Good Times Ahead

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Good Times Ahead

| landscape = yes

| alias = GTA

| origin = Miami, Florida, United States

| instrument = Keyboard, guitar, synthesizer

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 2010–present

| label = Warner Bros., Spinnin' Deep, Musical Freedom, Fly Eye, MixMash, Fool's Gold, SIZE, Mad Decent, Owsla, Monstercat

| website = [http://www.wearegta.com/ wearegta.com/]

| current_members = Matthew Van Toth (Van Toth)
Julio Mejia (JWLS)

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

}}

Good Times Ahead (formerly GTA) are an electronic music duo from Miami consisting of house, electro house, trap and hip hop producers Julio Mejia (born December 8, 1990) and Matt Toth (born August 22, 1990).{{cite web|url=http://thedjlist.com/djs/GTA/bio/|title=GTA: Information|website=Thedjlist.com}} After releasing music with the support of Laidback Luke in 2011, the duo caught the attention of Diplo, who featured them on his 2012 "Express Yourself" which was written by their cousin Joel Santillan. GTA has released music on labels such as Warner Bros., A-Trak's Fool's Gold, Laidback Luke's MixMash, Steve Angello's SIZE, Diplo's Mad Decent and more.{{cite web|url=https://pro.beatport.com/artist/gta/50791/releases|title=GTA|website=Pro.beatport.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-date=2016-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403210420/https://pro.beatport.com/artist/gta/50791/releases|url-status=dead}} They've toured the globe with Rihanna on her 2013 Diamonds World Tour, with Calvin Harris and Tiësto on their Greater Than World Tour, and have headlined their own Death To Genres Tour and Goons Take America Tours.

Beyond their partnership as GTA, Julio and Matt have each produced music individually. Under solo aliases known as JWLS and Van Toth, respectively, both have released original productions and remixes. Julio's individual work as JWLS, includes remixes for A-Trak, Danny Brown and others.{{cite web|url=https://pro.beatport.com/artist/jwls/205613/tracks|title=JWLS|website=Pro.beatport.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094019/https://pro.beatport.com/artist/jwls/205613/tracks|url-status=dead}} Matt's solo work as Van Toth includes remixes for Gina Turner.{{cite web|url=https://pro.beatport.com/artist/van-toth/134213|title=Van Toth|website=Pro.beatport.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-date=2016-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213135408/https://pro.beatport.com/artist/van-toth/134213|url-status=dead}}

In August 2019, they officially changed their group name from the previous GTA acroymn to its full length, Good Times Ahead.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/08/gta-officially-change-name-to-good-times-ahead-preview-new-mixtape-through-diplo-assisted-milky-cabrera/ |title=GTA change name to Good Times Ahead, preview new mixtape through Diplo-assisted 'Milky Cabrera' |last=Stack |first=Chris |date=2 August 2019 |website=Dancing Astronaut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825050219/https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/08/gta-officially-change-name-to-good-times-ahead-preview-new-mixtape-through-diplo-assisted-milky-cabrera/ |archive-date=25 August 2019 |access-date=26 December 2019}}

Early life

Julio Mejia and Matt Toth were born and raised in Miami, Florida. They met through social networking in 2010, when a mutual friend introduced them on Facebook. Together the duo began their careers DJing in local bars, college parties and hookah lounges in Scranton. They began producing electronic music from a converted dorm room in an office in Scranton.{{cite news|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/gtas-matt-toth-and-julio-mejia-are-taking-over-edm-from-a-converted-dorm-in-kendall-6465862|title=GTA's Matt Toth and Julio Mejia Are Taking Over EDM From a Converted Dorm in Kendall|author=Kat Bein|date=14 December 2012|newspaper=Miami New Times}} Deciding on their stage name, Julio and Matt considered Grand Theft Audio and decided on its abbreviation, GTA.{{Cite web |url=http://www.virgin.com/music/interview-gta |title=Interview with GTA - Virgin.com |access-date=2016-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716003358/http://www.virgin.com/music/interview-gta |archive-date=2014-07-16 |url-status=dead }}

The duo later gave new meaning to the acronym, defining GTA as Good Times Ahead.

Career

Between late 2011 and early 2012, GTA released numerous remixes and productions on Laidback Luke's MixMash Records. They were featured on Diplo's "Express Yourself" EP{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2012/06/album-review-diplo-express-yourself-ep/|title=Diplo – Express Yourself EP - Album Reviews|website=consequence.net|date=11 June 2012 }} and released their own debut EP, People Boots, on Chris Lake's Rising Music. In 2013, GTA provided remixes for deadmau5, Kaskade and others, while featuring collaborations such as "Boy Oh Boy" with Diplo and "Hit It" with Henrix and Digital Lab.

GTA has played major music festivals such as Lollapalooza,{{cite web|url=https://www.grammypro.com/professional-development/video/gta-lollapalooza-2014|title=GTA At Lollapalooza 2014|website=Grammypro.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-date=2016-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306195002/https://www.grammypro.com/professional-development/video/gta-lollapalooza-2014|url-status=dead}} Ultra Music Festival,{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/code/6429596/ultra-music-festival-2015-lineup|title=Ultra Music Festival 2015 Lineup: Phase 1 Includes Avicii, Tiesto & More |website=Billboard.com}} Coachella,{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1623152/coachella-2014-lineup/news/|title=Coachella 2014 Lineup|website=Stereogum.com|date=9 January 2014 }} Made In America,{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2015/06/made-in-america-festival-lineup-2015|title=Made in America Festival Announces Full 2015 Schedule, Livestream|website=Fuse.tv}} Electric Daisy Carnival,{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/edc-las-vegas-2014-lineup|title=Here is the 2014 EDC Las Vegas Lineup|date=28 May 2014|website=Complex.com}} and Tomorrowland.{{Cite web|url=http://yahoo.com/entertainment/news/tomorrowland-2015-day-3-highlights-gta-yellow-claw-160500819.html|title=Tomorrowland 2015 Day 3 Highlights: GTA, Yellow Claw, Thomas Jack & More|website=Yahoo.com|date=28 July 2015 |access-date=21 March 2022}} In 2013, the duo toured with Rihanna as an opening act of her Diamonds World Tour,{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/rihanna/news/diamonds-uk-tour-2013-support-acts/|title=Rihanna Support Acts For 'Diamonds' UK Tour 2013: Haim And GTA|date=20 May 2013|website=Capitalfm.com}} which became the sixth highest grossing worldwide tour of 2013 with a gross of $141.9 million from the shows played from January 1 to December 31, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2013/2013Top20WorldwideToursChart.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.pollstarpro.com |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075542/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2013/2013Top20WorldwideToursChart.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}

The duo toured the globe with Tiesto and Calvin Harris on their Greater Than World Tour, which sold out Glasgow's The SSE Hydro arena three minutes after going on sale.{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/83747/calvin-harris-and-tiesto-glasgow-tickets-sell-out-in-three-minutes|title=Calvin Harris and Tiesto Glasgow tickets sell out in three minutes|author=Michael Baggs|website=Gigwise.com}} GTA's headlining tours have included 2014's Death to Genres Tour,{{cite web|url=http://www.mixjunkies.com/gta-announce-new-death-to-genres-tour/|title=GTA Announce New Death To Genres Tour|website=Mixjunkies.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-date=2016-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404150003/http://www.mixjunkies.com/gta-announce-new-death-to-genres-tour/|url-status=dead}} and 2015's Goons Take America Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/52613/20151028/gta-goons-take-america-tour-smokers-united-video-k-camp-lil-bit-remix.htm|title=GTA Announce Goons Take America Tour, 'Smokers United' Video, K Camp 'Lil Bit' Remix|website=Musictimes.com|date=28 October 2015 }}

In 2015, GTA released "Intoxicated" with Martin Solveig, a remix for Rick Ross and Jay Z's "Movin Bass," and more. "Intoxicated" with Martin Solveig peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and also charted in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and Switzerland. It became Beatport's top selling house track of the year.{{cite web|url=https://pro.beatport.com/chart/top-selling-house-of-2015/377932|title=Top Selling House of 2015|website=Pro.beatport.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095644/https://pro.beatport.com/chart/top-selling-house-of-2015/377932|url-status=dead}}

GTA released three EPs by the name of Death to Genres in 2015. Volume 1 was released in March with featured artists Paul Wall, TJR and more,{{cite web|url=http://hypetrak.com/2015/03/mad-decents-dta-drop-death-to-genres-vol-1-ep/|title=Stream GTA's New 'Death To Genres' Vol. 1 EP|website=Hypetrak.com|date=31 May 2023 }} followed by a remix edition known as Vol. 1.5 in August, and the sequel DTG Vol. 2 in November.{{cite web|url=http://news.iheart.com/articles/trending-465498/interview-gta-reveals-the-meaning-of-14171004/|title=INTERVIEW: GTA Reveals The Meaning Of Songs On 'Death To Genres Vol. 2' EP -Track By Track|website=News.iheart.com}}

On November 27, 2015, GTA released Skrillex's remix of their original record "Red Lips." The music video was made in collaboration with Apple Music and was directed by Grant Singer. It took six months to make, according to Skrillex, who told Pitchfork "We treated it like it was just an art piece that we took our time doing, and it really felt right on the treatment."{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/62308-skrillex-talks-about-the-making-of-his-sci-fi-psychological-thriller-red-lips-video/|title=Skrillex Talks About the Making of His Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller "Red Lips" Video|date=30 November 2015|website=Pitchfork|access-date=21 March 2022}}

In 2016, GTA released an album titled Good Times Ahead.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-bradford/interview-gta-death-to-ge_b_8826500.html|title=Interview: GTA - Death to Genres|date=17 December 2015|work=The Huffington Post}}

Discography

= Studio albums =

Good Times Ahead (2016)

= Extended plays =

DTG, Vol. 1 (2015)
DTG, Vol. 1.5 (2015)
DTG, Vol. 2 (2015)
DTG, Vol. 3 (2018)
La Nueva Clásica - EP (2018)

= Singles =

2011

U & I
Next To Us

2012

Move Around (with Diplo and Elephant Man)
People Boots
Devoid
Shake Dem
Booty Bounce (featuring DJ Funk)

2013

Ai Novinha
Alerta
Hit It (with Henrix and Digital LAB)
Landline (with A-Trak)
Landline 2.0 (with A-Trak)
Turn It Up (featuring Wolfpack) (with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike)
The Crowd
Boy Oh Boy (with Diplo)
Bola

2014

Hard House (with Juyen Sebulba)

2015

Intoxicated (with Martin Solveig)
Mic Check (with TJR)
Prison Riot (with Flosstradamus and Lil Jon)
The Chase (featuring Aruna) (with Laidback Luke)
Red Lips (featuring Sam Bruno)
Saria's Turn Up
Goons
Hell Of A Night (with Sandro Silva (DJ))
LCA

2016

Help Me! (from Star Wars Headspace)
Get It All (with Wax Motif)
Feel It (featuring Tunji Ige) (with What So Not)

2017

Hold On To Me (with Yellow Claw)
Fiya Blaza (with DVBBS and Chris Marshall)
Buyaka (with Falcons, featuring Stush)

2018

Talkin Bout (with Dyro)
Something Like
Buscando (with Jenn Morel){{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/buscando-single/1435831194 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930115719/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/buscando-single/1435831194 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |title=Buscando - Single by GTA & Jenn Morel on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |access-date=30 September 2018}}

2019

"Work It Out" (with Party Favor){{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/03/party-favor-gta-work/ |title=Party Favor & GTA – 'Work It Out' |author=Dancing Astronaut staff |date=8 March 2019 |website=Dancing Astronaut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311134158/https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/03/party-favor-gta-work/ |archive-date=11 March 2019 |access-date=11 March 2019}}
"Fk It"{{Cite web |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/gta-fk-it-mad-decent |title=GTA's highly anticipated festival ID 'Fk It' gets official release on Diplo's Mad Decent |last=Baer |first=Ethan |date=6 June 2019 |website=EDM.com |access-date=26 June 2019}}

2020

"Bmb" (with Fight Clvb){{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2020/02/fight-clvb-and-good-times-ahead-issue-an-invitation-to-the-dance-floor-with-bmb-stream/ |title=FIGHT CLVB and Good Times Ahead issue an invitation to the dance floor with 'BMB' [Stream] |last=Narozniak |first=Rachel |date=22 February 2020 |website=Dancing Astronaut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304143241/https://dancingastronaut.com/2020/02/fight-clvb-and-good-times-ahead-issue-an-invitation-to-the-dance-floor-with-bmb-stream/ |archive-date=4 March 2020 |access-date=4 March 2020}}
"Quando Toca Essa"{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/quando-toca-essa-single/1505672113 |title=Quando Toca Essa - Single by Good Times Ahead on Apple Music |via=Apple Music |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929133332/https://music.apple.com/us/album/quando-toca-essa-single/1505672113 |url-status=dead }}
"Let Go" (with Tony Romera){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/let-go-single/1519083281 |title=Let Go - Single by Good Times Ahead & Tony Romera on Apple Music |via=Apple Music |access-date=5 May 2021}}
"Pshet"{{Cite web |last=Scruggs |first=Rugby |date=8 October 2020 |title=Good Times Ahead drop destructive deep number 'Pshet' on Malaa's Illegal Mixtape Vol. 3 |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2020/10/good-times-ahead-drops-destructive-deep-number-pshet-on-malaas-illegal-mixtape-vol-3/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023170339/https://dancingastronaut.com/2020/10/good-times-ahead-drops-destructive-deep-number-pshet-on-malaas-illegal-mixtape-vol-3/ |archive-date=23 October 2020 |access-date=24 October 2020 |website=Dancing Astronaut}}
"No Time" (with Will K){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-time-single/1541998278 |title=No Time - Single by Good Times Ahead & WILL K on Apple Music |via=Apple Music |access-date=23 December 2020}}

2021

"So Good"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/so-good-single/1561027853 |title=So Good - Single by Good Times Ahead on Apple Music |via=Apple Music |access-date=5 May 2021}}
"Rapido" (with Dabow)
"La Fiesta"{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ariel |date=3 July 2021 |title=Get down to Good Times Ahead's new party starter, 'La Fiesta' |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2021/07/get-down-to-good-times-aheads-new-party-starter-la-fiesta/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704074212/https://dancingastronaut.com/2021/07/get-down-to-good-times-aheads-new-party-starter-la-fiesta/ |archive-date=4 July 2021 |access-date=10 August 2021 |website=Dancing Astronaut}}

2022

"Without You" (with Kungs){{Citation |title=Without You |date=2022-03-16 |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1KnCWVBnQxVO2ntjWxJnPX |language=en |access-date=2022-09-11}}
"Belong" (with JSTJR and Jay Mason){{Citation |title=Belong - Single by Good Times Ahead, JSTJR & Jay Mason |date=2022-04-15 |url=https://music.apple.com/za/album/belong-single/1613230565 |language=en-GB |access-date=2022-09-11}}
"DBL Park"{{Cite web |last=findyoursounds |date=2022-09-03 |title=Good Times Ahead - DBL Park |url=https://findyoursounds.com/good-times-ahead-dbl-park/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=FindYourSounds |language=en-US}}

= Remixes =