Dutch DJ Hardwell is the world's number one and he sees greater things ahead
Dedication to his craft has put DJ Hardwell at the top of his game and he sees no limits for electronic music, writes John Moser
Dutch DJ Hardwell says he never wants the music to stop. As one of today's most popular purveyors of electronic dance music (EDM) - voted by readers of DJ Magazine as No 1 in the world for 2013 - he says he wants to help make sure it doesn't.
So Hardwell says he's trying to help open the genre to all types of stylistic changes with his record label, Revealed Recordings. And he's trying to evolve the role of DJ into a more traditional artist who, rather than remixing the music of others, creates his own, and builds a fan base that will support those changes.
I never aimed for the radio, you know? I'm a DJ - I want my records to be played by all the other DJs in the clubs
Hardwell says that after topping the dance charts for the past four years with his remixes, he's halfway done with an album of his own music and expects to release it in September. "I think the album thing always is the next thing to do," he says, calling from a tour bus between stops in Columbus, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York. "And so far so good, you know. I'm really enjoying the process of doing it."
He declines to talk about the musical direction of the album, but says: "It really changes how you think. I had so many single releases, and I never thought about making an album." But he says it's the next logical move.
"I think the biggest thing you can achieve as a DJ is to take it to the next step, as an artist would do, like a band. We're playing arenas, like really big shows. We're playing all the big arenas like Beyoncé and all the superstars. And for a DJ to achieve that point, I think that's the next big thing."
It's hard not to believe Hardwell when he says he will be among those who will keep the music going. The 26-year-old has a YouTube channel that's had more than 70 million plays. His label is ranked by Billboard magazine as one of the top dance labels in the world. He also has his own radio show and podcast, Hardwell on Air, on Sirius XM radio.