IN terms of Dutch hardcore, it doesn’t get much hardcore-r than leading exponent Angerfist, mixing techno with gabber, euphoria, industrial and straight-up hardstyle, accompanied by MC Prozac’s dark stylings. “I have been doing all year what I would dream of, if I was not,” says Angerfist of 2012. This included touring Asia and the Americas in support of 2011’s ‘Retaliate’ album, and releasing the “more experimental”, demonically breakcore-ish ‘Buckle Up And Kill’ EP.
SWILDSTYLEZ
IT’S been quite a year for Dutch hardstyle DJ/producer Wildstylez. Not only has he travelled the world DJing, his recent collaboration with Brennan Heart, ‘Lose My Mind’, has become one of this autumn’s dance hits.
“IT’S been getting millions of views on YouTube,” says Wildstylez, aka Joram Metekohy. “It’s the most-requested track in my sets.”
Wildstylez says that this year, production has been his main focus. “I want to make songs rather than technically-perfect tracks,” he says. “You have to keep moving on to the next thing in any career, and this is where I’m heading next.”
tyle: “Euphoric, uplifting hardstyle.” Best known for: “At the moment for ‘Lose My Mind’.” Tune of 2012: “Brennan Heart & Wildstylez ‘Lose My Mind’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “I’m impressed by what Code Black is producing.”
Wildstylez can trace his passion for “hard, fast, euphoric music” back to a particular date. “I remember going to Trance Energy in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht in 2001,” he says. “DJ Jean, Cosmic Gate, Rank 1 and Johan Gielen were all playing. I was buzzing for weeks after that, and soon started producing music.”
There is one thing that bugs him about hardstyle music, though. “I’M keen to see and hear new talent from other parts of the world, but there aren’t many people making this kind of music,” he says. “I’ve really noticed that when I’ve travelled around doing gigs this year.” CLAIRE HUGHES
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “I’d like to fly like Superman. It would save me a lot of time travelling to gigs!” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “I think you should play to the crowd within your own style.” What does EDM mean to you? “It’s my life.” Should celebrities be DJs? “If they only get gigs because they’re celebs then: NOOOOO!” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “No, I always behave myself!” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “Beat match?! Why learn this when there is a sync button on the Pioneer CDJ200Nexus… haha!” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Everybody is talking about the USA, but all the main producers are still from Sweden and the Netherlands.”
Style: “Hardcore techno.” Best known for: “‘Raise Your Fist’.” Tune of 2012: “Angerfist & Outblast feat MC Tha Watcher ‘Catastrophe’.’” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Miss K8.”
It has also been “the year of anthems” for Angerfist, collaborating on official tracks for Dominator Festival (Netherlands) and Syndicate (Germany). Finally, does Angerfist think he deserves his nickname, ‘The King of Hardcore’? “Although I am honoured, I can tell you there is nothing royal about me! I do sleep in a king-size bed, though.” There you have it. TRISTAN PARKER
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If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “The ability to shoot rum from my wrists like Spiderman shoots webs, so I can turn any Coke into a rum and Coke.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “You should present your own vision and defini- tion of what music should sound like. But you gain the support of your fans by the sounds you shape and create.” What does EDM mean to you? “It’s the essential ingredient of my existence. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but the noise I create and spread is because I simply must.” Should celebrities be DJs? “I’m the last guy on earth that will tell other people what they should or should not do.” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “No. But does jumping off stages and ON people also count?” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “It all depends on the definition of ‘DJing’, in my opinion… of much greater im- portance is the final goal: pure and beautiful destruction on the dancefloor.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Tell me and I’ll be there! The goal is to take over the world, and the benefit from that is that all cities will be dance capitals eventually!”