Artist Of The Month – Hardwell (September 2013)

The Bangin Beats interview Hardwell

Robbert van de Corput, better known as Hardwell is one of the most popular DJs in the world and is ranked #6 in DJ Mag’s 2012 Top 100 DJ survey up from #24 in 2011. At the age of 25, the ripened heavyweight has created a legacy that would put most of his counterparts to shame. An award-winning DJ, producer, musician, label manager, lover of all things music, Hardwell has not only helped shape the current state of dance music, but has left an everlasting imprint.

Like his great mentor Tiësto, Hardwell proudly hails from Breda, a city tucked deep within the Netherlands. At the young age of 13, Hardwell’s talents were so advanced that he was able capture the ears of a major Dutch label. Shortly after signing, Hardwell was spinning at all the major clubs across the Netherlands. Hardwell’s international breakthrough came with his “Show Me Love vs. Be” bootleg, which became one of the popular and played dance hits of 2009. From this point on, a star was born. 

Through his refreshing sound that is characterized by complex drum ensembles, daring synths, and emotive chords, Hardwell has created the ultimate recipe for “Big Room House”. He was recently voted #6 in the 2012 edition of the DJ Mag Top 100, the most prestigious of industry competitions. In tandem with his worldwide popularity is his “fresh and open-minded” label Revealed Recordings, which continues to gain international momentum.

In March of 2011, Hardwell launched his very own radio show and podcast, Hardwell On Air,, which is broadcasted on more than 25 international radio stations. Additionally, the podcast has a solid spot in the iTunes Top 10 Podcasts in more than 30 countries. The buck did not stop there. In 2011, Hardwell also released juggernaut tracks like “Encoded,” a YouTube sensation, “Zero 76”, a collaboration with Tiësto topping the #1 Beatport and #1 US iTunes spot, and “Cobra,” a tune that went to #1 in the dance charts in Holland and Top 10 on Beatport’s Progressive House chart.

2012 has seen as much success as the previous years with his remixes of Rihanna’s track “Where Have You Been” and The Wanted’s “Chasing the Sun”. Hardwell and Dannic’s remix for Example, “Say Nothing,” received a #1 spot in the Cool Cut Chart, while Tiësto & Hardwell’s remix for “Young Blood,” by the indie rock band The Naked And Famous, became the festival circuit’s summer anthem. Hardwell has also collaborated alongside Showtek to produce the track “How We Do”. However, Hardwell’s biggest track of 2012 has been the solo-original better known as “Spaceman,” which has seen more sets, bootlegs, and remixes than any of his previous releases.

Next, Hardwell’s “Three Triangles,” released on Mark Knight’s label, Toolroom, and “Kontiki,” co-produced with rising star Dannic, also hit the Beatport Top 10. To add more to the list of Hardwell’s best works is his hard-hitting organic track, “Apollo,” featuring Amba Shepherd. 2013 also witnessed a flurry of releases from the dutch with tracks like “Dynamo”, “Never Say Goodbye” and most his recent hit with W&W “Jumper”.

As for his live component, Hardwell has headlined the most prestigious and crowd-pleasing of festivals in the world such as Electronic Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, Electric Zoo, Creamfields, Tomorrowland, Mysteryland, and various Sensations, including Amsterdam’s. Hardwell’s personal side is also displayed in his Q&A series on YouTube, where he answers the most begging of questions his fans have to offer. As said by Hardwell himself, “With the opportunities of social media today, it’s super easy to be in direct contact with your fans, however it’s impossible to respond to each and everyone through Twitter or Facebook. That’s how I came up with this idea, to give my fans the opportunity to ask me their questions and to have the chance to answer them in a fun way!”

Besides showcasing his talents for major artists worldwide, and proving himself not only in the studio, but also behind the decks, we can be assured that the Hardwell name, face, and brand is a force that will drive electronic dance music for years to come.

Stream some of Hardwell’s finest tunes below:

Now, Hardwell is set for an Indian tour in collaboration with Sunburn as a part of his ‘I am Hardwell’ world tour – An ambitious world tour where the Dutch artist will present everything he stands for in a long, extensive DJ performance. From artwork to visuals, every aspect of the show has been brought together with Hardwell’s own ideas and vision. Tickets for Sunburn Arena “I Am Hardwell” India Tour are available here. The tour is schedule to take place in two cities – Bangalore (21st Sept 2013) and Mumbai (22nd Sept 2013). We also got an opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with Hardwell recently, read it up here.

Hardwell India Tour 2013

For more information about the tour, follow:

Sunburn: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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