Interview with Netsky: beats, snow, and the magic of Tomorrowland Winter

Boris Daenen aka Netsky took his unusual stage name from a computer virus that emerged in 2004—little did those hackers know that the name they chose would live on as the moniker for some of Belgium’s best music!

Widely regarded as one of Belgium's premier drum & bass producers, Netsky initially gained recognition for crafting deep, smooth tracks in the liquid style. Over time, he gained mainstream success with his more pop-leaning singles and albums. Renowned for his impressive remix portfolio, Netsky has also collaborated with a diverse array of crossover vocalists.

His latest release, ‘California’, features Australian singer-songwriter Cloves, and he’s no stranger to the pistes of Alpe d’Huez either!

Boris, you’ve performed at every single edition of Tomorrowland Winter so far. How does it feel to be back for the festival’s fifth anniversary?  

“Five years already! I remember the first edition like it happened yesterday. Me and my friends often refer to this week as the best week of the year: it’s the perfect blend of music, friendship, freedom, and raclette.” 

Seeing as you’re a producer of drum & bass, a streetwise style of music, we’re guessing you’re a snowboarder. Are we right?

“I actually ski... I tried snowboarding once, fell on the last day of the trip, and I couldn’t sit for a week. I think that left a bit of an impact.”

Please describe the feeling when you’ve just created yet another feel-good Netsky anthem? 

“To be honest, you never know if a song is going to connect. I sometimes spend lots of time in the studio working on something and then at some point you just have to let go and send it off into the real world. The fun for me really lies in creating. Most songs I love came out of a session or a moment that I have fond memories of.”

Your most recent addition to the world’s library of music is ‘California’. Please tell us something about the creation of the tune. How did it come about? 

“Cloves, the featured singer, was a dream to work with. This one started as an acoustic song in Cloves’ bedroom, and ended up matching really well with a beat I made last year. I love the sentiment of the lyrics and I like how you can’t really place the feeling you get when you hear the melody. It’s sad and happy at the same time.”

Drum & bass is known for its many samples of funk breaks—that’s where all the ‘drums’ come from. Which one is your favourite and why?  

“It isn’t technically a funk break, but one of the first records my dad played to me was ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ by Roy Ayers. Many years later, I was still thinking about that melody, so I just had to remix the song for my last album.”

Drum & bass as a genre emerged from the UK rave scene in the ‘90s. What are your earliest memories of it, and what was the defining personal moment that made you think: this is my sound?  

“I wasn’t around in the UK club scene in the ‘90s just yet, haha. But I’ll never forget the first time I went to Fabric in London to see DJ Hype play. I booked a 7am Eurostar back to Brussels in the morning and had no hotel. I also got in trouble for sneaking a Belgian beer into the club to give to DJ Hype. I was a fan before I was a producer, and even before I was a DJ.”

What is your very favourite dish for snowy weather and what do you love so much about it? 

“I live in Los Angeles most of the year and when I’m there, I really miss a good baguette. So get yourself a baguette, some cheese, and some nice charcuterie or paté, and have a morning feast with your friends on the slope!”

Being a Tomorrowland Winter veteran, what tips would you give to first-timers, besides having a mountainside breakfast? 

“Do some paragliding! It’s surprisingly less terrifying than I initially thought. As a matter of fact, it helps with the hangover. And it’s amazing to get a proper bird’s eye view of the city and the slopes.”