Exclusive! DJ Hardwell: Indian fans have been incredible with their support, had to give them extra special moments

DJ Hardwell, who is the subject of the I Am Hardwell music documentary on Amazon Prime Video and has his own travel series Hardwell Travels on his official YouTube channel, spoke exclusively to OTTplay shortly after the New Delhi leg of his Rebels Never Die world tour on December 11.

DJ Hardwell at a live concert

If you are at a party and dancing to your heart’s content, chances are that the man behind that foot-tapping music is none other than the renowned Dutch DJ-producer: DJ Hardwell. Born as Robbert van de Corput, the two-time World Number 1 DJ — according to DJ Magazine — is no athiti to the Indian culture. Afterall, back in 2017, it was Hardwell who had conducted the biggest guestlist concert in India for a cause close to his bosom — “Every child deserves an education,” he tells OTTplay when asked about the charitable event, which was attended by 70, 000-odd fans and raised millions in donations.

During our after-concert interview with the decorated DJ, he spoke to us about his long-standing association with the land, the life lessons only a sabbatical could teach him, and why his Indian fans in New Delhi deserved that ‘extra special’ treatment.

Edited excerpts from our conversation with the award-winning DJ-producer:

A lot has changed in India since your last visit. What were your expectations from your dedicated fanbase here in New Delhi, and how did you plan on striking a chord with the audience after all this time?

The Indian fans have never failed to amaze me with their passion and enthusiasm for the music. Bringing an entirely new sound and show to your fans can always be a nervous moment, but from the moment I made my come back at Ultra in Miami early this year... (it has been amazing). The Indian fans have been incredible with their support online. So, I had to make sure the set had some extra special moments for them after all this time.

You have had a long and very successful association with Sunburn. Why do you keep coming back, not that we are complaining …

As you mentioned, I’ve a long history with the Sunburn team. They are a great team to work with and they also give the fans amazing experiences. As an artist, I want to be a part of providing fans with lifelong memories and so, we all share the same vision.

Your sabbatical lasted a long time, which was then followed by an album and now you have this gig here in India that is a part of your world tour. What did you learn about yourself and music in general during that phase in your life?

It really was a long time, but I needed it. I’m happy now because I’ve realised you can have a happy balance and still be active. There can be a lot of pressure for artists to be on the road, in the studio, on social media etc. and you fear you can’t take time out. But it’s wrong, it’s ok to say “no”, to step back and just have a moment to be yourself and spend time with friends and family.

Some may argue that EDM and Big Room’s niche and not highly commercial for reasons more than one. In what ways can the genre (and its subgenres) reach a larger audience than what you have now, and what can be done to make them more ‘mass-y’?

Personally, I’m not too focused on whether a genre needs to achieve more commercial success or not. I don’t think we need to focus too heavily on the success of the music, or the genre, but instead just be proud of where we have come and keep pushing forward. You only need to go back 20-25 years ago, when dance music was still a small scene, with relatively small international impact compared to other genres. Now it’s one of the biggest genres on the planet, packing out stadiums worldwide, filling singles’ charts around the globe and with DJs from countless countries being household names. It’s an impressive journey for the whole scene.

You have spoken about your 2nd full-blown studio album as your labour of love and something you have ‘put your heart and soul into’. What does it entail?

Everything! It’s a piece of my early influences and beginnings as an artist all the way through to the artist I am today. I wanted to lay bare the full version of who I am as a DJ and producer. The time out enabled me a chance to dig back into my early years and reconnect with sounds that all make up who I am as an artist.

Musicians are experimenting with cross-genre EPs, with some even singing in different languages. How does your music resonate with listeners when the musician does not know or speak the language themselves? It’s a big risk to take, no?

As a touring artist, I’ve always felt my music has resonated in this one (referring to crossover collaborations). The universal connection of music is a powerful tool and something I’ve witnessed in shows across the world. I know other artists feel that, too. Meeting fans from all walks of life and cultures, who express their connection to my music, is still one of the most heart-warming emotions I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience.

Even after all these years, your ‘Biggest Guestlist India 2017’ is one of the most-talked-about socially responsible events to have taken place in the country. Why was it important for you to work towards the upliftment of children in India?

I wanted to use my platform to make a positive change for children in India because I believe every child deserves an education. I think it is necessary to help guide them from childhood to adulthood.

I also need to mention Shailendra Singh, who I’m grateful to, for making it possible to do this event. Together, and with the entire team, we not only managed to make history but, more importantly, through the power of music, we made a social impact that will positively affect children’s lives and their future.

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