COVER STORY MER AND REZA, THE FOUNDERS OF
VERKNIPT: BECOMING THE WORLD’S NUMBER 1 HARD DANCE PROMOTER
Since its inception in 2012, Verknipt has been an undeniable reference in the electronic music scene in the Netherlands and beyond. What started as an event organization focused on house, tech-hou- se, and techno has evolved into a techno empire, expanding both in musical styles and influence.
Behind this evolution are Reza Fathi Mer Hajbara- ti, the co-founders who have worked tirelessly to take Verknipt from its humble beginnings to beco- ming a global name in the electronic music scene.
Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with both of them about the challenges they faced in the early days, the musical evolution of Verknipt, their future plans, and the international expan- sion of their brand. Throughout the conversation, Mer and Reza shared personal anecdotes and reflections on what it means for them to be at the forefront of one of the most influential organizations in techno today. Their words offer deep insight not only into Verknipt’s successes but also into the hurdles and decisions that brou- ght them to where they are now.
This article recaps our conversation, exploring everything from Verknipt’s beginnings to their future ambitions, including their desire to incor- porate harder genres into their events and their expansion into international markets. Verknipt is not just a brand; it is a global community that continues to grow.
THE BEGINNINGS OF VERKNIPT: A CLEAR VISION
When they started Verknipt, Mer and Reza had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve in the electronic music scene. From the very beginning, their goal was to create a space where they could share their passion for music and offer a unique experience to their audience.
AS REZA EXPLAINED:
“Verknipt began as an organization for house, tech-house, and techno events. Over time, we gravitated towards the harder techno scene. The first edition of Verknipt was initiated by me as an unofficial after-party for Awakenings, at the Su- garfactory.”
6 Since 2012, their vision has been simple but
powerful: to create a space where electronic mu- sic could thrive.
“Our vision was to create a space where our pas- sion for electronic music could flourish. One of the decisive moments came in 2018 when we introduced a harder techno stage at the Verk- nipt Festival. The overwhelmingly positive res- ponse from attendees encouraged us to in- corporate more hard techno into our events.”
INITIAL CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED
Beginnings are never easy, and Mer and Reza were no exception. One of the biggest challenges was establishing themselves in a saturated market and gaining the trust of their audience. Additiona- lly, they faced technical issues that threatened to derail entire events. However, as they both pointed out, their ability to adapt and stay calm was key.
“In the early days, we faced challenges like secu- ring venues and building a loyal audience. We also had technical failures that almost ruined some ni- ghts or day parties. Instead of panicking, our team always came together, quickly finding solutions and communicating with the crowd. This taught us the importance of adaptability and teamwork.”
Their motto in those early years was simple: take risks and believe in what they were doing.
“There is a solution to every problem. Take risks and believe in what you’re doing; sometimes, it’s as simple as that.”
This attitude has been fundamen- tal to their success, and today, Verknipt is known for
VERKNIPT’S MUSICAL EVOLUTION
Verknipt’s musical evolution was not an ac- cident but the result of listening to their au- dience and following their own passions. Ini- tially, Verknipt offered a mix of house and techno, but over time, the demand for har- der sounds led to a shift towards hard techno.
its ability to overcome obstacles.
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