What started as a chance meeting at the 2007 Trance Energy has, in just under 3 years solidified into one of the freshest, most exciting electronic dance acts on the scene. With it has come a new multifarious trance sound that, globally, has begun to shatter underground clubs, arenas and festivals. Banding together under the name W&W has seen the collective careers of Wardt van der Harst & Willem Van Hanegem go into overdrive. While on the console they’ve delivered due damage to club nights and festivals and in 2009 their A-list-hammered track portfolio saw them conclusively tip the ‘next big thing’ scales. Now, in the new decade, W&W are ready to rule.

With tracks like ‘Ensure’, ‘Show my Shuffle’, ‘Origin’ & ‘Stab My Speaker’, Willem and Wardt initially started out producing their own respective floor-thrillers. The serendipitous Trance Energy meet quickly bore their debut W&W production though, which came in the form of the mighty ‘Mustang’. ‘Dome’ & ‘Arena’ (which featured on the Armin Only DVD) followed up its freshman success and fast found the CDJs of trance luminaries like Tiësto, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz, Sander Van Doorn & Judge Jules. Tipped by Armin van Buuren as “the best up-and-coming production duo out there”, W&W have continued to rock federation trance to its core with ‘Mainstage’, the Sean Tyas-remixed ‘D.N.A’ and their Ummet Ozcan collaboration ‘Synergy’ each bringing floors to critical mass. Remix-side, their voracious rewires have proved equally as popular – most notably on Armin’s ‘Rain’, ‘Remedy’ (by UK pop starlet Little Boots) and those of Sander van Doorn, Leon Bolier, Sied van Riel, & others.

We at The Bangin Beats (thebanginbeats.com) welcome, Willem and Ward better known as W&W. It’s great to be interviewing the two of you!

Q) To begin tell us, how did W&W first come about? What inspired the two of you to make music together?

Willem & Ward: When we first met each other we both made music on our own, but after we made our first tune together we noticed it was much better than anything we did before. So we decided to focus more on our W&W career until we came to the point where that was the only thing we did!

Q) We heard Willem’s father was a famous football player of his time. That said was a career in music something which both of you always wanted to pursue?

Willem: I played soccer for a long time but after my dad told me I wasn’t good enough I started focussing on music more and more. It’s definitely the career we always wanted!!

Q) Your latest release, “Lift Off” has been loved by fans of electronic music around the globe & even found its way in the Beatport Top 10. Would you regard it as one of your best tracks until now? 

Willem & Ward: It’s definitely the most successful release we’ve had so far in terms of DJ support and charting. Of course the ‘best’ is always a matter of taste but it’s certainly one of our personal favorites so far!

Q) Coming to your record label ‘Mainstage Music’, What was the reason behind setting up a sub-label under the mighty wings of Armada Music?

Willem & Ward: There are so many great producers sending their tracks to us, which we always play at our gigs, but we wanted to do something more! So now we’re building a platform for artists to release their music on, as well as our own music! It’s great to have it under Armada as they’re such an experienced and professional team.

Q) In 2010, Armin van Buuren said, “W&W are truly the rising stars of trance. If I have to put my money on somebody, I put it on W&W”. How does it feel to get such a compliment from a man like him? Could you tell us a little more about the relationship you share with Armin?

Willem & Ward: Armin has helped us a lot, he was the one signing us to his label and supported us so much since! Throughout the years we got to know him better and now we’re actually good friends. There is some very exciting news concerning Armin and us coming very soon by the way..

Q) A lot of trance artists like Tiesto have shifted from trance to producing music, which could probably be said to be more mainstream like Progressive House. Do you reckon its important for music producers to diversify their sound every now and then into different genres to appeal to a wider audience?

Willem & Ward: Yes, we love to diversify our sound, but not specifically to appeal a bigger audience, just because we don’t like doing the same thing all the time. We want new challenges every now and then otherwise we get bored.

Q) In the year gone by we saw you at Asia’s biggest music festival, Sunburn Goa 2012. What are your thoughts on coming to India for the first time for such a big festival?

Willem & Ward: Sunburn Festival was definitely one of the best gigs for us last year!! It was an amazing night with such an energetic vibe!!

Q) What in your opinion is the general notion about Sunburn and the dance music scene in India?

Willem & Ward: We haven’t experienced so much of it yet but from what we saw it’s a very healthy scene which is growing rapidly!

Q) Your tracks “Invasion” and “Moscow” were voted on #9 and #16 on the ASOT Top 20. Your thoughts about the same?

Willem & Ward: It’s great to see that so many people went online and voted for our tracks! It was the first time ever for us to have a track in the top 20 so that makes it extra special.

Q) Tell us about the road ahead, what can your fans look forward to coming out of the W&W stable next? Any releases coming up?

Willem & Ward: Our next single will be the collaboration with Ummet Ozcan called ‘The Code’ which will be out the 4th of February on Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings. The feedback we’re getting so far is crazy! So many people from so many different genres like it, from trance to house to hard style and even dub step and trap music.

Q) Any final words to your fans in India especially those who caught your set Sunburn? 

Willem & Ward: Thanks a lot for all the support from you guys, we always read a lot about you on twitter, we hope you liked our set at Sunburn and hopefully see you all soon!!

Thank You for the interview it’s been a pleasure!