HARDWELL101: Everything you need to know and hear

In just a few short months, we'll be well into the swing of summer and anticipating the arrival of the #IAMHARDWELL Would Tour. In the mean time, we'll keep you posted with all the latest news, music, video's and releases from Hardwell - wrap your eyes and ears around this and get ready to dance the fence Electric in December! Check out his music, videos and connect with him all over the web. There's no corner of the internet Hardwell is not Revealed!

Tiesto isn't branding himself as a DJ but he's almost like a rockband or a rockstar. He's selling out to 40,000 people everyday traveling around the world with his own sound system and his own LED screen, it's unbelievable. It's like touring with a band as big as Coldplay! I've learned so much from him music-wise, show-wise, even management-wise. That tour was one of the best experiences of my life.

— Hardwell on touring with Tiesto. Source: http://www.earmilk.com/

Who is Hardwell??

Music maturity came swiftly for the now seasoned-veteran Robbert van de Corput, better known as Hardwell. At the age of 25, the ripened heavyweight has created a legacy that would put most of his counterparts to shame. An double IDMA for best remixer and best European dj award winning DJ, producer, musician, label manager, lover of all things music, and #6 ranked in the DJ Mag Top 100, Hardwell has not only helped shape the current state of EDM, but has left an everlasting imprint.

Like his great mentor Tiësto, Hardwell proudly hails from Breda, a city tucked deep within the Netherlands. At the young age of 13, Hardwell’s talents were so advanced that he was able capture the ears of a major Dutch label. Shortly after signing, Hardwell was spinning at all the major clubs across the Netherlands. Hardwell’s international breakthrough came with his “Show Me Love vs. Be” bootleg, which became one of the popular and played dance hits of 2009. From this point on, a star was born.

Through his refreshing sound that is characterized by complex drum ensembles, daring synths, and emotive chords, Hardwell has created the ultimate recipe for “Big Room House.” His productions are received with such great praise and acclaim, it seems his shelf life is endless. As his reputation grows amongst the world’s partygoers, so does his status. He was recently voted #6 in the 2012 edition of the DJ Mag Top 100, the most prestigious of industry competitions. In tandem with his worldwide popularity is his “fresh and open-minded” label Revealed Recordings, which continues to gain international momentum. With the launching of Revealed in 2010, so did Hardwell’s celebrated compilation series. Hardwell Presents Revealed offers listeners with a representative aural compilation of Revealed’s stance on the current trends driving EDM.

In March of 2011, Hardwell launched his very own radio show and podcast, Hardwell On Air, which is broadcasted on more than 25 international radio stations, including Holland’s top dance station, SLAM!FM, Sirius XM in the US, and Radio FG in France and Belgium. Additionally, the podcast has a solid spot in the iTunes Top 10 Podcasts in more than 30 countries. The buck did not stop there. In 2011, Hardwell released juggernaut tracks like “Encoded,” a YouTube sensation, “Zero 76”, a collaboration with Tiësto topping the #1 Beatport and #1 US iTunes spot, and “Cobra,” a tune that went to #1 in the dance charts in Holland and Top 10 on Beatport’s Progressive House chart.

I had always been into music since I was 6 so when I started DJing I really loved it because I could finally let people hear the music I wanted to share. So when I signed the record deal at just 14 it was like a dream coming true, I was able to release my tracks to a even bigger audience now. After that my name started to get recognized and my tracks started to get recognized and soon it became easier to get more gigs and that's really how it all started.

— Hardwell on his first record deal at 14. Source: http://www.earmilk.com/

2012 has seen as much success as the previous years with the recent remixes of Rihanna’s track “Where Have You Been” and The Wanted’s “Chasing the Sun” reaching #1 on Billboard’s Dance Chart. Hardwell and Dannic’s remix for Example, “Say Nothing,” received a #1 spot in the Cool Cut Chart, while Tiësto & Hardwell’s remix for “Young Blood,” by the indie rock band The Naked And Famous, became the festival circuit’s summer anthem. Hardwell has also collaborated alongside Showtek to produce the track “How We Do,” with the music video premiered on MTV US.

However, Hardwell’s biggest track of 2012 has been the solo-original better known as “Spaceman,” which has seen more sets, bootlegs, and remixes than any of his previous releases. “Spaceman” was released in over 25 countries worldwide and its infectious hooks will be heard for ages. Next, Hardwell’s “Three Triangles,” released on Mark Knight’s label, Toolroom, and “Kontiki,” co-produced with rising star Dannic, hit the Beatport Top 10. Additionally, Hardwell’s hard-hitting organic track, “Apollo,” featuring Amba Shepherd is well on its way to becoming a worldwide radio hit. Finally, Hardwell’s most recent undertaking is his collaboration with Dyro, “Never Say Goodbye,” which will be released soon on Revealed Recordings. Aside from his releases, Hardwell took to the decks of Pete Tong’s famous BBC Essential Mix, where Hardwell’s prowess was so distinctively displayed.

As for his live component, one could start by looking at Hardwell’s 2013 Ultra Music Festival set, which has reached millions of views on YouTube, and has been named as the unanimous festival favourite by Dancing Astronaut. Hardwell has headlined the most prestigious and crowd-pleasing of festivals in the world such as Electronic Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, Electric Zoo, Creamfields, Tomorrowland, Mysteryland, and various Sensations, including Amsterdam’s.

Hardwell’s personal side is also displayed in his Q&A series on YouTube, where he answers the most begging of questions his fans have to offer. As said by Hardwell himself, “With the opportunities of social media today, it's super easy to be in direct contact with your fans, however it's impossible to respond to each and everyone through Twitter or Facebook. That's how I came up with this idea, to give my fans the opportunity to ask me their questions and to have the chance to answer them in a fun way!”

Besides showcasing his talents for major artists worldwide, and proving himself not only in the studio, but also behind the decks, we can be assured that the Hardwell name, face, and brand is a force that will drive electronic dance music for years to come.

The sound on Revealed Records is any sound that I would play in my own sets. The tracks that are released on the label are just a reflection of my DJ sets really. I like to think of Revealed Recordings as a platform for new producers that are coming up, for example I started with Nicky Romero who's blowing up really fast in the EDM scene right now. Some new guys are Dannic and Dyro who I'm hoping will become hugely popular this year.

— Hardwell on his record label Revealed. Source: http://www.earmilk.com/