New Dutch house heroes

New Dutch house heroes

16 October, 2009 | 10.19AM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: 2000 and one, amsterdam, intacto, new talent, remote area

The Netherlands’ house music scene has exploded in the last two years, powered by a new generation of young and talented producers.

The country’s rich dance music heritage, relaxed way of life, and cultural diversity, has helped to create a booming club and DJ scene, with Amsterdam at the centre of it all.

As Europe’s dance music industry gears up for Amsterdam Dance Event next week, we celebrate Netherlands’ burgeoning underground scene with some of its most exciting new heroes interviewed and profiled in this in-depth feature.

2000 And One

To say that 2000 And One aka Dylan Hermelijn is integral to the new Amsterdam house scene would be an understatement. As boss of Remote Area, 100% Pure, Area Remote, and Intacto (co-owned by Amsterdam’s Shinedoe), Hermelijn has released a staggering amount of modern Dutch underground house anthems, as well as produce some of its greatest work himself.

He is the inspiration for most of Amsterdam’s new generation, and the glue that binds them together.

With such an impressive discography, it’s impossible to choose one track that defines 2000 And One’s loop-based house and techno sound, but ‘Work’ was probably his most melodic.

For highlights, well, take your pick. There’s 2007’s irreverant minimal anthem ‘Pecan’ (produced alongside Dave Ellesmere), the wonky acid cut ‘Pak Pak’, the timeless DJ tool ‘Funk That’, the exceptional chunky house Metazoo ‘Sigh’ remix, as well as his lauded debut album ‘Heritage’ from earlier this year, which contained some of 2009’s best house moments.

What makes 2000 And One so interesting, is the fact that six years ago, he was a washed up DJ in a suit and tie, working in IT - which makes his comeback story one of the greatest in dance music.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

Dutch dance music is the cutting edge. Groovy, fresh and original.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

It has to do with the history of the Amsterdam club scene back in the 90s. Clubs like Roxy, Mazzo, and the IT inspired all the current top party organisations and clubs like Awakening, Voltt, Trouw, Studio 80, and the Melkweg.

That musical heritage from the 90s laid the foundations for the scene now.

How do you think the Dutch should capitalise on the current excitement surrounding The Netherlands’ electronic music?

Head clean and stay focused.

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

From all my colleagues in the scene and by playing slamming gigs in the weekend at clubs around the globe.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

Joris Voorn.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

DJ Madskillz, Bart Skils, and Joris Voorn.

San Proper

San Proper has operated for over ten years in Amsterdam’s underground club scene, and is widely praised for his house and disco sets that combine an eclectix mix of underground grooves.

He runs a club night called ‘The Black Disco Bust’ which has earned a cult status for being one of Amsterdam’s best disco nights with the likes of Daniel Wang, Alton Miller, Kalabrese, and Trus’me having played there at one point or another.

On the production tip, Proper recently dropped a standout ‘Keep It Raw’ 12-inch on the vinyl-only Perlon, and has produced a number of EPs for Rush Hour.

A talented musician, Proper plays guitar, bongos, and bass on a lot of his own tracks, as well as in live settings, as can be heard on the brilliant ‘Magnificent Speech Funk’ (co-produced with O. Boogie). San Proper is unique.

Bart Skils

As one half of District One alongside Anton Pieete, Bart Skils has built a name for himself as one of Amsterdam’s hottest new talents.

The duo’s ‘The Running Man’ 12-inch in 2007 helped to define their big room techno and house sound, but it was ‘Handsome’ in 2008 that conquered dancefloors the world over.

In Amsterdam, Bart Skils runs three club nights - Voltt, Traffic and Static - which are pivotal to bringing Amsterdam’s new school generation together with Kabale und Liebe, Julien Chaptal, Polder, Boris Werner, and Anton Pieete all having made their debut appearances at one of Skils’ parties.

Voltt has since grown into a full summer festival, and Bart Skils will drop a debut mix compilation for Voltt at the end of October.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

There’s a great vibe around it at the moment. For the last few years we’ve slowly been building a solid scene with many talented artists, so great expectations for the future!

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

We’ve got a great group of DJs/producers who have been developing the Dutch sound for the last few years. People like 2000 And One, Julien Chaptal, Anton Pieete, Lauhaus & David Labeij (Polder), among others have all had their share in this.

How do you think the Dutch should capitalise on the current excitement surrounding The Netherlands’ electronic music?

It should steadily develop, there’s no hurry or stress. We’ll keep on making music and let the music do the talking.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

The last set that got me going on the dancefloor was a back to back set from Marco Carola and Loco Dice at Cocoon in Ibiza this summer. It was cool, funky, sexy and groovy. Great!

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

That’s difficult as there’s a whole range of new young Dutch producers. But fresh talent like Rauwkost, Size, Tom Ruijg and Wouter de Moor will come up with some proper dancefloor killers in the next few months.

Aroy Dee

Aroy Dee aka Steven Brunsmann is rumoured to make all his music using the same equipment that he used 15 years ago, when he experimented with house and techno sounds influenced by the Chicago/Detroit axis.

You need only feel the serene warmth of the recently re-released ‘The Planets’ (from 2003), or 2008’s ‘Summer’ EP, to understand that Brunsmann comes from an altogether different school of thought.

Brunsmann’s releases mainly land on his own imprint M>O>S Recordings, but occasionally drop on NWAQ, Delsin, and Amsterdam’s Rush Hour (who distribute M>O>S), and although discreet and unprolific, Aroy Dee’s music continues to make a big impact.

Lauhaus

Lauhaus aka Laurens Lanting has been active in the Dutch techno scene for over 10 years, and in late 2004 he launched the Polder project along with David Labeij.

The duo’s debut album ‘Poldermodel’ was released in April 2008 on Shindoe and 2000 And One’s Intacto label.

Lauhaus is also a member of the Dutch laptop supergroup Amsterdam 661, and in 2009, he released some killer tech house cuts including ‘Latenights’ and ‘Back To Ipanema’ (on Cocoon), but it is perhaps 2008’s wonky jazz house groove ‘Casamance’ that defines his soulful rolling house music.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

I feel really good about it. I think the scene we have built here over the last couple of years has grown really strong and there are many young talents coming up.

I believe it will grow even further. When I’m on the road I get so many positive reactions to the things we are doing in Amsterdam, and that’s a big stimulus to keep pushing it forward.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

I think it’s a matter of the right people at the right moment coming together. The base of the Remote Area crew are friends who have been making music together for years.

So when Dylan [2000 and One] came back on the scene and started Remote Area, everything came together.

How do you think the Dutch should capitalise on the current excitement surrounding The Netherlands’ electronic music?

Next year we will start doing more label events internationally. I think this is a great way to promote our sound and artists.

With these kinds of initiatives we hope to expand our audience and win more fans.

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

There are many things. Working on a remix can be very inspiring. I always try to use as much from the original as I can, but try to use it in a different way. This can be both inspiring and fun.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

Hearing Loco Dice and Luciano play back to back on the terrace at Cocoon in Amnesia this summer in Ibiza was a great experience.

The way they played and the tools/technique they used was very inspiring. But also hearing Miss Fitz play a super funky house set at Wire in Leeds with just vinyl was inspiring.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

I’m no fortune teller, but there are definitely some young producers who are already making a name for themselves. For instance Makam, Tom Ruijg, and William Kouam Djoko all have a very unique sound and they won’t go unnoticed. Keep an eye on them.

Anton Pieete

This year, asides from his District One project with Bart Skils, Anton Pieete built a whopping profile for himself via two back to back EPs on Intacto.

The first EP, released at the tail end of 2008, made it all the way to No.1 on Beatport via the magnificent techno cut ‘Players’, and follow up ‘Love Machine’ in February confimed his status as one of Holland’s brightest techno talents.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

Very good! I always play a lot of music that comes from Holland/Amsterdam.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

Most of us have made music for a long time already, but 2000 And One gave us all the chance to bring it outside of the country, so I think it would be fair to say he is responsible for this.

How do you think the Dutch should capitalise on the current excitement surrounding The Netherlands’ electronic music?

It would be very nice to have a big club in Amsterdam that is just for the dance scene, something like fabric in London.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

I have always been a big fan of Marco Carola’s style of mixing. He is a very good DJ.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

Olene Kadar. He has a different style than the rest of the guys in Amsterdam, but he rocks the crowd like a motherfucker.

Newworldaquarium

Newworldaquarium aka Jochem Peteri gained wider recognition this year, following the highly charted ‘Trespassers’ EP on his own NWAQ imprint, but Peteri’s music making stretches all the way back to hip hop and electro productions in ‘86.

After Steven Brunsmann (Aroy Dee) turned Peteri onto house music, he developed “an unhealthy fetish for Chicago and Detroit”, which underlines much of the music he makes today.

In March 2008, his ‘Dead Bears’ LP, which was recorded using only hardware, received widespread critical acclaim, and NewWorldaquarium’s richly textured deep house and warm techno is at odds to the percussive house that currently envelopes Amsterdam.

DJ Madskillz

DJ Madskillz aka Gertjan Schonewille is a native of Amsterdam, and with a discography that boasts more than 90 releases, he is one of the city’s most prolific producers.

His uncompromising techno has reached the record boxes of all of the top techno spinners, and he has released on some of techno’s most important labels including Richie Hawtin’s Plus 8 Records, and Holland’s pioneering Djax-Up Beats.

2008’s ‘Samba Legacy’ in particular, pushed sonic boundaries with its strange mish mash of flanger-filled samba drums, twisted FX, and haunting techno chords.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

There’s a lot going on in Holland right now, especially in Amsterdam. I’ve been in the dance scene for quite a long time but the last two years have been very inspiring times and it reminded me of the early days of house. It’s all about the love of music right now.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

Amsterdam is the hub for a big bunch of creative people, old school and new school mixed together, each of them with their own vision on house and tech house, but acting as one collective mind.

That’s what makes the A’dam scene so exciting.

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

Whatever comes my way. It can be anything from picking new tunes on Beatport, hearing a good DJ set in a club, playing some old soul records, to watching a movie.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

Mmm, there’s not really one name that pops up. In August this year I spent a full sunny day at the WTF Festival in Holland, and listened to lots of DJ sets by all the Dutch DJ stars, as well as guys from other countries.

DJs like Gregor Tresher, Karotte, and Loco Dice rocked it, and it was a very, very inspiring day!

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

There’s so many big producers and good DJ talent around right now, so it’s very difficult to make a choice.

The productions of Julien Chaptal and Anton [Pieete] are massive, but currently I think Joris Voorn is the Dutch ‘DJ star’ of the moment.

Julien Chaptal

“‘Mamdaye’ was actually just a loop I made for my live sets, but then Lauhaus asked me to make it into a whole track and 2000 And One heard it, and asked to release it,” Julien Chaptal told us, in his recent Beatportal interview.

The Frenchman, who now calls Amsterdam ‘home’, rose through the ranks of the city’s underground house scene this year, after a number of big EPs on Remote Area and the UK’s 2020 Vision Recordings, which included the boisterious five tracker ‘Mamdaye’.

With a number of dancefloor-friendly tech house rollers, the EP bridged the divide between classic house and modern tech house beautifully, and its lead track became a mainstay for underground house spinners in 2009.

E-Contact

As one half of the live outfit Gimikk (alongside fellow Dutchman Daniel Sanchez), E-Contact aka Eelco Augustijn has risen through the Dutch underground scene, and in July the pair dropped their debut ‘Untitled Concept’ LP on Remote Area.

On the solo front, E-Contact’s twisted and dark sounds have landed on Suruba and Stock5, with ‘Coyote’ specifically shining out as a prime slice of late night Dutch minimal.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

Pretty good actually, the scene has got bigger and people are more open to listening to, and producing, different styles of house music.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

Some labels in Amsterdam are releasing quality music, and many of the releases are being charted by DJs outside of Holland which is a good thing, as Dutch music is becoming more visible to the world. 

Next to the regular clubs and festivals, major events like Awakenings are attracting lots of people to Amsterdam.

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

Many things inspire me. The best way is to lock myself up in the studio and play around with some sounds, building nice grooves or to dive deep by constructing endlessly repeating textures until inspiration appears.

Also a good walk or interesting conversation can give a certain direction to music that you didn’t expect. There are a few styles next to house/techno music that are really interesting to focus on, just for the knowledge, or to find a way to manipulate the sounds and make them your own.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

I love to hear DJs play a more experimental set rather than play all the hit records. When a DJ plays a good set I get inspired by the music that creates a certain energy on the dancefloor, at that moment.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

In Holland there are many talented producers that haven’t been noticed yet. Some of them are making amazing music for themselves and they don’t want the attention.

A star is always based on what people want to hear and it is not always related to the best music production. For me the star is somebody that produces his or her own tracks just to express a certain feeling.

William Kouam Djoko

The epitome of Amsterdam’s melting pot of cultures, William Kouam Djoko was born to a Cameroonian father and a Dutch-Ukrainian mother.

Djoko’s started throwing techno parties in The Hague in 2003, but quickly found a use for his gifted gab as a host and MC. That soon led to the creation of Jason and the Argonauts, one of the first minimal house live acts from the Dutch nu-skool.

In 2008, Djoko began a solo career with a 12-inch ‘Hard Loving’ on thirtyonetwenty, which was followed up this September by the sublime ‘Schools Out’, which contains one of the most bumping house grooves of the year (above).

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

At the moment all is going quite well obviously. There has been a major uprising of creativity throughout the country with a lot of different input and initiatives from all angles, not just music wise.

Leading up till now, I think our music has had great help from a younger generation standing up, wanting to do things on their own. Taking control, if you will. And to be honest this feels great.

Being surrounded by a lot of fresh ideas keeps you moving and on your toes. And since Holland is not that big of a country, in a way everyone can connect to each other quite easily just because the distances between cities aren’t that far.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

In my opinion I don’t specifically want to say Amsterdam is THE centre. There’s just a lot of good new hot stuff coming out of here at the moment. Like I just said, Holland is not that big, and Amsterdam sometimes feels like a village. You always bump into someone you know, or have just met, or seen before.

The scene here is quite interlinked, a lot of the artists are friends, play together on a steady basis, and have an open mentality. And with one of Europe’s biggest airports right around the corner getting round Europe is, well, easy!

How do you think the Dutch should capitalise on the current excitement surrounding The Netherlands’ electronic music?

Oehh, I don’t like that word to be honest [laughs]. If you mean how we can keep current events steady as they are, than I think we’re heading for some pretty good years to come.

I think the trick is not to overrush it and “fall back” to being just a hype. Of course, the attention we have as a country with brewing talent is great!

I simply hope that we take the time to let everything grow to its full potential. With an open mind, we should stick together, look for new ways, and not “harvest” too soon otherwise it’ll leave the Dutch scene full of one day flies. So basically take the time to innovate with our music.

But then again, this is The Netherlands with a long history of tradesmanship and exploitation, haha!

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

For myself I have been a dancer for all of my life and this may reflect in my music. But overall it’s someting that ranges from the little to the big things in life.

From biking through the city, hanging with friends, to a nice theatre show I might’ve only see on tv/internet, hearing another DJ/liveact play, up to the birth of my baby sister and realising the beauty of life.

To make a long story short, I’m high on life whenever I make music.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

The last DJ set that really caught my attention was a five hour thrill set from Raresh in an intimate club in Rotterdam (300MPH @ Catwalk).

With the right atmosphere, right people, and music going up and down, time flew by and I had a great sense of fulfillment in the early morning.

But I have to say, that during the summer I also came across different kinds of acts. Amongst these Michael Fakesch and Tapprik Sweeze made a hammering impact on me right before I had to play with my own group Jason and the Argonauts.

This was at a small and very industrial location in the east of Holland named Slowlands. Since I’m a live vocalist for my group, and worked with a similar setup, this act helped me change my approach to doing my music - a bit more pop as I try to venture a bit beyond house.

Who will be the next big Dutch star? 

From all the talent around at the moment I don’t feel that it’s gonna be just one guy who will be the one! But, I think the guys that will make it big in this house and tech house focused scene are Boris Werner, Makam, and Tom Ruijg.

I’ll put my money on these class acts with their energy and excellent sense of style.

Sandy Hüner

Sandy Huner has released music since the beginning of the 90s under monikers that includes Babies From Gong and Pure - he set up the imprint 100% Pure with 2000 and One, and later the label thirtyonetwenty with Dave Ellesmere.

Since 2007, Hüner has received attention from the DJ community worldwide with numerous chart placements and support. Much of this is due to his collaborative work with Julien Chaptal and Dave Ellesmere, as well as Lauhaus who helped to deliver one of the most popular Dutch vocal tech house cuts of the year, ‘Truckin’’.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?
Fantastic! I believe Amsterdam is really booming at the moment and has established itself on the international map by pioneering innovative sounds.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

From the early days of house music, Amsterdam has always been a strong player. Since then it has been a hub for new talent.

Remote Area bundled that at the right time and it has became a spingboard for a tidal wave of new artists. Amsterdam is now firmly established with a strong identity of quality sounds.

How do you think the Dutch should capitalise on the current excitement surrounding The Netherlands’ electronic music?

We already earned a place on the map and the next step is to take it across the border(s) and present label showcases. The sound is here - it just needs to be heard further afield.

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

I have always been a keen follower of great music - from New Wave and Hip Hop in the 80s, moving on to house music in the 90s - while at the same time listening to my dad’s Blue Note records. So basically any kind of music can trigger me.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?

Easy - that has to be Ricardo Villalobos and Raresh playing back to back at Club 11 - a few weeks before it closed down.  Excellent taste in music and each one really knows how to play a crowd.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

I don’t think there will be just one - but William Kouam Djoko, Rauwkost, and Tom Ruijg certainly are ones to watch out for.

David Labeij

A producer since 2006, David Labeij has released EPs on Area Remote, Intacto, Sushitech Purple, and Circus Company, and apart from his solo work, he’s found fame as one half of ‘Polder’, a collaborative effort with Lauhaus.

From minimal techno, his solo style has drifted towards tight percussive rhythms and bongo-led drums this year, as characterized by the brilliant ‘Beige’ EP.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

It’s inspiring.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

Well, Amsterdam is the biggest and in my opinion the most interesting city in Holland. So most of the producers live here or have moved here.

Who was the last DJ who truly inspired you?
Zip.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?
Tom Ruijg.

Daniel Sanchez

Daniel Sanchez smashed his way onto the international house scene with 2007’s huge ‘Mumbling Yeah’ track, produced alongside fellow Dutchman Kabale und Liebe.

The track’s hodge podge of tribal drums, and soulful, yet out-of-tune male vocals (sung by Sanchez), captured the hearts of many house and techno fans last year (RA named it as the Top Track of 2007), and since then, Sanchez has dropped a few more underground Dutch house bombs, including ‘Bodyshaker’ (with E-Contact), a remix of Spencer Parker’s ‘My Heart’ (on Rekids), and his most recent roller ‘Kiss’.

How do you feel about Dutch dance music at the moment?

I’m proud that Amsterdam is in the picture like this, we worked hard for a lot of years with so many people with a passion for music, it is amazing! I think we are now in the same position as the early house scene of Amsterdam in the 90s.  It’s a great feeling, and looking forward - I hope that everybody still continues to develop themselves and their musical styles.

Why is Amsterdam the centre for so much house/tech house music currently?

Holland is in the middle of Europe! So we always hear and see what’s going on around us, and we get inspired by the German, British, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish music scenes. But it is not only Amsterdam, it is also the other big cities in Holland.

Where do you get inspiration for your sound?

I am inspired by lots of different kinds of music and I really like to search for new kinds of music styles, that’s what keeps it really interesting for myself.

Who will be the next big Dutch star?

Dries Roelvink.

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