Blasterjaxx Open Up About Tour Life and Recent Releases

Iconic dance music duo Blasterjaxx stopped by to discuss their recent releases, and how they balance personal and tour life.

For more than a decade, Blasterjaxx has consistently stayed at the top of their game, serving as industry leaders among all of the greats in dance music. They’ve done it all, from performances at the biggest festivals to releases on the most prestigious labels — all without losing the true Blasterjaxx spirit. One look at their discography uncovers vaulted memories of the past with hints of the future and the best of the present. These iconic artists have pulled inspiration from everywhere, resulting in unforgettable tracks like “Faith,” “Rocket, “Narco,” and so many more.

Recently, the duo have been focusing on a harder style of dance music with faster BPMs, punchier kicks, and unmatched energy. It can be heard in their latest releases, like “16” with Hardwell and Maddix or “Feel The Bass” with Lockdown and Vion Konger. This style is more prominent in their electrifying performances as they throw in a little bit of everything like hardstyle, techno, big room, and more.

With such an illustrious career already behind them, Blasterjaxx don’t plan on stopping anytime soon as they have plenty of goals left to achieve in the dance music scene. To share a little more insight into their mindset, they stopped by to chat about their recent releases, love for hard dance, balance between personal life and tour life, and so much more.

Make sure to stream their latest release “Feel The Bass” on Spotify or your preferred platform, and read on for our full conversation with dance legends Blasterjaxx!

Recently, you two released “16” with Hardwell and Maddix. How did the creative process for this record differ from that of your other collaborations with those two artists?

Well, it all kicked off during a casual Tuesday brainstorming session. We were pondering over which old classic to remix and eventually, we settled on Ard Und Jorn‘s “16.” A wave of nostalgia hit us whenever we spun that track, so it was a no-brainer. After a few days of tinkering away at it, we decided it needed that extra techno flair, and who better to bring that than Maddix?

Now, Maddix wasn’t just any collaborator for us. We had a blast working together on our first collaboration, “Purpose” in 2022, so it felt like the natural move to team up again. Hardwell caught wind of the track and a month later, he was willing to throw his own spin on it.

The rest, as they say, is history. We’re absolutely thrilled with how everything came together, and we’re itching to drop this banger at every show. Hard work, collaboration, and a sprinkle of serendipity — the recipe for success, my friend.

Is the track title “16” supposed to be a follow-up to the iconic “Fifteen” from 2013? If not, what is the significance of the title?

It’s pure coincidence. “16” isn’t some sneaky follow-up to “Fifteen” from back in 2013. We chose “16” because the original song from Ard Und Jorn’s version is named “16.”

You’ve heavily leaned into a harder style of music in recent years, and you even have a hardstyle track with Da Tweekaz! How do hard dance and hard techno music inspire you two when you’re in the studio?

Hard dance is like our creative playground. We thrive and find endless inspiration in it. The latest trend with higher BPMs, techno twists, and trance vibes? Man, it’s like music to our ears! It opens a new world of possibilities that we can explore and inject our unique style into. Let’s just say we’re loving every minute of it!

Your upcoming record, “Feel The Bass,” takes inspiration from the iconic “Ego Acid.” Can you give us more insight into how you were able to put your own influence on this record?

“Ego Acid” was a huge inspiration for our record, “Feel The Bass.” It’s funny how inspiration can strike when you least expect it. We stumbled upon “Ego Acid” on one of our old CDs, and a lightbulb went off in our heads. We took the essence of “Ego Acid” – that raw energy – and infused it with our own style together with Lockdown and Vion Konger.

Back in 2015, Idir announced that he was taking a step back from touring live with Blasterjaxx to focus on his physical and mental health. All these years later, Thom is still on the road. How do you prioritize your health while keeping up with your tour and music production schedule?

Health is wealth, and we’re all about finding that balance. We’ve got a solid support system in place from each other to the crew and team who help us stay grounded and remind us to take care of ourselves.

What advice can you two give to other artists who are in a similar situation and don’t know how to balance their health and well-being while being in the music industry?

It’s important to prioritize both your physical and mental well-being. Engage in activities like exercise and meditation to maintain a healthy balance. Additionally, don’t hesitate to discuss any challenges you may face with your partner, friends, and team. Keeping your problems bottled up can have negative effects on your overall health. This isn’t just about touring, but life in general.

To conclude our conversation, which event are you looking forward to most this festival season, and why?

Untold Festival in Romania is happening this year and it has been on our bucket list for so long. Imagining the energy of those crowds gets us hyped!