Hardwell

Known as one of EDM’s standout successes, Dutch DJ and producer Hardwell regularly headlines prominent festivals and earns high placements in leading DJ polls. His initial focus on electro-house productions and remixes throughout the 2000s contributed to the genre’s rapid rise at the start of the following decade. After launching Revealed Recordings, he issued an annual Revealed compilation each year from 2010 through 2020, maintained the Hardwell On Air podcast, and delivered his first full-length solo effort, United We Are, in 2015, which leaned toward pop. Standout tracks from this period feature the gold-certified “Spaceman” from 2012, the platinum-certified “Apollo” (2012) and “Young Again” (2014), plus the Jason Derulo collaboration “Follow Me.” Around 2016 he began folding hardstyle elements into his style; following a short touring break, he shifted toward sample-heavy big room techno and future rave on 2022’s Rebels Never Die. This approach continued with later releases such as 2024’s “XTC” and the Armin van Buuren collaboration “Follow the Light.”

Born Robbert van de Corput in Breda, he adopted the name Hardwell upon starting to DJ at age 13. Exposure to large-scale dance events aired on MTV prompted the teenager to master mixing techniques, after which he grew focused on remixing and creating original productions. His first remix surfaced in 2006 with a club version of the Underdog Project’s “Summer Jam,” while 2007 brought remixes for stadium techno act Scooter (“Lass Uns Tanzen”) and a collaboration with fellow DJ Greatski on “Never Knew Love.” Two years later the bootleg mash-up “Show Me Be” matched Steve Angello against Laidback Luke to create a dancefloor success, and 2010 marked the debut volume of his Revealed mix series.

In 2011 he joined Tiësto for the single “Zero 76,” an effort that, together with remix contributions for Dada Life (“Fight Club Is Closed [It’s Time for Rock’n’Roll]”), Avicii (“Levels”), and Taio Cruz (“Hangover”), marked his breakthrough period. By 2012 Hardwell reached the Top Ten of DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ list and led Billboard’s dance chart via remixes of Rihanna (“Where Have You Been”) and the Wanted (“Chasing the Sun”). The single “Three Triangles (Losing My Religion)” appeared in 2013 alongside the fourth Revealed installment.

His debut full-length album United We Are arrived in early 2015, followed later that year by a remix album featuring versions from DallasK, Vicetone, Bingo Players, and Pep & Rash, among others. The seventh Revealed volume was released in 2016, the same year that brought collaborations with Blasterjaxx, Jay Sean, Afrojack, and Craig David plus remixes for the Chainsmokers and Jewelz & Sparks. In 2017 he issued the single “Creatures of the Night” with pop singer Austin Mahone and the eighth Revealed installment. The next year produced a wave of output that included the EP Hardwell & Friends, Vol. 3 and joint tracks with Steve Aoki, Maddix, and Wildstylez. Revealed, Vol. 9 and Revealed, Vol. 10 appeared in 2019 and featured the promotional track “I’m Not Sorry” with Mike Williams.

Following a subdued 2020 when touring halted and he released The Story of Hardwell, he partnered with Blasterjaxx as Jaxxwell for the 2021 single “Bootshaus ID.” He staged a strong return to live performance in 2022 by closing Ultra Miami and issuing the singles “Broken Mirror” and “Into the Unknown.” Rebels Never Die arrived in September of that year, emphasizing rave-inspired big room techno instead of anthemic, vocal-driven electro-house. The year 2023 introduced the Six Doors series of collaborations, encompassing singles with VINNE, Will Sparks, Maddix, and additional artists. He also remixed David Guetta’s take on Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” and “Miracle” by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding. On National Tulip Day in 2024 a tulip was dedicated to Hardwell. Throughout the year he kept issuing rave-inspired singles such as “Oldskool Sound” and “XTC,” together with collaborations including “Energy” with Bassjackers, “16” with Blasterjaxx and Maddix, “Follow the Light” with Armin van Buuren, and further tracks.