Robbert van de Corput (known by his stage name Hardwell) is one of the world’s leading producers and DJs in EDM. He is known for his unique style of blending progressive and electro-house through his music. In this article, we will explore the life of Dutch producer Hardwell, from his early beginnings to his success in the music industry today.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Early Life and Beginnings
3. Establishing Himself as a Producer
4. Live Performances and Festivals
5. Awards and Accomplishments
6. Legacy and Final Thoughts
7. Hardwell Quotes
- Introduction
Robbert van de Corput, known more commonly as ‘Hardwell’, is one of the world’s leading producers and DJs in the electronic dance music (EDM) industry. His unique style of blending progressive and electro-house has made him a well-renowned producer and has allowed him to gain recognition in the industry as one of the greatest artists of the genre. Through this article, we will dive into the life of the Dutch producer, Hardwell.
- Early Life and Beginnings
Hardwell began his interest in music at age twelve by Remixing and producing music for other artists. He was also inspired by multiple DJs in the rave scene as well as Pop, Punk, and Hip Hop. He taught himself from an early age to produce and make music from his own individualistic style. He released his first official track at the age of 14 through a record label called Mid-Town Records. As he continued to work with the record label, he would eventually produce and release many Techno, Bounce, and Dutch House tracks that would make him a popular figure in the EDM industry.
- Establishing Himself as a Producer
Hardwell continued to further establish himself as a producer throughout the mid-2000s. He would start to collaborate with major Dutch artists such as Afrojack, Tiesto, and Laidback Luke and produce major hits such as “Show Me Love” and “Focus”. It was during this period that Hardwell would become a presence on a global scale. His single “Move It 2 The Drum” would peak at number 4 on the Dutch Top 40 charts, and his live performances would become sold-out events. His remixes such as “Encoded” and “Cobra” would be recognized as chart-topping hits in the U.K. and gain international fame.
- Live Performances and Festivals
Since gaining global recognition and becoming a staple figure in the EDM industry, Hardwell has been doing multiple world tours and performances that have seen him perform at events such as Tomorrowland, Creamfields, Electric Daisy Carnival, and many more prominent EDM festivals. His live performances and DJ sets have attracted large crowds, and have become widely popular with all EDM fans. His recent release of his “Hardwell Presents Revealed Vol. 6” album, which has gained worldwide recognition and reached the top 20 on the UK dance charts, has solidified his name in the scene even more.
- Awards and Accomplishments
Hardwell has achieved numerous awards and accolades throughout his career as a producer and DJ. In 2013 and 2014, he has awarded the “Top 100 DJs Poll Number 1 DJ” at the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll, confirming his status as one of the most influential and popular EDM producers in the world. In addition, Hardwell also won multiple MTV European Music Awards as “Best Dutch Act” and “Best World Stage Performance”, gaining even more recognition as one of the world’s best talents in the EDM industry.
- Legacy
Throughout his career, Hardwell continues to be a prominent figure in the EDM industry, with his unique style and fusion of progressive and electro house taking the world by storm. His numerous awards, nominations, and achievements speak for themselves in how he has influenced the industry, and how his music continues to captivate millions of people around the world. While Hardwell’s career has seen its ups and downs, one thing is undoubtedly clear – Hardwell is now and will be a major figure in the industry for many years to come.
Hardwell Qutoes
“To me, new friends, new genres, new person-to-person chemistry is the DNA of EDM.” – Hardwell
“There are not necessarily a lot of DJs coming to Israel, so the moment an EDM DJ is coming to Israel, you can tell that people are way more excited and are looking forward… to the show.” – Hardwell
“India has always held a special place in my heart, for all the love and energy the fans have given me.” – Hardwell
“When I was 14, I started playing in the bigger clubs in Holland and when I was 17, I started playing all of the festivals there.” – Hardwell
“It’s very easy to copy Swedish House Mafia, or Avicii, or Skrillex, or whatever. People listen too much to each other and are too much inspired by each other.” – Hardwell
“Guys like Chuckie, Laidback Luke, Ferry Corsten, Armin van Buuren and many other Dutch DJs were all influential for me growing up.” – Hardwell
“The Netherlands is a country I love and am very proud to be from, and I’m definitely supportive of the music scene we have.” – Hardwell
“It was always a dream for me as a kid to become the No 1 DJ in the world.” – Hardwell
“I love the process of collaborating on music, mostly for the creativity that comes out of it.” – Hardwell
“I don’t stop digging for new music. This way, I naturally listen to a lot of music, and it leads to new ideas for mash-ups.” – Hardwell
“I love a good curry! Hardwell
“Too many DJs today want to be the headline act without ever knowing what it takes to be the local DJ who’s busting his or her gut to perfect their craft.” – Hardwell
“Dance music has no gender, class or creeds.” – Hardwell
“I can’t ever see myself stopping DJing or producing.” – Hardwell
“I actually listen to hip-hop to unwind, so that’s really the music I use to clear my mind. I find listening to someone like Dr. Dre helps me to take a break and find a groove again.” – Hardwell
“The moment we started DJing in Vegas, back in 2011, the crowd had no idea what dance music was.” – Hardwell
“I love getting to travel and perform to different crowds because you’re exposing yourself to new music, new cultures and the atmosphere is always so unique.” – Hardwell
“Before I became the No.1 DJ in the world, people came to see me – they knew my sound. They were straight-up fans. After that, you have to deal with the pressure and knowing at a certain point you’re not going to be No.1.” – Hardwell
“I was a warm-up DJ for many years so I know how to build a crowd, and what record goes with the next, it’s all about understanding the dance floor and how the energy and flow should go coordinating with what the crowd wants or might need.” – Hardwell
“I studied classical and jazz music and went to a music school.” – Hardwell
“I am always grateful for what I have, and I think it is important to continue having a passion for music.” – Hardwell
“Make music from your heart, even if it’s experimental or not really common, try it out, it can only get you more recognized.” – Hardwell
“There are different milestones in my career. Playing a festival at 16 was a milestone and I was really happy when I played my first show.” – Hardwell
“I feel Indian music is very layered and emotional.” – Hardwell
“If you’re really positive in life, everything else will fall into place.” – Hardwell
“I was born and raised in Breda, a small city in Holland. We call it the dance capital of the world.” – Hardwell
“Back in 2008, nobody wanted to listen to or play my music. They called it trance. There was no market for it, but I just kept going.” – Hardwell
“I think my album, ‘United We Are,’ was the perfect blend or radio- and festival-friendly songs. I try to combine both.” – Hardwell
“I think the rise of electronic music as the main stage concept has been a long time coming.” – Hardwell
“The only thing you create music with is your own creativity and your own ears. And it takes a lot of time to develop your own ears. It’s really important, before you go to the studio, to realize yourself: What do I want to hear? What do I want to create? Hardwell
“A lot of people always see the EDM DJs as button pushers, especially when deadmau5 came up with that term. Well actually I started out as a hip-hop DJ and I won several awards in Holland for my skills.” – Hardwell
“Connecting with my fans in India, whether at shows or via social media, has always shown me how special the passion in the country is. The passion is not just for music, but for life as well. It’s magical.” – Hardwell
“An album is not like an hour-long DJ set, you know, hit after hit and then build up to one big climax.” – Hardwell
“I don’t know if it’s one particular thing that really made me popular, but I always say my music, worked really well for me. A lot of people like my music.” – Hardwell
“All my records were dance-oriented, and all the hassle with major labels about changing my records, release dates, videos – everything was out of my hands. I always had to deal with somebody else, and I had a different perspective on a lot of things.” – Hardwell
“Yeah, before DJing, judo was my passion. I’ve always loved it but DJing and producing took over my life and finding time to fit it in was hard once the touring started.” – Hardwell
“I’ve been running my own record label and doing my weekly radio shows, but people don’t see the work. People only see your rise instead of the whole thing.” – Hardwell
“I never aimed for the radio, you know? I’m a DJ – I want my records to be played by all the other DJs in the clubs.” – Hardwell
“India is such a great host to not just me, but so many other DJs.” – Hardwell
“You can have the best production, the best stage in the world, but without a crowd, the festival is nothing.” – Hardwell
“At the moment when I come on stage and I hear the excitement, I can feel the excitement of the crowd. That’s the most important thing to me.” – Hardwell
“What the strength of events like Ultra has shown us is this thing we call, ‘electronic music,’ is not a passing trend, but a big industry of passionate artists, event organizers, fans, etc.” – Hardwell
“I love touring and I love being in the studio making music, so that’s where my passion lies.” – Hardwell
“Everyone has to find his own path and don’t worry about following trends.” – Hardwell
“Whenever I’ve performed in India, I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of love from the Indian fans. Their passion, their energy – it makes me grateful that I’m able to do what I love every single day.” – Hardwell
“The only tip I can give is just yourself, you don’t have to copy another song to be popular.” – Hardwell
“Apart from music, I like to relax with friends and family, watch a film, go out for some food.” – Hardwell
“I played in every single bar and small club in Holland and I’ve been DJing and producing for more than 12 years.” – Hardwell
“For collaborations, I’m always on the lookout for people who reflect similar energies, with a positive state of mind, and who make and understand quality good music.” – Hardwell
“Even in my Hardwell sets, I’ve been playing Drake songs and even from the beginning I’ve been in love with his tracks. I love the way he raps and sings.” – Hardwell
“Touring life can often be so busy it makes it difficult to visit places and do all the touristy things, but I’ve had the chance to visit Tokyo a number of times and see a lot of the city. I love it! Hardwell
“I think the impact my music has had on dance music fans is to bring out their inner love for dancing and having a good time.” – Hardwell
“Yes, after I finished primary school, I went to the Rock Academy. I was only there for one year. I wanted to focus on my own music instead of making music for the school. So, I quit and started my own label.” – Hardwell
“I just think we’ve got a really good club life there in Holland with a lot of parties. And I think Dutch people just love to party.” – Hardwell
“I work really hard to keep my life in a music-focused on what needs to be done and to allow myself the freedom to be creative.” – Hardwell
“I was like 4 years old when I started playing piano, and I was like 10 years old when I saw a documentary on the Dutch MTV about Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and all of the Dutch DJs, and it really inspired me.” – Hardwell
“The electronic music world is such a tight-knit community. We’re all hanging out at different festivals and such.” – Hardwell
“That’s something I want people to know, that I am a real DJ. I started as a DJ before I was even a producer.” – Hardwell
“As a DJ, I’m really focused on the crowd. I never play the same set. I always look at the crowd, try to read what they want, and always look at the signs, point at people.” – Hardwell
“To produce a proper album, you have to be in the studio and collaborate with all your singers. It takes a lot of time.” – Hardwell
“I was named Hardwell by my dad when I was 12 and the name just stuck.” – Hardwell
“I’m truly grateful for every moment I’ve been able to spend doing what I love to do.” – Hardwell
“Dance music has become global and it’s here to stay.” – Hardwell
“I played piano for about 12 years.” – Hardwell
“The waterfront in Manila is really popular and somewhere I enjoyed visiting.” – Hardwell
“As a producer, I have always made music to create memories and as a DJ, I’ve always been keen to share those good times with fellow like-minded individuals.” – Hardwell
“If I doubt whether a track works, I’m just going to play the instrumental version in my set and judge where the crowd takes it.” – Hardwell
“I do all my social media myself.” – Hardwell
“I think you’ve gotta stay focused if you wanna achieve something.” – Hardwell
“The more I’ve spent preparing a set, the more nervous I get. That is why I get my energy from the crowd before I step on stage.” – Hardwell
“A documentary on MTV about the Dutch scene was what sparked it all. I saw guys like Tiesto and Ferry Corsten talking about this thing called electronic music and I was instantly hooked. I started getting into it from then onwards, I was 12 years old and just completely bitten by this dance music bug. It’s been my life ever since.” – Hardwell
“That’s one of the most powerful things in dance music – the DJs are so connected and help each other.” – Hardwell
“I try to fill the stage with my confidence in music. Obviously, this is to offer the fans with the best music.” – Hardwell
“It’s really boring if you make an album where every track sounds the same.” – Hardwell
“I’ve been a huge fan of KSHMR since I first met him. He’s an incredible talent and has a really cool sound which I love.” – Hardwell
“Music is music, and we all have a spot and a place to enjoy it.” – Hardwell
“The fans have been an enormous influence on my career. Playing shows around the world and connecting with them is such a big inspiration in my life.” – Hardwell
“People always ask me about ‘Spaceman,’ and I think that’s my signature song, and I still open with it.” – Hardwell
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