A driving force in the Latin house movement, French DJ Hugel has become one of electronic dance music’s hottest hitmakers

BY JOEL KELLER · PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG BEAT RECORDS

BORN: Florent Hugel on December 4, 1987 in Marseille, France.

SOUND: Hugel was at the forefront of the Latin house movement, with his sound being heavily influenced by the party vibes on the Spanish resort island of Ibiza. Growing up in Marseille, Hugel’s mother filled the house with funk, disco, and soul. He became a DJ at 16, inspired by everyone from Daft Punk and David Guetta to Amine Edge.

BIG BREAK: His first chart hit was “I Believe I’m Fine,” a 2017 collaboration with German DJ Robin Schulz. But Hugel’s true breakthrough arrived in 2018 with a remix of El Profesor’s version of the Italian folk anthem “Bella Ciao.” The song achieved platinum status in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and by 2021, it had already surpassed 280 million streams worldwide.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Hugel has sold out shows in major U.S. cities, from NYC and Miami to Los Angeles, while his catalog has amassed more than one billion streams. He has also played major festivals like Tomorrowland and Lollapalooza and held multiple Ibiza residencies at famous clubs like Pacha, Ushuaïa, and Hï Ibiza. At the 2025 Electronic Dance Music Awards, his collaboration “Andalucia” with Grossomoddo won Afro-House Song of the Year, while “Stay High” with Diplo and Julia Church earned Best Collaboration.

LATEST WORK: Hugel is touring following the June release of Twenty One, his first full-length album. His 2026 schedule takes him across Europe (including Ibiza, of course) and South America, along with several U.S. stops.

Hugel — Instagram and TikTok: @hugelthug · Soundcloud: hugelmusic · YouTube: @HUGELBeats