It’s official! The third edition of the ANTS: NEXT GEN ARTIST 2025 program has its winners: DARKHORSE & Grouse. Selected from over 1,500 entries, the Sydney-based DJs will perform on 6th September at ANTS METALWORKS, on the iconic open-air stage of Ushuaïa Ibiza.
ANTS, the globally renowned club brand and the cultural force behind one of Ibiza’s most iconic residencies, had announced the launch of its 2025 Next Gen Artist Program just two months ago. Now in its third year, the initiative offers aspiring DJs and producers a unique pathway to global recognition, where DJs and producers worldwide are invited to submit an exclusive 30–35 minute mix that captured the unmistakable ANTS sound for a chance to win a number of prizes including a tailored artist mentorship, their own billboard in Ibiza and an exclusive campaign powered by SoundCloud – with the grand prize set as a huge performance at the ANTS METALWORKS residency at Ushuaïa Ibiza on 6th of September.
You can listen to the winning mix below via Soundcloud:
“DARKHORSE & Grouse
Sydney’s underground torchbearers, DARKHORSE & Grouse, are leading a new wave of Australian club culture. As founders of SWITCH, one of the city’s fastest-growing brands, they’ve built a reputation for raw, beachside warehouse raves that sell out on energy alone. Their productions on labels like Moxy Muzik & META have earned support from heavyweights including Darius Syrossian, East End Dubs, and Alisha. On stage, they’ve shared lineups with icons like Michael Bibi, Skepta, and Franky Rizardo.
Off-stage, they’re amplifying their influence on the scene through The Beat podcast, where they drop exclusive interviews and insights from the global house and techno frontlines including Ben Rau, Obskür, Luke Dean & more, earning them a tastemaker status with a following beyond the dancefloor. With SWITCH, The Beat, and a forward-thinking sound, DARKHORSE & Grouse are setting a new standard for Sydney’s underground and beyond.”
We wish the duo the best of luck with this unique opportunity in the White Isle!
