Latest news with #TheProdigy
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Multi-platinum selling DJ redefines the boundaries of pop music as he launches one of his most personal releases yet
POP IT Multi-platinum selling DJ redefines the boundaries of pop music as he launches one of his most personal releases yet FROM remixing the world's biggest pop stars to taking to the main stages at top festivals, R3HAB has spent the last decade redefining the boundaries of dance music. With reworks for the likes of Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, and Calvin Harris under his belt, the multi-platinum selling Dutch Moroccan DJ and producer has become synonymous with transforming chart toppers into dancefloor weapons, always with his signature balance of emotion and euphoria. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 R3HAB has redefined the boundaries of dance music Credit: CYB3RPVNK R3HAB turns the page this summer with one of his most personal releases yet, All My Life. Out now on Polydor/Universal, the tune trades the peak time punch for something more introspective and cinematic. Written during a songwriting camp in Thailand, the track is a deep house journey laced with soft piano, shimmering synths and a soaring vocal. 'All My Life means a lot to me,' R3HAB tells us. 'The lyric 'Parachute when I free fall' came from a moment of complete surrender… that feeling when you let go, drift into the unknown and somehow feel safe in it.' It's a reminder of the power of dance music to lift us out of ourselves and that's exactly what R3HAB's exclusive playlist for The Night Bazaar delivers. Handpicked by the man himself, these ten tracks map out the energy and emotion that have fuelled his global journey and inspired his music, from the iconic remixes that made his name to his forward-thinking sound of today. With tracks from The Prodigy, Bodyrox, Avicii, Underworld and more, whether you're on the dancefloor or chasing your own version of escape, R3HAB's selection is the perfect soundtrack to let go, live fully and, as he puts it, 'forget about everything else for a while.' 2 He has now released one of his most personal tracks yet Credit: CYB3RPVNK The Prodigy - No Good (Start the Dance) This one hit deep. I remember seeing the music video as a little kid - black and white, raw, chaotic, magical. The breakdancing, the attitude, the sheer energy of the track. It didn't sound like anything else. It was fast, aggressive and rebellious but so danceable. It gave me chills back then - and honestly, it still does. "You're no good for me"... the way that vocal cuts through? Timeless. The Prodigy - Out Of Space "Take your brain to another dimension..." This wasn't just a song - it was a full-blown trip. The vocals, the dubby textures, the dynamic shifts, it was unlike anything I'd ever heard. It felt like getting abducted into another world where every sound hit a different nerve. There's something truly spiritual about how it all comes together. As a kid, it was one of the first records that made me realise music could be cinematic, psychedelic, and explosive all at once. Bodyrox - Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Instrumental Remix) I first heard this in a nightclub and thought, what the hell is that sound? It was sleek, sexy, futuristic - like techno and electro had a child and raised it in a neon-lit bunker. The production was so ahead of its time. Those stabbing synths, the groove, the attitude - you could feel it in your spine. It was one of those records that made me stop dancing just to listen closer and figure out how the hell someone even made that. Benny Benassi - Satisfaction Pure genius. The sidechain compression, the gritty robotic vocals, the hypnotic repetition - it was the blueprint for an entire era of electro-house. It's one of those rare tracks that sounds just as fresh today as it did back then. Play it in any club and watch the floor erupt. I always expected how clean and punchy the mix was. Even now, it's hard to match the raw power this track delivers. Faithless - Insomnia What a story this record tells. The tension, the poetic vocals, the way it just slowly builds like you're climbing some emotional mountain. It's more than a track - it's a cinematic journey. When that iconic drop finally hits, you feel like your soul lifts out of your body. "I can't get no sleep..." became a global mantra. This is dance music with narrative, drama, and real feeling. Chuckie - Let the Bass Kick The Dirty Dutch sound. I remember this one hitting the clubs for the first time - it was like a punch in the face in the best way possible. Those screeching leads, the pounding rhythm, the sheer boldness of the sound. Chuckie was at the forefront of something new. The original and the remixes both hit - I even had the honor of remixing it myself, which was a huge proud moment. That groove was just undeniable. Underworld - Born Slippy (Nuxx) You can't talk about dance music history without this one. "Drive boy, dog boy, dirty numb angel boy..." - that vocal delivery still echoes in my mind. It's haunting, euphoric, manic. The way it builds and evolves is masterful. Watching Trainspotting and hearing this track felt like discovering a portal into another emotional universe. A record that proves dance music can be just as emotive as it is physical. Avicii - Levels A modern masterpiece. The melody, the vocal sample, the euphoric progression - it defined Progressive House for a generation. It was so catchy yet full of emotion. Avicii managed to take something vintage and flip it into a stadium anthem. You could feel the optimism and hope in it. "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling..." That's not just a lyric. It's a state of mind this record puts you in. Showtek ft. We Are Loud & Sonny Wilson - Booyah This one just slaps. Absolute banger. One of my favorite peak-time records ever. Showtek brought that gritty, festival-ready energy that got people jumping out of their skin. The transitions, the drops, the build-ups - everything was explosive. These guys have always been legendary producers, and "Booyah" cemented that. A track made for massive crowds and big sound systems. Major Lazer - Pon De Floor (Afrojack Radio Mix) Now, this one? Revolutionary. The rhythmic innovation, the use of vocal chops as instruments, the percussive madness - it felt like the future. Afrojack's punch and Major Lazer's swagger - together, they created something completely genre-defying. The beats were tribal, electronic, and raw all at once. It broke the rules and set trends. Every producer after tried to recreate that magic.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Multi-platinum selling DJ redefines the boundaries of pop music as he launches one of his most personal releases yet
FROM remixing the world's biggest pop stars to taking to the main stages at top festivals, R3HAB has spent the last decade redefining the boundaries of dance music. With reworks for the likes of Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, and Calvin Harris under his belt, the multi-platinum selling Dutch Moroccan DJ and producer has become synonymous with transforming chart toppers into dancefloor weapons, always with his signature balance of emotion and euphoria. Advertisement 2 R3HAB has redefined the boundaries of dance music Credit: CYB3RPVNK R3HAB turns the page this summer with one of his most personal releases yet, All My Life. Out now on Polydor/Universal, the tune trades the peak time punch for something more introspective and cinematic. Written during a songwriting camp in Thailand, the track is a deep house journey laced with soft piano, shimmering synths and a soaring vocal. 'All My Life means a lot to me,' R3HAB tells us. 'The lyric 'Parachute when I free fall' came from a moment of complete surrender… that feeling when you let go, drift into the unknown and somehow feel safe in it.' Advertisement It's a reminder of the power of dance music to lift us out of ourselves and that's exactly what R3HAB's exclusive playlist for The Night Bazaar delivers. Handpicked by the man himself, these ten tracks map out the energy and emotion that have fuelled his global journey and inspired his music, from the iconic remixes that made his name to his forward-thinking sound of today. With tracks from The Prodigy, Bodyrox, Avicii, Underworld and more, whether you're on the dancefloor or chasing your own version of escape, R3HAB's selection is the perfect soundtrack to let go, live fully and, as he puts it, 'forget about everything else for a while.' 2 He has now released one of his most personal tracks yet Credit: CYB3RPVNK Advertisement Most read in Showbiz Exclusive This one hit deep. I remember seeing the music video as a little kid - black and white, raw, chaotic, magical. The breakdancing, the attitude, the sheer energy of the track. It didn't sound like anything else. It was fast, aggressive and rebellious but so danceable. It gave me chills back then - and honestly, it still does. "You're no good for me"... the way that vocal cuts through? Timeless. "Take your brain to another dimension..." This wasn't just a song - it was a full-blown trip. The vocals, the dubby textures, the dynamic shifts, it was unlike anything I'd ever heard. It felt like getting abducted into another world where every sound hit a different nerve. There's something truly spiritual about how it all comes together. As a kid, it was one of the first records that made me realise music could be cinematic, psychedelic, and explosive all at once. Advertisement I first heard this in a nightclub and thought, what the hell is that sound? It was sleek, sexy, futuristic - like techno and electro had a child and raised it in a neon-lit bunker. The production was so ahead of its time. Those stabbing synths, the groove, the attitude - you could feel it in your spine. It was one of those records that made me stop dancing just to listen closer and figure out how the hell someone even made that. Pure genius. The sidechain compression, the gritty robotic vocals, the hypnotic repetition - it was the blueprint for an entire era of electro-house. It's one of those rare tracks that sounds just as fresh today as it did back then. Play it in any club and watch the floor erupt. I always expected how clean and punchy the mix was. Even now, it's hard to match the raw power this track delivers. Advertisement What a story this record tells. The tension, the poetic vocals, the way it just slowly builds like you're climbing some emotional mountain. It's more than a track - it's a cinematic journey. When that iconic drop finally hits, you feel like your soul lifts out of your body. "I can't get no sleep..." became a global mantra. This is dance music with narrative, drama, and real feeling. The Dirty Dutch sound. I remember this one hitting the clubs for the first time - it was like a punch in the face in the best way possible. Those screeching leads, the pounding rhythm, the sheer boldness of the sound. Chuckie was at the forefront of something new. The original and the remixes both hit - I even had the honor of remixing it myself, which was a huge proud moment. That groove was just undeniable. Advertisement You can't talk about dance music history without this one. "Drive boy, dog boy, dirty numb angel boy..." - that vocal delivery still echoes in my mind. It's haunting, euphoric, manic. The way it builds and evolves is masterful. Watching Trainspotting and hearing this track felt like discovering a portal into another emotional universe. A record that proves dance music can be just as emotive as it is physical. A modern masterpiece. The melody, the vocal sample, the euphoric progression - it defined Progressive House for a generation. It was so catchy yet full of emotion. Avicii managed to take something vintage and flip it into a stadium anthem. You could feel the optimism and hope in it. "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling..." That's not just a lyric. It's a state of mind this record puts you in. Advertisement This one just slaps. Absolute banger. One of my favorite peak-time records ever. Showtek brought that gritty, festival-ready energy that got people jumping out of their skin. The transitions, the drops, the build-ups - everything was explosive. These guys have always been legendary producers, and "Booyah" cemented that. A track made for massive crowds and big sound systems. Read more on the Irish Sun Now, this one? Revolutionary. The rhythmic innovation, the use of vocal chops as instruments, the percussive madness - it felt like the future. Afrojack's punch and Major Lazer's swagger - together, they created something completely genre-defying. The beats were tribal, electronic, and raw all at once. It broke the rules and set trends. Every producer after tried to recreate that magic. Advertisement
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Vodaphone launches official Glastonbury Festival app with new easy way to find your mates and step count
HERE WE GLASTO Vodaphone launches official Glastonbury Festival app with new easy way to find your mates and step count Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FESTIVAL season is nearly here – and just in time, Vodafone has dropped the all-new Official Glastonbury Festival App for 2025. Whether you're dancing at the Pyramid Stage, grabbing a bite, or chasing a secret set at the Woodsies, this year's app is going to be the ultimate digital companion for Glastonbury. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Vodaphone launches official Glastonbury Festival app with new easy way to find your mates and step count Credit: Vodaphone 5 This year's app is going to be the ultimate digital companion for Glastonbury Credit: Getty The 2025 app is packed with exciting upgrades, led by the introduction of live location sharing – perfect for finding your friends in the crowd when you're gearing up for a huge headline moment. This year's headliners include The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo, while the rest of the bill features big-name acts such as Charli XCX, Doechii, Rod Stewart, Loyle Carner, The Prodigy and Raye. Some performance slots are listed as 'TBA' - sparking speculation about who might appear. Rumoured names range from Haim and Pulp to Lady Gaga and Radiohead. Glastonbury 2025 - confirmed acts so far TICKETS to the 2025 festival sold out in just minutes before some of the acts were even confirmed. Here is who has been confirmed so far. Confirmed headliners: The 1975 will take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday. Neil Young will headline the festival for the second time after his last set in 2009 on Saturday after RAYE makes her return. Charli xcx will headline the Other Stage on Saturday night. On Sunday, Olivia Rodrigo is due to belt out her hits for her first appearance while Rod Stewart will perform in the legends slot. More acts to appear on the Other Stage include Loyle Carner and The Prodigy. Doechii will make her Glastonbury debut on the West Holts Stage on Saturday night. Other names confirmed include Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Gracie Abrams, Busta Rhymes, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile, Myles Smith, En Vogue, Amaarae, Cymande, Shaboozey, Osees and Gary Numan. Another exciting new feature is the addition of step count to the popular 'My Highlights' post-Festival wrap, which lets fans compare with their mates to see who's covered the most ground or spent the most time on the dancefloor. But this isn't just about tracking steps – it's about making them count. Vodafone will match the average number of steps Festival-goers take each day with donations through its programme – up to 75,000 connections. These donations include data, devices and digital skills for people across the UK who need it most, supporting Vodafone's mission to close the digital divide. That's in addition to the 75,000 connections already donated through the Glastonbury partnership – delivering an estimated £4.5m in social value. Shared Line-ups now update automatically, so you can see what your mates are planning and make last-minute switches. Recently reunited noughties pop band accidentally reveal secret Glastonbury set You can use 'Add to Favourites' to create your shortlist of must-sees as well as and improved map search. Plus, all the fan-favourite features from 2024 return: personalised artist recommendations via Spotify, map pinning and alerts when set times clash. Their Connect & Charge tent – near the Pyramid Stage, Glade and Other Stage – will offer free charging and WiFi to keep your phone powered and your group chat buzzing. Maria Koutsoudakis, Chief Brand Officer, Vodafone UK, said: "We know the app plays a big role in the Festival experience so, this year, we have gone even further to ensure that fans can connect with their friends or family and get as much out of Glastonbury as possible. "Combined with us delivering the most Vodafone network capacity ever on-site, these new features will help festival goers always be connected no matter where they are across the site." 'We're delighted to be able to use these features to reward both fans and communities across the UK, by tying the new step count feature to our campaign." The Official Glastonbury Festival App, powered by Vodafone – The Nation's Network – is now available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store. 5 Rod Stewart is one of this years Glastonbury headliners Credit: Getty 5 Added into the app is a step count tracker letting fans see just how far they roamed across Worthy Farm Credit: Vodaphone
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Roxanne Perez living up to 'The Prodigy' nickname heading into WWE Money in the Bank
Roxanne Perez living up to 'The Prodigy' nickname heading into WWE Money in the Bank Show Caption Hide Caption John Cena warns media, he will ruin wrestling, he is the last real champion in WWE After making history at WrestleMania 41, John Cena warns the media that he will ruin wrestling and he is the last real champion in WWE One way to identify who are the top wrestlers is by who has a nickname. More often than not, those with a tag are some of the greats. There's 'The Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels. 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair. 'The Tribal Chief' Roman Reigns. 'The Viper' Randy Orton. 'The Man' Becky Lynch. 'The Champ' John Cena. The list goes on and on. What do they all have in common? All the aforementioned stars earned their names during their career. It took championship reigns, iconic matches and memorable moments while earning the crowd's praise for them to be bestowed the honor. Then there's Roxanne Perez. From the moment she signed with WWE at age 20, Perez has been dubbed 'The Prodigy.' Meaning a highly talented youth, the nickname set incredible expectations for her. How can you be named 'The Prodigy' and not become an instant success? The bar was set incredibly high for the woman standing at 5-foot tall. So far, Perez has soared above every benchmark set on her. She won the NXT Women's Championship in her first year with the company in 2022, and became the third-ever two-time title holder last year while becoming the face of the women's developmental division. Success at NXT set the foundation, but the real test was going to be whether Perez could continue rolling on the main roster. Like a baseball player, you can be great in the minors, but your legacy ultimately lies in the major leagues. It's a small sample size, but the early returns show 'The Prodigy' really is the perfect nickname. She had a record setting day at the Royal Rumble in February and was in Elimination Chamber one month later. Now officially called-up, she'll have her third main roster premium live event of 2025 in the women's Money in the Bank match. Not bad for being the youngest star on the main roster at 23 years old. ''The Prodigy' is not just a nickname; it's something that I've created myself into through hard work,' Perez told USA TODAY Sports. 'The main roster officially knows that Roxanne Perez, 'The Prodigy,' is here, and she's here to stay, and she's here to make waves.' Roxanne Perez's building confidence The Perez appearing on Monday Night Raw isn't the same one that showed up on NXT three years ago. Gone is that bubbly, innocent new kid on the block who captured fans' hearts. Now is a more blunt, unapologetically vicious star who doesn't care 'what everybody says,' as she puts it. It's a side of Perez that oozes with swagger, but it took time to develop what shows up on screen. Perez said she's glad she spent three years in NXT rather than jumping on the main roster early. In the developmental stage, she believes she really got to work on what she wanted to portray. It's a complete contrast to what helped her establish a spot in the company, but Perez noted she 'evolved into who I was really meant to be.' Showing a successful darker side of herself proved to management she was ready for the call-up. She had developed something that clicked. However, with that came the next challenge: keeping the confidence off-screen. One could argue no one on the roster was as big of a WWE fan as a kid than Perez. It was around age 8 the Laredo, Texas native knew she wanted to be a wrestler. Some wrestlers from that time like CM Punk and Natalya − who she famously got to talk to on "Total Divas" − are still on the roster, and Perez was able to look up to the leaders of the women's revolution as she started getting in the ring. Those same people she admired are now coworkers, and Perez admitted that has led to some bits of imposter syndrome. There were doubts she belonged alongside decorated stars – even as she started racking up her own accolades – and plenty of training was needed to overcome the feeling. 'To have the name prodigy on my back, it was definitely kind of hard mentally because it was like, well, am I 'The Prodigy' when I'm surrounded by all of these people?' she said. 'I really had to kind of find that confidence in me and realize, no, yeah, I am. Just because I'm surrounded by these people that I've watched growing up doesn't mean that I can't be on the same level as them. 'I really had to start training myself to be like, 'you belong here.' And now I feel like everybody knows that I do belong here.' The work Perez has put into her confidence has carried over into the ring. Whether it's shunning away the cheers or scheming menacing methods of victory, Perez has found the right persona for her, and she's still crafting it. She still views every time she appears as an audition, and even for someone on a meteoric rise like her, it feels like the correct approach for a young star. While she's had the opportunity to get her feet wet in the main roster, Perez is in the most delicate stage one could be on in WWE. Success in NXT doesn't mean it carries over onto the main roster. For every star that stays hot, there's another that didn't pan out. It leads to limited opportunities, being forgotten and the eventual release from the company. Perez said she could've been someone that flamed out following her time with NXT, but its the consistent effort being put in that has led to the solid start and building a foundation for it to last. 'I'm trying to prove myself every single night,' she said. 'You can't get comfortable, ever.' Joining the Judgment Day, ready for Money in the Bank The Royal Rumble match was nothing new for Perez after appearances in 2023 and 2024, but it was the 2025 edition that gave a peek of the leap she was bound to take. She was entrant No. 3 and lasted a women's record one hour, seven minutes and 47 seconds, finishing runner-up to Charlotte Flair. It was a monumental moment to put the young star in, and she nearly clinched a WrestleMania match when she competed in the women's Elimination Chamber in March. Even though neither match resulted in victory, it was clear Perez was ready for the big stage, officially joining Raw on May 19. The move to Raw has also led Perez into an intriguing storyline. With assistance from Finn Balor, she has tried to make her way into The Judgment Day, a move she believes will really help further her career. There's been pushback from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez as Perez is trying to get in the good graces of the group by helping out in matches and offering gifts. 'I think it's going well, I don't know if you'd say the same,' she said. 'Some of them are kind of enjoying my time there. Some are not, but that's OK.' One notable moment happened when Perez gifted Dominik Mysterio his beloved chicken nuggets. Fans instantly believed it would lead to her becoming the new on-screen lover for the Intercontinental Champion, therefore leading to heat with his current beloved in Morgan. Regardless of where it leads, it feels like there's just something about Mysterio that makes women swoon. But when asked about what makes Mysterio such a hot commodity, Perez didn't understand what the fuss was about. 'No one says I folded or that I'm in love with him,' she said. 'I don't know who says I find him intriguing in that way. I'm just trying to be in everybody's good graces. 'I think everybody just needs to see how it unfolds.' While she works into the group, Perez will get another massive opportunity with the women's Money in the Bank match on June 7. Win and she gets a championship match at any moment in the next year. It's always been a dream for Perez to compete in Money in the Bank, and she's hoping to make memories during the match where she becomes forever linked with the 2025 show. She also may have given a hint at what she would do if she wins; she said her favorite moments are when the briefcase is cashed in on the same night. So Iyo Sky or Tiffany Stratton aren't safe at all if it's "Rox in the Bank." The PLE win would result in someone that will 'make a change in the woman's division in so many good ways,' Perez said. It could further launch her way toward the top of the roster, and cement 'The Prodigy' wasn't just a nickname for Perez; it was her destiny. 'Everything is going exactly the way that I wanted it to, in the way I manifested it to, and the way I just worked hard for it too,' she said. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Life is hard enough… that's why we need dance music, electronic duo say as they reveal favourite tunes
There are even bigger plans in the pipeline TUNE IT OUT Life is hard enough… that's why we need dance music, electronic duo say as they reveal favourite tunes SHOWTEK'S journey through dance music has always been about breaking boundaries and bringing people together. Brothers Wouter Janssen and Sjoerd Janssen are best known for their genre-defining 2007 hardstyle anthem "FTS," and the Dutch duo continue to resonate with a new generation of ravers as "FTS" experiences a resurgence with super-hot remixes by Reinier Zonneveld and Sub Zero Project. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Brothers Wouter Janssen and Sjoerd Janssen have revealed their favourite tracks Credit: Rutger Geerlink To mark the release, Showtek have released a short video that dives into the track's origins, cultural significance, and why it's resonating with a whole new generation of ravers. That momentum, which also included Reinier Zonneveld's remix of "FTS" released on April 25, continued with Showtek's performance at EDC Las Vegas and Sub Zero Project's reinterpretation of "FTS" last month. There are more remixes in the pipeline. "Even though 'FTS' is a hardstyle track, it somehow cuts across genres and generations', Showtek reflects in the film. "It's a reminder that music doesn't have an expiration date.' "We always aim to create something new and different when we sit down. "The fact that it resonates with so many generations, cultures, and genres is a dream come true. When we created it, we wanted to tell a story about why we all gather every weekend together at festivals and events, to forget about our daily bs and the frustration we have to deal with as individuals and as a society as well. 2 The pair want to use music to alleviate the stress of life Credit: Rutger Geerlink "Dance music is created to unite and come together and be in harmony. That message has not changed and is still current. "Life is hard enough sometimes, and to be able to release negative energy together is a unique experience that doesn't age. That's why dance music is still growing and so important." We caught up with Showtek this week and they've put together a playlist of music that echoes with the same raw energy, emotion and spirit of rebellion that 'FTS' represents including music from The Prodigy, Faithless, Fatboy Slim, Deadmau5 and David Guetta. Faithless - Insomnia Faithless - Insomnia (Official 4K Video) Growing up in the 90's, Faithless has been a big inspiration to us. Besides the amazing vocals by Maxi Jazz (R.I.P.), their music and anthem approach to dance music stood out. They also put dance music on the map, being more than just an underground thing. The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up The Prodigy has been sonically and energy-wise one of our favorites ever. We are not typically drum and bass or jungle fans, but the way they mixed, sampled older stuff into new beats and produced their records was beyond any subgenre thinking. It sounded real and pure, and that's what it's all about. Tiesto - Traffic Tiësto - Traffic Tiësto is the goat when it comes to putting the Netherlands on the international dance map and EDM as a genre. His music was also top-rated on national radio in the Netherlands. So hearing Traffic, Lethal Industry, and even Flight 643 (which is an instrumental track), along with all his other hit songs on a daily basis, shaped a playground for many Dutch aspiring producers to follow their dance hearts, and we were one of them. In 2011, we started working with Tijs (Tiësto) himself, and he has taught us a lot. Fatboy Slim - Praise You Fatboy Slim - Praise You (Official Audio) Fatboy Slim, yes, another UK act, is one of the coolest producers out there. Accompanied by amazing videos like "Praise You," he showed us that it's OK to produce whatever you think is cool. Such a pivotal producer also in the 90s, inspiring many of us. Benny Benassi - Satisfaction Benny Benassi - Satisfaction Benny Benassi, in our opinion, accompanied by a few other songs in the early 2000s started the big electro-ed sound and is responsible for making EDM such a big genre. I (Wouter) remember the first time hearing this at a rave I visited, and I was blown away by the sonics and impact of one of the most iconic songs to this date. And it still has that impact. Such a game-changer. Cygnus X - Superstring (Rank 1 Remix) Cygnus X - Superstring (Rank 1 Remix) [Official Video] The song Superstring by Cygnus X, which is a massive trance anthem that is not our go-to subgenre of dance, still has a major influence on how we produce to this day. Not to forget that the Rank 1 remix is the one we love, and speaking of which, Rank 1 are incredible producers that are also one of our favourite pioneers in dance/trance music. Their songs sounded big and emotional and are in some way the leeway on an inspirational level to our later hardstyle productions. "Superstring" has it all, anthem vibes but still emotional. Cosmic Gate - Exploration of Space Cosmic Gate - Exploration of Space [music video] When we were kids, Cosmic Gate was super popular in high school. Their harder approach to the trance style and big melodies was everyone's favourite. The music also sounded super well produced and, for us, was a huge influence on how we approached our hardstyle productions. Now (Wouter) and I (⅕ of Cosmic Gate) both live in NYC and have become really good friends over the years. Their music still lives with many generations of EDM music lovers; it's pretty impressive. Deadmaus - 4x4 = 12 4x4=12 (Continuous Mix) Deadmau5's album 4x 4 was our biggest wake-up call when it comes to sonic, mixing, engineering, and making sure your music sounds incredible. We had our first show in Canada with Skrillex ( who is also on our favourites lists) and Deadmau5 back in 2009 and were blown away by how his music sounded. Our ™ -Roger ( who is also one of the audio execs at Tomorrowland) was telling us how we should listen to Deadmau5 and the way he engineers his music. This happened on a road trip from Calgary to Edmonton. We were playing our demos to him and then listened to Deadmau5 and felt we had to really improve our mixing. Later that night, we went into the crowd after we played to hear and see him live. And it felt like he pushed us to another level by the way his music sounded, and also reached the crow with an incredible show David Guetta Feat. Kid Cudi - Memories David Guetta Feat. Kid Cudi - Memories (Official Video) Besides working with David and being good friends, we and the entire industry owe him a big thank you for opening so many doors for the generation after him. His music, combining pop and hip-hop with dance, introduced the genre to the entire world. Songs like "Memories," "Titanium," and "Love is Gone" are undeniably well-crafted pieces of art. Working with David is a privilege, and we're hoping to drop a new song with him soon. Showtek - FTS FTS (Edit) The fact that this track resonates with so many generations, cultures, and genres is a dream come true. When we created it, we wanted to tell a story about why we all gather every weekend together at festivals and events, to forget about our daily bs and the frustration we have to deal with as individuals and as a society as well. Dance music is created to unite and come together and be in harmony. That message has not changed and is still current. Life is hard enough sometimes, and to be able to release negative energy together is a unique experience that doesn't age. That's why dance music is still growing and so important and this track is so important for us.
