HI-LO Returns to Drumcode with Two Dance-Floor Gems

HI-LO continues to ride the wave of momentum he’s built this year with the release of his forceful CRESCENDO EP on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode.

Demonstrating that he’s more than just a main stage act, Oliver Heldens has quickly risen to the top of the techno world by mastering the genre’s sound under his noir persona, HI-LO. His tracks “Zeus” and “Kronos” have stormed underground dance floors, and his hard-hitting records have been championed by other techno stars, such as Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, and Richie Hawtin.

On top of his dark discography, the Dutch producer kicked off the year by launching his new techno label HILOMATIK, providing a home for rising talent and techno peers. And in February, Beatport recognized him as the number-one best-selling and best-streaming techno artist for the past six months. Now, HI-LO is amping up the second half of the year with his latest EP, CRESCENDO, which is being released on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label.

These two dance-floor gems have been teased in some of HI-LO’s recent performances—both tracks were featured in his b2b set with deadmau5 at Ultra Miami—and they’re now ready to take the dance scene by storm. The title track, which was released last week, features kinetic instrumentation that’s marked by a haunting synth progression. The Dutch DJ said in a statement that his focus on this number was to “craft something hypnotic, dark, and trippy while maintaining a melodic and groovy essence.”

Meanwhile, the 28-year-old artist details that “OPEN YOUR MIND” is inspired by DK8’s time-tested “Murder Was the Bass,” which showcases a distorted-ominous bass, old-school techno drums, and futuristic textures.

After months of road testing and fine-tuning, I am beyond excited about the final result. I’ve had a blast playing this track not only in my HI-LO sets but also in several ‘mainstage’ sets as Oliver Heldens. Also quoting Adam [Beyer]: ‘That groove is amazing! Super funky, gritty, uplifting – it’s got it all!’ I couldn’t agree more with that!
HI-LO on “Open Your Mind”

The techno producer is also gearing up for a jam-packed summer tour in Europe, with a scheduled return to the US on September 3 at Electric Zoo in New York. Tour dates and ticket information can be accessed through his website. Listen to CRESCENDO on Spotify, download or stream the EP on your preferred platform, and make sure to let us know what you think about the beats on Twitter!

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