I produce a lot of music while jetting about

I produce a lot of music while jetting about

Progressive and electro house DJ Hardwell was here last month for his world tour gig, I Am Hardwell, at Fort Canning Park, which came on the back of the Formula One weekend, drawing a massive crowd of 8,000 attendees.

My Paper caught up with Hardwell - the moniker 25-year-old Dutch DJ Robbert van de Corput adopted since he was 12 - to learn more about the progression of electronic dance music in Asian cities.

How would you describe your type of music?

If I had to describe my style, it would be categorised between progressive and electro.

It's energetic and I always try to come up with something new, so I'm always looking ahead for what's next. I hate to copy my own sounds and make the same singles over again. So I'd say it's futuristic or forward-thinking.

You also run a weekly radio show, as well as your company Revealed Recordings. How do you find time to produce new music?

I do it on the go. Actually, I produce a lot of music on the plane, especially on long flights.

In the beginning, I really had to get used to that because producing songs on a plane is different from producing them in your own studio.

I was used to the big speakers and my own set-up.

But, now, all the mash-ups and bootlegs that I've done - and the radio shows as well - I do them on the go.

Does the upcoming Top 100 poll in DJ Mag put you under a lot of pressure?

Of course, it puts a lot of pressure on me (laughs). First of all, I really trust my fans. I've seen a lot of fans voting for me and I've also seen all the lists on Twitter. I'm really happy with all the support from my fans and, as I've said before, I've had by far the best year of my career.

How are you finding the progression of electronic dance music in other Asian cities?

For last year's DJ Mag, I was asked where the next electronic dance-music capital would be. I was one of the few DJs who said Asia.

Because every time when I play in Asia, I can tell that it's getting bigger.

Of course, dance music has been around in Asia, but they didn't have the DJ culture. In America today, DJs are like pop stars. And that process is getting to Asia.

Do you prefer playing for a large-scale show or a smaller club setting?

I actually enjoy both. My sound, the way I play, fits better on the bigger stages in festivals; but then again I like to play at smaller clubs just to get intimate and connective with my fans.

When I play at smaller clubs, I find it so cool that the crowd can actually touch you. It's as if you're actually partying with your fans. You're on the same level with them, not on the big stage.


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