Daniel Wanrooy: “My most unforgettable gig? Nothing tops warming up for Tiësto at Amsterdam’s legendary Heineken Music Hall”

There’s a certain kind of artist who doesn’t chase the spotlight, yet somehow always ends up defining it. Daniel Wanrooy is one of them. For more than 2 decades, his sound has quietly shaped dancefloors, radio waves, and even entire eras of electronic music. Emerging from the Netherlands’ golden era of dance music, he built his reputation not through hype, but through a signature sound — melodic, driving, and meticulously sculpted — that earned him early support from titans like Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten. His tracks and remixes became a staple across some of the world’s biggest stages and compilation series, from In Search of Sunrise to A State of Trance, cementing his role as a trusted curator of euphoric, forward-looking club music.

But Wanrooy’s career has always been shaped by evolution. After years of global touring, chart-topping releases and 4 albums he shifted his artistic focus inward, refining his production style and embracing new corners of the electronic spectrum. Whether crafting peak-time progressive house, deep melodic journeys, or modern trance hybrids, he brings the same precision and emotional depth that have been hallmarks of his work since day one. His studio expertise has also made him a go-to collaborator and remixer, with a discography that shows both his long career and his constant drive to evolve. Daniel also runs his own label Elpida Music, a home for his forward-thinking productions and a platform for artists who share his melodic, progressive vision.

Today, with a new creative chapter unfolding, Daniel continues to push boundaries while staying true to the musical DNA that shaped him.

Q: Hi Daniel, please let us how did you first fall into electronic music? Was it love at first beat, or more of a slow burn?

A: Italo disco was very popular when I was young. It was sort of the 80s blended with more electronic music. I liked it and decided to search further. With no internet (yes, I am that old), that was pretty tough. I found out that the local cafeteria sold illegal tapes, really shitty quality, but I didn’t care, that was my first real encounter with trance. And yes, it was love at first beat. Since then, I have driven to the cafeteria every day until he had a new tape. A few years later, when the internet with a dial-up modem was available, I downloaded Screamtracker and started to “produce” with 4 tracks maximum space. You had to be very creative to do kick, hihat + clap in one track, bassline and melody.

Q: You were discovered by Tiësto super early in your career. What’s the most unforgettable part of that moment, and how did it change everything for you?

A: Yeah, it was around 2003. I sent a demo CD to Black Hole Recordings (as a duo working under Progression and Odyssey then). Tijs’ manager, Dimitri de Wit, called me a few weeks later, saying that he had listened together with Tijs and that they wanted to sign 2 tracks. That was a bit the start of everything. Several days later, we were invited to the office to meet the crew and Tiësto. A “Magik” moment! The guys at Black Hole Recordings are still around, and Mark Meeuwissen and Arny Bink became really good friends of mine during those years. I think signing that first contract was one of many unforgettable moments.

Q: Your music appeared many times on the In Search of Sunrise compilation, and you even helped shape ISOS 19. What makes that series such a special home for your sound?

A: Yes, 4 times on the Tiësto ones, the biggest of the series of course. Later, a few more on Richard Durand’s mixes and also on Markus’ mixes. In my opinion, ISOS is a genre by itself; it has to work on the dancefloor and with a nice cold beer during a sunset. Everything on the Tiësto series became instant classics, of course, so it's hard to redo almost 2 decades later, but I tried to come close and was really selective with the tracks I selected and produced myself for ISOS 19.

Q: Sound design evolves at lightning speed these days. How do you stay inspired and keep experimenting with new techniques?

A: I have a lot of producers' friends. Most of them are producers from the older generation, since we grew up producing together. We always share new music or ideas and we show each other cool new plugins and tools. That’s how I stay up to date, but of course I miss a lot as well haha, there is just too much atm. Now that AI is on the rise, it will be interesting to see how it develops in the near future.

Q: Walk us through your new track “Gone” on Wake Your Mind — what sparked it, and how did it come together?

A: This was certainly inspired by the Cosmic Gate sound, something I knew they would like for their shows. I wanted a catchy lead, something that would stick in their minds. When I found the vocals to complete the track, I knew they would want to sign it. And they did!

Q: You’re great at following trends without letting them swallow your style. How do you maintain that balance, as we can clearly hear in “Gone” as well?

A: Thanks! I always like to follow my heart with influences from other music that I enjoy at that moment. But my background is progressive/trance and I will always make melodic music.

Q: What’s one sound you’ve never used in a track but secretly itch to try, even if it’s a little wild?

A: Ha, cool question! Uhm, I am a big fan of dramatic music like Radiohead and Thom Yorke. Something from them would definitely be great to do.

Q: You’ve played everywhere from club rooms to massive festivals. What is one unforgettable gig story of yours? The crazier the better. :-)

A: Yes, I have seen the whole world because of my hobby, and I am truly blessed! In the last couple of years, I've slowed down with gigs, and I'm more selective now. I think the most unforgettable gig was the warm-up for Tiësto in the legendary Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. The first gig was 2 weeks before that, for about 50 clubbers... and that was the second gig, for over 5000! That was WOW! But I don’t really mind how big the gig is, as long as it’s a great atmosphere.

Q: You also run Elpida Music. When you listen to demos, what makes you go “yes, this one!”? Any tips you’d pass on to hungry new producers?

A: Love all of your questions! First of all, the approach is important, I think. If you don’t know me, don't say "Yo bro, check this," haha. Just act normal. Well, if the track is cool, I can look through that part, tho, but be polite, check your link, and tell me something about yourself. That’s a good start! I listen to all demos, but sometimes I need a week or so, I get a lot nowadays. So, don’t “Yo bro, y no listen?” me after one day.

Send full tracks, not half ideas; take time for your mix, try to make it sound as good as possible.

There is not really a certain style I want for the label; good music is good music, but check out what we have released before you send something. I am not really interested in a 150bpm hardstyle track. And YES, I do get them!

Q: What’s one early-career mistake that ended up teaching you something invaluable?

A: My very first mistake was when I signed my very first contract. Haha, awesome start! That was in 1999/2000. Contracts back then were a lot longer than nowadays and I signed my name exclusively to the label for 5 years. So, I wasn’t allowed to release anywhere under my own name… for 5 years!

Other mistakes were signing up too soon to so-called managers or DJ agencies. Mostly, the intentions are good, and it always starts with great ideas, but it slows down very fast. Think before you sign things is my advice.

Q: How do you feel the global electronic scene is shifting right now — and what’s the vibe like specifically in the Netherlands in the last few years?

A: Of course, the talk of the town at the moment is Tiësto moving towards trance again. That’s epic! I am curious how it evolves, and hopefully, a younger audience opens their hearts for trance again. In Holland, there is a really loyal and great scene, but the crowd gets a bit older and we need some younger ones to keep the scene alive, and even better, to get the scene growing. Tijs can definitely make it happen!

Q: If you could time-travel to any musical era or moment in history, where would you land and why?

A: Haha, good one! I think I would travel 20 years ahead and listen to all AI-generated music. Hopefully not! But I am just very curious about where it ends up. And after that, I would quickly travel 10 years back to buy a bag of Bitcoins.