Istanbul-based DJ and producer Marc Gonen has built an international presence through releases on labels including VOD, Siamese, Madorasindahouse, All I Need, and One Seven. His music has taken him from Istanbul to cities including London, Barcelona, Milano, and Mumbai, while his performances have placed him alongside artists such as Adam Port, &ME, Dixon, Polo & Pan, and Mano Le Tough.
Photo credit: Marc Gonen – Facebook
His single ‘Wrong’, released on Madorasindahouse, became a turning point after gaining regular support from the Keinemusik crew. Further releases including ‘Dream’, ‘Be With You’, and ‘Instrument of God’ followed as Gonen continued developing a sound that resists being confined to one direction.
Now, Gonen returns with ‘I Need You’, released via One Seven. We caught up with him to discuss the track, his relationship with Istanbul, changing creative instincts, and what comes next.
EG: Hi Marc, welcome to Electronic Groove. It’s great to have you with us. How have you been, and what’s been happening in your world lately?
Marc Gonen: It’s a pleasure to be here. It’s actually been a while since I was last on Electronic Groove. I haven’t stopped releasing music since then, and lately I’ve just been keeping that same momentum going.
EG: ‘I Need You’ sees you moving into a new, bouncy house cut laced with some garage-esque vocal work, with pitched female vocals adding another layer to the track. What drew you toward this particular sound, and how did the idea for the record first take shape?
Marc Gonen: I really enjoy experimenting with samples, shaping them in unusual or sometimes weird ways, or just leaving them as they are. With ‘I Need You’, it all started with the vocal, and the groove naturally came together around it. It’s not a new approach for me, but it was definitely a lot of fun to explore on this track.
EG: There’s a real sense of movement and playfulness in the production, but it still carries the club sensibility that runs through your music. What were you trying to capture emotionally and physically when you were making it?
Marc Gonen: Of course, I always start by imagining how I could play the track in my sets as a DJ, so making it dancefloor-ready is always part of the process. But as a musician and producer, I also trust my gut feeling and try to leave enough space for the track itself. With this one, I wanted to keep that deep house feeling with a touch of disco, while giving it something hopeful and sweet, maybe.
EG: Your music has taken you from Istanbul into a genuinely international circuit, with releases on labels such as One Seven, VOD, Siamese, Madorasindahouse, and more. How has that journey influenced the way you approach your own sound today?
Marc Gonen: It makes me really happy to hear that, because I’ve been working towards this for quite some time. Hearing you describe it as an international journey is a really nice thing for me. I think that whole experience has taught me to always protect my own taste and stay true to the kind of music I want to make in the future.
“Repeating something just because it worked before doesn’t really excite me”
EG: ‘Wrong’ on Madorasindahouse became a major turning point after catching the attention of the Keinemusik crew and becoming a regular part of their sets. Looking back, what did that moment change for you, both creatively and professionally?
Marc Gonen: First of all, I really have to thank Madorasindahouse for releasing ‘Wrong’ and the Keinemusik family for supporting it even before release day. It was definitely a turning point for me over the last two years, both in terms of gigs and new releases, but also creatively, because it gave me more confidence to trust my own work and instincts. And now, it’s about to open another new chapter for me, with a little surprise coming soon.
EG: You’ve also shared the booth with artists such as Adam Port, &ME, Dixon, Polo & Pan, and Mano Le Tough. How does playing alongside artists operating at that level affect the way you think about your own sets and the music you make for them?
Marc Gonen: It’s definitely not an everyday thing to play before and warm up the floor for all these legends and heroes. You have to be grateful for those moments and really enjoy them while they’re happening. Nights like that also give you a big boost of confidence as an artist when you look back on them.
EG: Your recent music has moved through some very different shades, from the deeper and more atmospheric side of your work to more direct, energetic club records. Do you see that diversity as an essential part of your identity as an artist?
Marc Gonen: Of course. Even if you look through the discography of your favorite bands, you’ll notice that they all have different eras in the music they make. From my perspective, that kind of diversity is essential. As you change as a person, your sound and the way you approach making music naturally change with you.
EG: Istanbul has a very particular musical character, sitting at a fascinating crossroads between different cultures and traditions. How much of the city finds its way into your music, even when the tracks themselves are aimed at an international dancefloor?
Marc Gonen: Beyond being my home, Istanbul is definitely in my blood. People already know the kind of sounds this city and this country are known for, but I’m more interested in showing people outside of here what else can come from these lands, and how far those influences can be pushed in a more forward-thinking and visionary direction.
“I’m just making music, and I don’t care too much about being stuck in a genre or a certain sound”
EG: Your trajectory has moved remarkably quickly in recent years. How do you balance the excitement of that momentum with the need to keep developing rather than simply repeating what has already worked?
Marc Gonen: Repeating something just because it worked before doesn’t really excite me. My taste and the music I listen to keep changing all the time, so naturally the music I make changes with that too. I think that’s what keeps things interesting for me.
EG: When you look at the music you’re making now, do you feel that there’s a particular direction or identity beginning to emerge that you want to push further?
Marc Gonen: That’s actually the great part for me, because I don’t really have one particular direction. I’m just making music, and I don’t care too much about being stuck in a genre or a certain sound. It gives me the freedom to make whatever feels right to me at that moment.
EG: Finally, with ‘I Need You’ arriving on September 11th and more music already in the pipeline, what can we expect from Marc Gonen for the rest of 2026?
Marc Gonen: I’m really excited for ‘I Need You’. Besides that, I have an official remix of Gadjo’s classic ‘So Many Times’, which will hopefully be out before the end of the year. There’s also some more original music coming from some of your favorite labels… or maybe mine, who knows?
EG: Thank you so much for your time. We wish you all the best with ‘I Need You’, the upcoming releases, and everything ahead. Take care!
Marc Gonen: Thank you so much for having me. It’s always a pleasure to be part of Electronic Groove. Hope you enjoy the new music. See you soon, and much love!
Marc Gonen’s ‘I Need You’ is out now via One Seven. Stream and download your copy here.
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