This track is a very happy track. It has dutch lyrics, happy synths and a high bpm (for me this is high tho...).
The lyrics are about when life gets a bit too much, dancing can be the best thing for you. This track was actually made during a big writer’s block. I couldn’t really make music for months, which was extremely frustrating.
At some point, I decided to just make something that felt closer to myself. I took inspiration from techno tracks with vocals and thought: “I can do this in Dutch.” I had already been making Dutch pop music for about two years, so it felt natural to bring that into a techno track.
I don’t fully remember the exact process, but I think I started with the lyrics and melodies of the break and drop. After that, I added a bass and drums. Somehow, after months of struggling with creativity, this track came together so naturally. When I played it to people, they all immediately said it sounded like me. That’s what broke the writer’s block. It made me realize that I need to make more tracks purely because of what I really like to make.
This release is about feeling love while dancing at a rave. It was inspired by that mix of a sunset and a good festival. The euphoria you feel in that moment and suddenly being in love with the person next to you.
The track actually started when I was at my parents’ home. It was a really sunny day and I was just chilling in the garden. After a while, I heard a chord progression in my head and wanted to get it out. We have a big piano in the living room, so I went inside and started working out the chords.
After some time I got them right and put them into Ableton with a dreamy synth. Almost immediately, I heard a melody on top of it. I started pacing around the room, figuring out the melody and lyrics. My parents must have thought I lost it, walking around like a maniac for 20 minutes.
Once the chords and lyrics were there, I moved on to the drums. Everything actually came together pretty smoothly with this track. I finished it quite quickly, which made the whole process really enjoyable.
This track was made with a real orchestra. The idea started when I was listening to Is There Anybody Out There? by Pink Floyd. I used to play that song a lot on guitar because I loved the chords. At some point, I decided I wanted to turn those chords into a techno track. But I realized I loved them even more as a classical string arrangement and that’s when the idea hit me to just record it with a live orchestra.
When I was younger, I started music on the classical flute, so I’ve always had that classical background. Combining that with techno felt like something I really wanted to do. At the time, I was studying at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and I asked one of my teachers if something like this would even be possible. He told me he could get me a studio, that’s it. That was enough for me, so I started working on the arrangements.
That part turned out to be a bit harder than I expected, since I didn’t know that much about string instruments. Luckily, Fabian Wasterval offered to help with the arrangements and to conduct on the recording day, which made a huge difference in bringing everything to life. Then I had to find musicians to actually play it. This wasn’t easy, but luckily I still knew some classical musicians from when I was younger. Through them, I got in touch with others who wanted to join. Everyone did it voluntarily, which I’m incredibly grateful for.
The recording day was honestly one of the most amazing days I’ve ever had. Hearing your own classical arrangement come to life, played by real musicians, is an indescribable feeling.
After that… I had to mix 104 tracks. Somehow, I made it work.
This track is definitely one of the craziest things I’ve ever done, and it’s a really good reminder to myself that I can do anything if I set my mind to it.