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Dutch Dance Agenda: April 2019

Dutch DJ Moods

Do you want to know when your favorite DJ will be playing some tracks, or are you curious about new Dutch voices in town? In our #DutchDanceAgenda, we post monthly updates on who is playing when and where, and we highlight different Dutch DJs that are spinning their decks in the US at the moment.

Let’s face it: the best party is a Dutch party. As a brand, a passion, and a movement, “Dutch Dance” has dominated the international dance scene for years. Many Dutch DJs have gathered a worldwide following and fly all around the globe to entertain one energetic crowd after the other. Proving that established dance icons and fresh talent do not need to stand in each other’s way, Dutch legends like Tiësto and Hardwell have been taking the new generation underneath their wings.

From underground talent to household names, the Netherlands’ party scene has built the reputation for harboring everyone’s kind of DJ. However, with so many successful and famous DJs coming from such a small dot on the map, it is almost impossible to keep track of all their performance in the United States. Luckily, we did exactly that, so for the latest updates tune in on our Twitter and Facebook page! Also, be sure to check out our Soundcloud to hear all the latest, Dutch-produced tracks and live-sets.

Agenda

Bassjackers

Bassjackers

Best friends since high school, DJ, Marlon Flohr, and producer, Ralph van Hilst came together in 2007 to create the Dutch duo known as Bassjackers. The duo exploded onto the scene and in 2011 their dancefloor bomb “Mush Mush” was picked up by Tiësto and released on his label Musical Freedom.

Since then, Bassjackers have reached massive new heights in their career with numerous chart-topping bangers and hit-collaborations with the likes of Martin Garrix, Afrojack, KSHMR, and Showtek, to name a few, as well as remixes for A-list artists including Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, and Ne-Yo.

Events: 

April 5 | Club 57 | New York, NY

 

Bingo Players

Maarten Hoogstraten wasn’t like other kids his age. When he was 10, his friends were buying toys to play with, but Maarten was already spending his cash on vinyl and CDs. “You know how it starts,” he said with a chuckle. “I was the one who bought records when I was young, I bought lots of vinyl, seven-inches, twelve inches, and when CDs came about I bought a lot of CDs, growing up, I spent all my money on music.”

When he was a teenager, two events would change his life. An early music software program called ProTracker was released, and he would meet Paul Baümer, who would become his musical partner for the better part of the next 15 years until he suddenly passed away from cancer in 2013.  Though they didn’t start out as DJs, once the demand grew for them to play out live, they learned how to mix on CDJs. Soon, they became regulars on the EDM circuit, playing massive festivals, like Electric Daily Carnival, Tomorrowland, and Coachella. Maarten remembered: “I think we started to become better producers once we started to DJ,” noting that they would bring new tunes on the road and play for a crowd to gauge their reaction.

But in June 2013, at the height of their success, Paul suddenly fell ill. Maarten was stunned and didn’t know what to do. But Paul’s last wishes were for his best friend and his musical partner to keep making music. “He always said to me, ‘If you can find solace and continue what we started, please do so. Please continue the music. Carry on the Bingo Players flag,’” said Maarten.

Events:

April 12 | District | Atlanta, GA

April 13 | Premier Nightclub | Atlantic City, NJ

 

Brooks

Pioneering his own blend of electronic dance music over the past two years, Dutch producer Brooks has carved a solid name for himself with a selection of outstanding originals and remixes which have caught the world’s attention. Brooks has managed to stand out from the masses and gain increasing recognition with his innovative style of rhythmic electro house and melodic future house. For his contribution to the scene so far in 2018, Brooks has just picked up the SLAM! Award for Best Talent and he’s not stopping there.

Alongside his clear production talent, Brooks ability to showcase a stellar performance on-stage has earned him a reputation as one of electronic music’s most heterogenous DJs. From Europe to Asia, Africa and beyond, the producer is maintaining a lasting impression on a global scale.

With artists like Martin Garrix and David Guetta championing Brooks as one of their favorite DJs for the coming months and beyond, it’s evident that this is one young producer who is destined to make a prominent mark on the electronic dance music scene.

Events:

April 11 | Echostage | Washington D.C.

April 12 | Palms Casino Resort | Las Vegas, NV

 

Droeloe

This duo’s emphasis on their artistic strengths has seen them weave sonically and visually intricate stories through their music. Droeloe‘s signature skull has quickly become synonymous with progressive music and breathtaking art highlighted by their impeccable percussion-heavy sound infused with the catchiest melodies and stunning use of visuals.

They hit the electronic music scene in 2016 when San Holo brought them aboard bitbird where the duo released a string of singles through the rest of the year including “zZz” and “Wake the Warrior” establishing themselves as a new force to be reckoned with. The duo’s songwriting and producing continued to mature giving way to another string of hits across different labels such as Lowly Palace and Monstercat.

The duo returned to bitbird for their biggest piece of work to date – their debut EP A Moment In Time. Featuring five unique cover pieces and a beautiful visual storyboard, the EP was a hit amassing close to 25 million streams in less than a year and launching them on tour with San Holo on over forty-dates across four continents.

Events:

April 5 | Magic Stick | Detroit, MI

April 6 | The Sinclair | Cambridge, MA

April 13 | 9:30 Club | Washington, D.C.

April 18 | The Foundry at Fillmore | Philadelphia, PA

April 19, 20 | Music Hall of Williamsburg | Brooklyn, NY

April 26 | Terminal West | Atlanta, GA

 

Ferry Corsten

Ferry Corsten

Hailing from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Ferry Corsten’s lustrous career is exemplified by a passion for music that began as a hobby and spiraled into a full-blown profession. Today, as it was in the beginning, Corsten’s skills lie in his ability to coax the maximum emotional impact from electronic dance music of all genres, not just trance, but also progressive house and electro. He remains and has always been ahead-of-his-time, making music that becomes a template for others to follow.

Events:

April 13 | REV Ultra Lounge | Minneapolis

 

Firebeatz

The Dutch Duo Tim Smulders & Jurre van Doeselaar, aka Firebeatz, embark on their North American Tour this spring.

Events:

April 5| Maya Nightclub  | Scottsdale, AZ
April 6| Spire Night Club | Houston, TX

 

Kraak & Smaak

Based in Leiden, the Netherlands, Kraak & Smaak made their recording debut in 2003 on Jalapeno Records with the Money in the Bag EP, the title track of which was championed by Annie Nightingale on her Radio 1 show. A series of additional EPs followed on Jalapeno Records (Keep on Searching, 2004; Set Fire to Disco, 2004; Say Yeah, 2005; Money in the Bag Remixes, 2005; One of These Days, 2005) before the eventual release of the full-length Kraak & Smaak album debut, Boogie Angst (2005), which compiled all of the previously released singles alongside new material, including the forthcoming singles “Keep Me Home” and “No Sun in the Sky.” Meanwhile, Kraak & Smaak began establishing themselves as a live act and toured the DJ circuit as well; plus, they began doing remix work, the highlights of which would be compiled on The Remix Sessions (2007). In 2008 the trio returned with a new round of studio recordings, first releasing the That’s Our Word EP — highlighted by “That’s My Word,” a song featuring Stones Throw affiliate vocalists Dudley Perkins and Georgia Ann Muldrow — followed by the full-length album Plastic People. Featuring vocalist Ben Westbeech, lead single “Squeeze Me” became the biggest Kraak & Smaak hit to date, breaking into the Dutch singles chart Top Ten and getting lots of Radio 1 airplay.

Events:

April 24 | Le Poisson Rouge | New York, NY

 

Martin Garrix

Part of the explosion of Dutch EDM DJs who emerged during the 2012-2013 season, Martin Garrix kicked off his career in a high-profile way, first landing on the dance charts with his 2012 remix of Christina Aguilera’s “Your Body.” Born Martijn Garritsen, the then-16-year-old DJ spent 2012 remixing Aguilera, signing with Spinnin’ Records, and releasing the “BFAM” single in collaboration with Julian Jordan.

In 2013 he released his solo single “Animals,” which hit number one in the U.K. and reached the Top Ten in eight other countries. His Gold Skies EP rounded up those tracks, adding two more charting songs: “Tremor” and the title track. Garrix also found time to perform and mix the world over, resulting in being the number 1 DJ in the world today for the third year in a row.

Events:

April 5 | Omnia Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

 

Martyn

Martyn

Throughout the many layers of his winding 16+ years in electronic music, Holland native (now Washington DC resident) Martijn Deijkers, aka Martyn, has always stood in a genreless scene of his own. Though his influences are wide-ranging, Martyn’s music is deeply inspired by the futuristic and melodic aspects of Detroit and Chicago.

His rhythmically diverse sound floats across D&B, dubstep and various strains of bass music, just as smoothly as it traverses house and techno, and encompasses abstract ambient soundscapes. Based on musicality and energy in equal parts, Martyn’s layered tracks are a rapt exploration of melancholy, futurism and dancefloor hypnotism.

Events:

April 6 | Good Room | Brooklyn, NY

 

 

Moods

Nick Moods, also known as Moods, embarks on his first US tour as a headliner this April. Having already established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in electronic music with his slinky original productions and tight, crisp mixes the man is in demand right now.  Recent collaborations and remixes with the likes of Tom Misch, Chaka Khan, and Bondax have enhanced his reputation further and on Spotify he has received in excess of 20 million streams – an incredible number for an independent artist who is yet to release an album. Announcing himself with a style that owed much to the soulful producers like Pete Rock, J Dilla, and Nujabes, Moods’ early beats quickly began gaining traction online and started building an impressive following after winning favour with several key tastemaker blogs. Before long he attracted the attention of Dutch dance music royalty – Kraak & Smaak and they requested he remix their track ‘Don’t Let People’ on their 2013 release ‘Chrome Waves Remixed’. The mix he turned in impressed them so much he became the first signing to their newly formed imprint ‘Boogie Angst’.

Events:

April 03 | Metro Music Hall | Salt Lake City, UT

April 04 | Public Works | San Franciso, CA

April 05 | Club Fais DoDo | Los Angeles, CA

April 07 | Larimer Lounge | Denver, CO

April 11 | Knitting Factory | Brooklyn, NY

April 12 | Fenway Johnnie’s | Boston, MA

April 13 | Flash Rooftop | Washington D.C.

 

Sam Feldt

While only in his early twenties, Dutchman Sam Feldt has become quite the deep house tastemaker of his day. With amazing remix work as well as solid hits like the early 2015 release ‘Show Me Love’, which proved to be his definite claim to fame, he’s one of the DJs to watch when it comes to a new sound flooding the scene. Sam Feldt is definitely not a stranger to the house music scene. After working behind the scenes as a producer for a long time, perfecting his musical talents, he decides to show the world what he’s capable of by uploading his first tunes by the end of summer ‘13. Within a year Sam signs with Spinnin’ Records and releases his first track on the label.

It doesn’t take long for the young producer to get sensed by international dance media as part of a new exciting wave of melodic deep house. With almost two million plays on SoundCloud and 250.000 plays in one week as well as a #1 Hypem spot for his remix of the Sander van Doorn & Firebeatz release ‘Guitar Track’, Sam established himself in the scene.

Events:

April 13 | Marquee | Las Vegas, NV

 

San Holo

Sander van Dijck commonly known by his stage name San Holo, is not just a DJ: As DJ, Singer, Guitar Player and Lyricist, San taught himself to play guitar at an early age. He gained international recognition for his remix of Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode”, which currently has over 150 million views on YouTube. He has toured the world and has gained a credible reputation in the EDM world. In this next phase of his development, San Holo is taking the inspiration he gathers from bands like Explosions In The Sky, Sigur Ros and very ethereal soundscapes, beautiful melancholic music as he takes a leap with new sounds and music.  He is motivated by the fact that he’s never found a way to get that kind of vibe into the EDM music he was producing until half a year ago, when he realized that he could use guitars instead of a synth and still make it into a drop and a buildup.

San has released music on several record labels including Spinnin’ Records, OWSLA, Barong Family, and Monstercat. He is also no stranger to the Billboard Dance Charts, as his single “Light” soared to #13 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Chart.

He also founded bitbird, a label which has released several of his singles including “Still Looking” and “Light”. San Holo’s first EP, Cosmos, was released via Heroic on 18 September 2014 and was in the Top 100 Electronic category of iTunes.

Events:

April 01 | Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub | Las Vegas, NV

April 04 | Ace of Spades | Sacramento, CA

April 05 | The Observatory North Park | San Diego, CA

April 06 | Festival Park at Wild Horse Pass | Chandler, AZ

April 07 | Orpheum Theater | Flagstaff, AZ

April 09 | El Rey Theater | Albuquerque, NM

April 10 | Lowbrow Palace | El Paso, TX

April 11 | Emo’s Austin | Austin, TX

April 12 | Stereo Live | Houston, TX

April 13 | Joy Theater | New Orleans, LA

April 16 | Iron City | Birmingham, AL

April 17 | The Mill & Mine | Knoxville, TN

April 19 | Cain’s Ballroom | Tulsa, OK

April 20 | Stereo Live | Dallas, TX

April 23 | The Blue Note | Columbia, MO

April 24 | Wooly’s | Des Moines, IA

April 25 |Blue Moose Tap House | Iowa City, IA

April 26 | Bogart’s Cincinatti | Cincinatti, OH

April 27 | Aragon Ballroom | Chicago, IL

 

Sander Kleinenberg

Whether it’s producing, remixing or dj’ing, Sander Kleinenberg has been building credibility in on all fronts for over two decades. With twenty years of experience behind him, he’s established himself as an advocate for progress and most of all, a pivotal player on the frontier of electronic music. Sander’s passion for perfection has kept him away from classification, putting hours upon hours into the enrichment of his dj- and producer-skills. Constantly twisting and shaping sounds, progressing in the studio and experimenting on an unprecedented level have brought Sander to the point where a jaw-dropping remix for Justin Timberlake was soon followed by another one for Daft Punk, Madonna, Janet Jackson, N*E*R*D and so on.

Events:

April 12 | The Midway | San Francisco, CA

April 19 | House of Yes | New York, NY

 

Showtek

Over the past two years, Showtek has become more than an act; it’s a movement, a tribe formed by the producer duo and its fans that is united in its love for music, excitement, artistic freedom and adventure. Wouter and Sjoerd Janssen, aka Showtek, two brothers from Eindhoven have been making music for over a decade.

Two rebels kicking against the shins of the establishment, speaking a language the party crowd could believe in. It was in 2012 when they truly exploded onto the global dance scene with the release of ‘Cannonball’. Countless new fans joined, new productions got recognized and reached all corners of the planet.

Events:

April 6 | Premier Nightclub | Atlantic City, NJ

April 12 | Time Nightclub | Costa Mesa, CA

April 13 | Drai’s | Las Vegas, NV

 

Tiësto

Highly regarded by both DJ Magazine and fans of electronic dance music, Tiësto launched his career as one of the world’s foremost trance DJs, due in part to his legendary six-hour live sets, and went on to embrace a more pop-oriented EDM approach. The fifth Tiësto studio album, A Town Called Paradise, appeared in 2014 on Casablanca. It featured the most pop-oriented productions of his career and a slew of guest vocalists who included Ladyhawke and Icona Pop. Tiësto appeared on DJ Mag Top 100 2016 as number 5.

Events:

April 18 | Hakkasan Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

April 25 |  Hakkasan Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

April 27 | Wet Republic Ultra Pool | Las Vegas, NV

 

Vicetone

Vicetone, a Groningen-based duo consisting of Ruben den Boer and Victor Pool, has had a big presence in the US over the last couple of years, maybe even bigger than in their country of origin. After quickly coming up with Monstercat as progressive house producers, the duo entered the DJ Mag Top 100 in 2013 on place 60. After signing with Spinnin’ Records the duo had several hits with remixes of Adele, Calvin Harris, and Maroon 5, and also released a song with Nicky Romero. They have played at Ultra Music Festival and are still taking the US by storm.

Events:

April 5 | Exchange LA | Los Angeles, CA

 

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