can people expect from your set this Saturday?

Since it's an opening slot and it's one hour, I want to create a journey that expresses my influences. Building up from the house part of my identity, passing through the Latin influences, and going to the lower minimalistic sounds. I want to take a chance playing my own music in those different areas. 

Do you have a favourite song to play in your sets at the moment?

A track I’m playing a lot lately is “Power8” from LondonGround. It’s really uplifting, but still with minimalistic elements. It's not commercial, it's not mainstream, and it's really putting the mood up. Most of the time I use it as a bridge, at the moment where I really want to twist things. Like, Okay, now you're warm, it’s time to party. 

Outside of ANTS: NEXT GEN, what else is happening in the world of ADEZ?

I'm really focusing on more releases. Since I’ve gotten confidence in my sound I feel much more confident in putting music out. I'm not doubting myself anymore. Besides that, I'm really working on my branding. I really take a lot of care of visual identity, branding and communication. I want to improve that part. Also creating more connection with my fanbase and my community. Also, connecting with promoters in Europe, playing more gigs outside of Holland or Italy or Spain where I usually gig. A goal of mine is to tour South America. 

Sounds like a good plan. Lastly, why do you DJ?

I feel myself and I feel like the emotions that I hold inside are getting transferred. There are no walls on it and I can communicate with a crowd in a direct way. It's like I can spread a message to a lot of people and express something, then I look around and I receive it back from them. It’s a constant exchange of feelings and emotions. It makes me feel happy because I see them having fun. We recharge each other. I love to see people dancing and happy and enjoying a great time. 

ADEZ played ANTS at Ushuaïa Ibiza on Saturday 19 September. He’s the 2026 winner of ANTS: NEXT GEN and he shared the stage with Ilario Alicante, Paco Osuna B2B Melanie Ribbe, and Manda Moor B2B Sirus Hood. Tickets and VIP tables available now.