Some things in life never change, such as the special connection between an artist and his art.
Long before he became a global music icon and the "Godfather of EDM", Tiësto, also known as Tijs Michiel Verwest, was not unlike other young music hopefuls out there. As a teenager, the DJ and producer got his start by bringing his beats to school parties and nightlife venues in his home country of The Netherlands.
While he has since moved on to much larger stages — Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and Electric Daisy Carnival, the Tiësto we see behind DJ consoles today is not that different from who he was four decades ago.
"I’ve always been inspired by the fans and the energy they bring to the room. Something that will never change is that I bring 100% of myself to every DJ set and am still having the same incredible time as I always have when I’m doing what I love," explained the GRAMMY-winning Breda native, who celebrated his 55th birthday this January.
After his recent return to Marquee Singapore, Tiësto chatted with Bandwagon about his "full-circle" show at nightclub, what he thinks of the current EDM scene, and what he has in store for fans at his Las Vegas residency.
Hey, Tiësto! You recently teamed up with MOGUAI for the single ‘Explode’. Tell us a bit more about the song and how the two of you ended up working together.
MOGUAI and I have been friends for years and we always talked about doing more stuff together. We both love the original 'Explode' record, and when MOGUAI showed me the idea he had for the track, I was inspired as well and we finished it together. We both really love the result and it’s always in our sets now!
How does collaborating with a fellow DJ and producer compare to working with a featured vocalist? What sort of approach works best for you when you are making music with another DJ and producer?
I love to collaborate and the process is generally very similar between working with other producers and featured vocalists. Each project is different, however. It all starts with an initial idea and then between the various collaborators on each project, we contribute in different ways until we have a final song that we all love.
As someone who has been in the EDM scene for the last three decades, are there any recent developments to the genre and artists from it that you have found exciting to follow?
It’s incredible to see how much the genre has changed and continues to evolve over time. I’m constantly inspired by new sounds and artists in the scene, and I hope to continue bringing my fresh ideas and inspiring others to do the same. It’s also fun to see how much we all also continue to get inspired by music from the past.
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On the topic of performances, you have a residency at Las Vegas lined up this year. First of all, congratulations on that! What are you looking forward to the most about your Vegas shows? What kind of experience do you have in store for audiences there?
Thank you! There is nowhere else in the world like Las Vegas, and it’s always the best time playing for the crowds there — the energy is unmatched. I have some fun surprises in store, lots of new music coming, and plan to keep evolving these shows to make them the best experience they can possibly be!
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Finally, you recently returned to Marquee Singapore to perform at its fifth anniversary celebration, five years after you took over the deck at its grand opening. What was that experience like for you?
It was an incredible full-circle moment to return to Marquee Singapore to celebrate their fifth anniversary after first celebrating the club’s opening. I feel a part of the club's and city's nightlife and music history. It’s always such a pleasure and I’m honored they had me back to play this special night.
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