The Dutch DJ reflects on two years of being back on tour and what's next
Tomorrowland Belgium
Can you imagine there once was a time when there was no Hardwell? It’s not even that long ago, and it seemed to last forever: four long years.
Back in the game for almost two years, the Dutch producer seems more energetic and productive than ever, exploring new ways of doing things. It’s like he never took his sabbatical at all, and it looks like there are many more years left to enjoy the genius that is Hardwell.
Here’s what he has to say about it!
“These past couple of years have been an exciting period of creativity and of reconnecting with my fans in a new way as I changed my sound. It’s been amazing and it fills me with so much joy seeing the buzz the crowd gets from the music."
"Words really can’t really describe the feeling! I’ve learned to bring more balance into my life which has also been a game-changer for me in the studio. The amount of music I’ve been creating is insane. I’ve got so much music backed up ready to come out."
“Doing things differently is so, so important to me! It’s why I started my label Revealed, it’s why I wanted my way when others said ‘Don’t do it’. It’s also why I named my album ‘REBELS NEVER DIE’."
"I’ve always had this rebel inside me, pushing against the barriers to try something new. I want to explore new genres, try new things as well as old things, and experiment. Maybe I’ll get it right, maybe I won’t, but you have to try, otherwise you’ll never know.”
“My connection is probably the same as everyone’s who remembers them from that time. They were such a huge act with massive chart hits. They symbolize a golden era of Eurodance from that period. I’ve always admired what they achieved through their music, and being a Dutch artist myself made it extra special.
My edit was an addition to the work Nifra had already done on 2 Unlimited’s dynamic and iconic original.
“I’ve never shared my sound designs before, but I felt like the time was right. I aimed to create something that was accessible to everyone.
If you’re a beginner, you can just download it and dive right in. It’s there to be messed around with and to explore your own creativity with. In my early years, I did use sample packs, and this led me to start designing my own sounds. It was a journey that broadened my horizons as a producer, so I wanted to give people a launchpad for themselves to leapfrom.
I think there’s always the risk of other people liking artists they like, but that’s fine, it’s about evolution and growing as an artist.”
“One of the things I love so much about Tomorrowland, aside from playing there, is the way it brings so many different people from so many different places all to one place. It’s always a great opportunity to connect with everyone.
In recent years, Tomorrowland has also become renowned for the food on offer, bringing world-class chefs to the festival site, so I’m looking forward to experiencing the new menus they’ll have this year.”
“Fans will get new music in my show. I recently released ‘XTC’, which I will definitely play. It’s been really popular with the fans and I’m super happy it’s finally out.
And I’ve been working on a lot of new music lately, and have some super special tracks and edits lined up for my Tomorrowland set. I can’t wait!”