Showtek Reflects on Their Return to Hardstyle

Dutch duo Showtek stopped by to reflect on their long-awaited return to hardstyle, their new album, and so much more.

Over its storied history, the hardstyle scene has undergone lots of changes. From its origins in hardcore techno to the slower pace of raw to the melodic elements of euphoric hardstyle, the music has continuously evolved and left something for everyone to enjoy.

Originators like DJ The Prophet, Dana, and Luna helped birth what fans know today. Still, other artists like Showtek undeniably pushed the boundaries of hard music, directly influencing today’s sound.

Starting in the early 2000s, Dutch duo Showtek had been known for their rowdy style that combined the gritty elements of raw with a touch of euphoric sounds, producing golden melodies and records that stood the test of time. Near 2012, however, they were ready to challenge themselves by attempting to taking over the dance music scene entirely.

In 2012, the sibling duo experienced a drain in creative ideas. Showtek member Wouter Janssen said, “I felt I played every possible melody and nothing new could come out anymore.” Instead of disappointing fans with forced releases, the duo decided it was better to pivot into a new lane where they could thrive creatively.

Showtek left hardstyle to embark on a new journey that saw them reinvent their sound and captivate the hearts of fans at the peak of the EDM boom. Records such as “Booyah,” “Cannonball,” “Bad,” and so many others helped define what some consider the golden era in addition to redefining the duo.

Nearly 15 years later, Showtek have come full circle with their epic return to hardstyle. They’ve proven that it’s hard to grow apart when your roots are tied.

There’s an incredible amount of new and refreshing producers in hardstyle who brought more fun and excitement to the genre. It’s more diverse than it used to be, and it blends perfectly with our EDM sound. Big room and hardstyle are the perfect sounds for the mainstage. We have experience in both and feel we can bridge certain elements together to create a unique blend of our genres.
Showtek

New producers and ideas drew them back in — but more importantly, they felt the long break was necessary for their creative process. “[Hard dance] feels new, fresh, and unique again,” they said.

Although they had left the hardstyle scene, it was never goodbye. Showtek wanted to create and express themselves freely, but they’ve always felt they owed it to their community to return to the specific sound fans crave. It’s a battle they constantly face. They’ve taken this challenge head-on by diving into multiple genres throughout their career as they “feel that switching flavors now and then keeps it fresh and exciting.“

Their long-awaited return to the hardstyle scene was marked by two performances at Knockout Outdoor and Qlimax in 2023 that proved integral in their decision to come back. The duo wanted to play new music instead of relying on the past, which triggered many new ideas. In the summer of 2023, they took the first steps back by creating edits of previous records and listening to newer producers in the scene.

Starting all over again, but with all this experience, instantly gave us so many ideas. It felt like we were 16 again, so we were excited about everything! We would not be making this music if we had no inspiration or anything new to bring to the table. We’re not saying that we can make the same impact, but we do have a sound and a signature that people still resonate with.
Showtek

After those iconic performances, Showtek knew they had to continue on this new but familiar journey. The next step on this newfound path led to their latest album, 360 Blue.

“Blue represents the harder sound of Showtek,” they said. “We both love drum and bass, some techno, and lots of other things, but hardstyle has a special thing about it. It’s so fun, and we feel the community of producers and fans is very authentic, warm, and personal.

On 360 Blue, fans can expect to hear the signature Showtek sound with a mature, grown-up feel to it. When creating the album, the duo took current influences and made them their own without feeling pressured to cater to today’s trends.

“Everything we do is made with passion and free artistic inspiration.” they said. “We don’t need to do anything — we would not be here otherwise.” At its core, 360 Blue emphasizes that hard-hitting drums are fun and exciting, and Showtek has loved rediscovering their passion for the harder styles.

Even while having fun with 360 Blue, Showtek still wanted to make an impact when they unveiled their return track, “Dear Hardstyle.” This record captures the beauty of its namesake genre, proving that powerful melodies and distorted kick drums can come together to create something magical.

Technical production aside, “Dear Hardstyle” is a love letter to the industry, fans, and community. Showtek went into the studio with the idea for this record, sharing their story with vocalist Earl St. Clair. Eventually, he told a beautiful story through uplifting lyrics and a powerful message.

I played some emotional pad chords while he was telling the story. Immediately, I teared up since the message is so personal. For us, hardstyle was a teenage dream, escape, and a safe place. It still is… I started singing “take me back to where it all began,” which turned into the bridge for the signature lead and drop.
Wouter Janssen of Showtek

“Dear Hardstyle” is a song that stands on its own merit, but fans can’t help but draw parallels to the most iconic Showtek record, “FTS.” When asked about their thoughts on this track, the duo stated that it’s no longer a Showtek song, but rather a song of the people. “FTS” has transcended the hardstyle scene as DJs like Dom Dolla, Reinier Zonneveld, and Robin Shulz always find ways to sneak it into their sets because it speaks to them and the fans.

We all grow up with our frustrations and ideas of the world — a lot of swearing, too. “FTS” gets a message across. We knew we had something special, but never would have thought that after 20 years it would still be so current. This is very special to us, and I don’t think a lot of people get to experience it.
Showtek

After the release of 360 Blue, Showtek don’t plan on stopping as they will continue their 360 journey by delivering 360 Red. While 360 Yellow was centered around big room and EDM and 360 Blue focused on hardstyle, 360 Red will ultimately be a hybrid of the duo’s favorite sounds.

We love so many genres, and we love to play mixed genres on the mainstages as well. Fans can expect any dance genre on 360 Red, and they will definitely hear some drum and bass, halftime beats, and more blends/fusions of genres.
Showtek

The spotlight is currently shining bright on Showtek, but the duo were also kind enough to provide some advice for the next generation of producers who are aiming to make the kind of impact they have. “Follow your inner sound and creator. Inspiration is a beautiful thing. It leads to innovation and new creations for the next generation of listeners,” they said.

Urging other artists to be patient with the process, they shared that they struggled to find their new sound and direction in between the release of “FTS” and their iconic big room records like “Cannonball” and “Booyah.” They learned to take their time — and in doing so, they arrived at new sounds that eventually served as the bridge for their memorable and popular records. They shared,”It was hard because nobody understood what we were doing, but we believed in ourselves.“

Letting the uncontrollable do its thing has its beauty. Being nervous and scared means you’re human, and it means that you care.
Showtek

With all of the hype surrounding 360 Blue, Showtek are setting off on the road again, bringing their hardstyle-exclusive performances all over the world. Next weekend, they will be making their highly anticipated return to Defqon.1 Weekend Festival at the mighty RED stage, where they promise to play tons of new music mixed with some of the classics.

In addition, they’re coming back to Los Angeles in July for an exclusive 360 set where they will highlight 360 Blue, play unreleased music, and perform live. Snag your ticket via Live Nation and don’t miss out on one of their few West Coast hardstyle shows this year!