Dutch Dance Agenda: July 2019

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.

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:

July 13 | Bang Bang | San Diego, CA

July 19 | It’ll Do | Dallas, TX

Laidback Luke

Born in the Philippines, raised in Holland, Luke van Scheppingen, known as Laidback Luke is with no exaggeration the reference point of the dance scene for the thousands of clubbers these days. His unlimited energy brightly results in both stunning live sets and continuously highly anticipated studio releases. The Dutch heavy weight house master is loved all over the globe: they worship him in Amnesia on Ibiza, they sell out his Super You&Me event wherever it goes to, and they put him on the 20th place on By-All-Means-Wanted TOP 100 DJs list. With the crazy energy that Luke conveys and the martial arts that he practices, rest assured his future will be out of this world!

Events:

July 4 | Profundo Pool Club | Queens County, 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.

He was recently injured from jumping off the stage, so hopefully, he will have fully recuperated and is able to DJ at these events.

Events:

July 13 | Omnia Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

July 14 | Wet Republic Ultra Pool | Las Vegas, NV

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:

Jul 3 | Downtown LA | Los Angeles, CA

Jul 25 | Good Room | New York, NY

Noisia

Working from their studio in their hometown of Groningen Nik Roos, Martijn Sonderen and Thijs de Vlieger have gradually developed and cultivated a sound that’s all their own; a sound that’s obsessed with production techniques; a sound that’s instantly recognisable whether you’re hearing three minutes of a Noisia track dropped at a festival or three hours of it while playing Devil May Cry 5. Having pushed the envelope and successfully managed to blend incredible sound design with unrelenting and uncompromising beats and basslines, Noisia’s sound is undoubtedly unique.

Events:

July 2 | Red Rocks | Morrison, CO

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:

July 28 & 29 | Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub | Las Vegas, NV

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:

July 26 | Stereo Live Houston | Houston, TX

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:

Jul 6  | Hakkasan Las Vegas Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

Jul 11 | Hakkasan Las Vegas Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

Jul 13 | Audiotistic Festival | Mountain View, CA

Jul  13| Hakkasan Las Vegas Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

JUL 20 | Omnia Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

JUL 27 | Hakkasan Las Vegas Nightclub | Las Vegas, NV

JUL 28 | Wet Republic Ultra Pool | Las Vegas, NV

The Him

Hailing from the dance capital of the world, Amsterdam, the Dutch team of Jeroen Kerstens and Steven Berghuijs formed their partnership in 2015 when they teamed up with melodic house mastermind Sam Feldt for their breakout collaboration “Midnight Hearts,” of which has amassed over 17 million streams to date. Shortly after, the Him launched their own mix series, Midnight Mixtapes, to paint an auditory picture of what their project’s style and sound was like. Following their first collaboration with Feldt, the Him teamed up with their compatriot on another original called “Drive You Home.”After a number of bootleg remixes of Robin Schulz, Maroon 5, and Mumford & Sons that further solidified their stance in the SoundCloud world, The Him turned the attention to their first solo production, “Feels Like Home.” Quickly amassing 12 million streams on SoundCloud alone and hitting #1 on SoundCloud’s Deep House Charts in the first six months of the record’s release, “Feels Like Home” marked a massive milestone for the duo and paid an integral role in catapulting The Him into the spotlight. The track attracted major press looks from leading dance outlets like Dancing Astronaut, Your EDM, DJ Mag NL, MrSuicideSheep, Chill Nation, and more.

Events:

July 19 | Academy | Los Angeles, CA

July 20 | Temple | San Francisco, CA

Tinlicker

Crafted by an expression of computerised soul, Tinlicker are the modern face of Dutch electronic dance music. Based out of Utrecht, the guys started their journey towards today in late 2012, honing their sound, continually shaping their destination, creating their new ideal in music. Initially, self-releasing music it wasn’t long before said sound was noticed by none other than Feed Me, who was quick to sign a number of songs to his tastemaking Sotto Voce label. From there the ears of Zerothree tuned in and the world was given an array of head-turning singles, including the irrepressible ‘Maandag’. Fans of Above & Beyond and Deadmau5 will be no stranger to Tinlicker, who have supported their beats many times across their live shows, Group Therapy and BBC radio shows. It’s no surprise then that when the time came to find a home for the 2017 hit ‘Soon You’ll Be Gone’ Anjunadeep was quick to put their hand up. Recently followed by the smashing ‘Because You Move Me’ on Armada and the ‘Jalapeño EP’ on Mau5trap.

Events:

July 27 & 28 | Gorge Amphitheatre | George, WA