looking to surprise the Indian audience,  the ace EDM artiste  gets candid about his performances at Sunburn, his aspirations, future plans and more. By Jigyasu Joshi

There are few artists in electronic music who have become as accomplished as the Dutch superstar, Robbert van de Corput aka Hardwell, in such a short space of time. The heavyweight DJ, who started his career at the age of 13, is now the most popular face of EDM in the world. The Dutch maestro is all set to touch down in the capital city on October 1 for the 10th year celebrations of Sunburn.

 How excited are you about performing in India againIJ

I’ve always had a strong relationship with the Indian fans. They’ve been some of my biggest supporters and I’m so grateful for their belief in me and my music. I think India is one of the emerging powerhouses of dance music right now. The pace at which the scene is growing has been so impressive. The fans are really driving that and it really separates the Indian fans from the supporters from other countries in the world.  Connecting with my fans in India, whether at gigs or via social media, has always shown me how special the passion in the country is. Not just for music, but for life. It’s magical. It’s seriously one of the best fan experiences I’ve ever had. Seriously, the crowd is so dedicated, they know every song that I play. As a DJ you want to play in front of passionate audiences and the fans here are second to none. That’s why I am coming back again.

You’re making albums; you’re DJing around the world. What comes firstIJ What’s your favouriteIJ DJing or producingIJ

I have a heart for music. I breathe music. Be it in a documentary or a radio show or running my label or working with new talent, which is so inspiring, or playing my DJ sets or producing music, I enjoy every bit of it. I know I have like four or five full-time jobs but that’s alright with me. It comes really naturally. I never had the feeling in my life that I am working. The only work for me is travelling. It’s the hardest part of being a DJ. Dealing with the jet lag and different time zones. That’s the hardest part of my job but besides that I love what I do.

What artists influence youIJ

Hip hop is the main genre I listen to when not listening to dance music, and Dr Dre remains one of my favourites. Tiesto has been a mentor and a friend and I’m hugely inspired by his work too.

How would you say being successful has affected your life and the time you spend with family and friendsIJ

It can make seeing family and friends difficult when you’re away from home as much as I am but they all know this is the life I have chosen and this is what I wanted for myself. You have to work hard to achieve your goals and with success you have to keep yourself grounded and understand to not let it go to your head. What’s important is what you achieve in life while having friends and family around you. However, the truth is that life isn’t really much different. There are many fancy lifestyle changes from hotels to occasional private flights but your family and friends are still the same. You still like the same food, wear the same size clothes and enjoy the same things in life. I’ve never wanted to be famous so maybe I’ve not done enough red carpets for it to change me.

Finally, when you are searching for new talent or music to sign up for your label, what qualities do you look for in order it to be considered Revealed-approvedIJ

Well it’s of course the music, that is the obvious factor. But it is not always about making a hit record, it is about being original. The artist should be inspiring; I want to hear something that triggers me. If I hear that track, I want that instant reaction of: “I want to play this track right now.” When I get that reaction, I would know that I have successfully found a talent.

Also, if the artist is nice and down-to-earth, it’s always a plus point. I always say with Revealed (his company) we aren’t just a record company. Every single guy signed on Revealed is a good friend of each other and we consider it to be more of a family. I think you can tell by our parties, we are always hanging around together and having great fun. Also, this is actually how Revealed Recordings came about.

You’re 26 years old, headlining festivals worldwide, topping charts week in and week out. What’s nextIJ

I am currently back in the studio after a really busy summer. I have about 20 tracks which need finishing, so a lot of music will soon be coming out. On the road I have a lot of great parties in my tour dairy from Ultra Brazil, Ultra Bolivia, Storm Festival Shanghai China, EDC Orlando, as well as some dates coming up in Asia. There is also the ADE where I’ll be hosting my “Hardwell Presents Revealed” party again at the Heineken Music Hall. So yeah a busy few weeks ahead.

What tips do you have for aspiring DJs and producersIJ

The only tip I can give is just be yourself, you don’t have to copy another song to be popular. Being original is the key. Make music from your heart, even if it’s experimental or not really common. Try it out, it can only get you more recognition.

Apart from it, I think it all starts with showing your work. If you have a good record, a good track, share it with your friends and family. Just put it out and let as many people as possible listen to the track. Upload it everywhere socially; try to give it to the DJs for their podcast. I know that it’s really hard because not every label can listen to every demo, but everybody has the same chance, you knowIJ If you make a good track just go to the Miami Music Conference, walk up to the DJs and give them your CD or USB and I’m sure they will listen.

Also you can start online with social media marketing; Facebook, Youtube, spread it around and try to get as many people’s attention. gy