Huge new 4-track hardstyle EP from one of the Netherland’s finest. The trippy offering audibly boasts relentlessly unyielding production elements paired alongside a hefty slew of stabbing hardstyle drops. From start-to-finish, the uncompromising sonic endeavor’s tracks serves as quintessential festival-ready anthems replete with a palpably raw energy. DMCWORLD dives in…
A huge welcome to DMCWORLD! What was the production process like when crafting the 4-track ‘ACID’ EP?
Thanks for having me! Well, creating this EP really felt like a journey. I really wanted to go outside my own comfort zone and create something that would creatively challenge me. Over the years my music taste has changed as has my musical philosophy. I started the first drafts of this EP in the first half of 2021. We were still dealing with COVID lockdowns so there were no shows and events at all. This felt like the right moment to do it. Going through the musical process of these tracks gave me so much energy and motivation and luckily this got paid out in a very nice end result.
What is it like working alongside Scantraxx Records for your releases?
I’ve been working with them since my first release in 2015. We became a pretty good team through the years. They support me in every way they can and give me all the creative space I need.
In your personal opinion, what’s the best part about being able to produce hardstyle music?
Being able to create every idea I have in mind feels like a big relief. In the past I have struggled really hard sometimes not having enough skills and knowledge to work out my ideas. These were pretty frustrating moments.
How did you get your start in the electronic dance music industry?
Back in 2006 Jumpstyle was really popular in The Netherlands. The music got me right away. I started to watch a lot of those videos where Hardstyle was also being used. I thought this kind of music was even better and I started to look it up even more. At the age of 8 or 9 I got involved with producing music. I wanted to know more about it and so I started practicing. It was a really natural process. Making music felt like second nature. This was the only thing I liked to do and I wanted to get better at it. In 2015 I signed my first contract with my record label Scantraxx. This is where everything started. I started to release my music and get my first gigs.
If you could perform the ‘ACID’ EP in-full at any event or venue in the world where would it be?
I think doing a huge indoor show with a lot of LED screens would be really sick! This could be a big venue, but also a big tent at a festival during the night. As long as the environment fits the musical theme.
What is the hardstyle scene like in the Netherlands in 2021?
The Hardstyle scene has developed quite a lot the last couple of years. I feel there are more and more possibilities. People are getting more open-minded about what opens doors for us as producers. Show-wise but mostly from a musical perspective as well. I think this is something really good and I hope our scene keeps developing like this in the future.
How do you see your hard-hitting signature sound progressing over the course of the next 5 years?
My music had always been something that grew with me as a person. At this point the music I do is something that really triggers my creativity and gives me the possibility to explain my vision and philosophy through sound. I would like to develop my sound more and more technically and musically. I find it hard to say how this will look or sound the next 5 years but one thing I’m sure about is that this signature sound is a base that I will take with me on my musical journey.
Who is your all-time favorite DJ/producer and why?
I find it really hard to pick one all-time favorite. There is soo much music around that I love and is unique in it’s own way. Since I was a little kid I have been a big fan of Earth, Wind and Fire but these days guys like Noisia are also true legends to me. That’s a pretty wide spectrum if it comes to music genres but these are all a part of me. So I can’t really pick one favorite.
Are there any other genres besides hardstyle that you enjoy listening to?
Drum & Bass is something I really love listening to. I love to listen to movie scores and trailer music which inspire me a lot also.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as a DJ/producer?
Stay true to yourself and your vision. Believe in your philosophy and don’t forget that music is a way to express yourself. In the end, making music needs to make you happy. As long as it stays like that, you’re in the right direction.
Devin Wild – ‘ACID’ EP [Fanlink]: presave.io/t/devinwildacid
