Quotes from Hardwell

I really love Tiesto's album 'A Town Called Paradise' and Calvin Harris' '18 Months' album, he did an amazing job.

Touring life can often be so busy it makes it difficult to visit places and do all the touristy things, but I've had the chance to visit Tokyo a number of times and see a lot of the city. I love it!

To me, new friends, new genres, new person-to person chemistry is the DNA of EDM.

My goal has always been to push the boundaries, to aim for the stars.

I have to enjoy the music I'm making, so it's also important for me that, if I'm working on a track with someone, I have a good connection with them - which is why I often stick to working with buddies of mine.

I grew up with dance music and all of the sudden people started calling it EDM.

I don't want be an underground DJ - don't get me wrong - I just wanna share my music with everybody.

As a DJ, I'm really focused on the crowd. I never play the same set. I always look at the crowd, try to read what they want, and always look at the signs, point at people.

I was a warm-up DJ for many years so I know how to build a crowd, what record goes with the next, it's all about understanding the dance floor and how the energy and flow should go coordinating to what the crowd want or might need.

Before I became the No.1 DJ in the world, people came to see me - they knew my sound. They were straight-up fans. After that, you have to deal with the pressure and knowing at a certain point you're not going to be No.1.

Every show I play, I try and make it unique. I don't pre-plan my sets and always try and drop new music from my label or artists I am supporting. Equally, I spend countless hours making edits and adding my own touch to the music I want to play.

The Netherlands is a country I love and am very proud to be from, and I'm definitely supportive of the music scene we have.

The waterfront in Manila is really popular and somewhere I enjoyed visiting.

An album is not like an hour-long DJ set, you know, hit after hit and then build up to one big climax.

I love the process of collaborating on music, mostly for the creativity that comes out of it.

I think my album, 'United We Are,' was the perfect blend or radio- and festival-friendly songs. I try to combine both.

The fans have been an enormous influence on my career. Playing shows around the world and connecting with them is such a big inspiration in my life.

It's very easy to copy Swedish House Mafia, or Avicii, or Skrillex, or whatever. People listen too much to each other and are too much inspired by each other.

It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy somebody else.

Dance music has become global and it's here to stay.

I've been running my own record label and doing my weekly radio shows, but people don't see the work. People only see your rise instead of the whole thing.

The more I've spent preparing a set, the more nervous I get. That is why I get my energy from the crowd before I step on stage.

I respect it if you're a really good DJ but you can't produce. What I hate is those who pretend to produce when they have a guy in another room doing all the work. Don't pretend. Everyone will figure it out at the end of the day.

I played in every single bar and small club in Holland and I've been DJing and producing for more than 12 years.