Maybe it’s his quirky dance moves, or the tattoos that drape his lean, muscular body or his hip urban style, but Italian DJ Gianluca Vacchi, who turned 50-years-old last August, exudes a life-affirming joy that’s transfixing. (A mere video of himself dancing to J. Balvin’s “Machika”on a boat in Miami surrounded by beautiful women garnered 7 million views!)
The heir to a company that specializes in industrial packaging and pharmacy according to Billboard has already amassed 11.4 million followers on Instagram and re-invented himself as musician — last fall, he released “Viento,” a dance tune that pays homage to his Argentinian roots and earlier this month, he dropped single “Trump-It.” Vacchi often travels the world on yachts and jets amid gorgeous women and Latin music’s hottest stars, including Pitbull, Luis Fonsi and J.Balvin with whom he collaborated on the music video for “Mi Gente.”
In fact, Vacchi tells PEOPLE CHICA he’s a close personal friend of Balvin: “I’m super good friends with him. We are brothers,” he says. “Every time he has a new song I support him.” The DJ reveals that the Colombian singer was thrilled with his “Machika” dance video: “It was great, he loved it!”
The self-described “global entertainer” has a deep and enduring love for Latin culture, partly inspired by his maternal grandmother. “My grandmother was Argentinean. There is a percentage of blood running in my veins that’s South American blood,” he says.
His abuela taught him how to play the piano as a child and supported his love of music. “She was an unbelievable woman. She inspired me a lot,” he says, and encouraged him to connect with his Latin heritage. “I’ve always loved the rhythm of Latin music. I’m not a reggaeton DJ, but I love to listen to it. I think it’s super catchy.”
On Feb. 2, he released “Trump It,” which he says has nothing to do with President Donald Trump: “That’s what it’s called because it opens with a trumpet,” he jokes. “Of course, I love to play, but it’s nothing related to Trump. It made me laugh. I was playing a little bit with words.”
In June, the DJ will bring his beats to Ibiza with a new residency at club Amnesia, which will include a dance party, guested by some of the hottest artists in Latin music.
The single pleasure seeker, who’s open to finding a love, likely wants a woman who’s got the moves: “You cannot be interested in dance. Dance is something you feel because you start moving when you feel the music. It’s something that you have inside. It’s natural,” he says.