At 21-years-old, Oliver Heldens has achieved more in the last few years than many people are able to achieve in their lifetime. Since debuting his brand of future house, Heldens quickly garnered an unprecedented 5 Beatport chart-topping releases before his 21st birthday, setting off a future house movement in dance music that has become a legitimate sub-genre in dance music. In 2015, Heldens continued his meteoric rise to superstardom with the launch of his very own Heldeep Records imprint, as well as the introduction of his bass house side project, HI-LO.
The Dutch youngster has toured around the world, playing festivals like EDC Las Vegas, TomorrowWorld, and Ultra Music Festival already, and just this year, Heldens embarked on his first-ever bus tour across North America, alongside Zonderling and Throttle. Even with a heavy touring schedule, Heldens has continued to find time to deliver quality release after quality release, as his collaboration with Throttle titled “Waiting,” was a resounding success. Next week, Heldens will be in Miami for the culmination of his bus tour, and he's slated to play two shows during Miami Music Week – the first as Oliver Heldens at MAPS on 3/17, and the second as HI-LO at the Heldeep Pool Party on 3/18. Tickets to both MMW events are available here.
With Heldens' bus tour coming to a close, we were fortunate enough to sit down with the talented DJ / producer and talk to him about the future of his HI-LO alias, as well as his thoughts on the bus tour. Check out the interview below.
1. What inspired you to experiment with your sound under your HI-LO project?
As an artist you are always looking to renew yourself. By starting the HI-LO project I had the freedom to work on a completely new sound. I gave me the opportunity to show a different side of me without letting go of the Oliver Heldens sound my fans are used to.
2. What are you looking forward to most on this particular tour? What sets a bus tour apart from a typical tour?
Definitely touring by bus! I’ve never done it before and it gives a whole new dimension to touring in The States. You actually get to see a lot more of the country and the fans than by jumping from plane to plane.
3. How do you prepare for your shows? How do you differentiate your sets each night?
I always try to go with the flow of the crowd, that’s my way to renew my set every night”
4. With both HI-LO and Oliver Heldens making names for themselves, what do you see as the future for both artist projects?
Would be kind of cool if we can set up a collab between Oliver Heldens and HI-LO haha. No but serious, I’m working hard on new music for both Oliver Heldens and HI-LO. I’d love that with HI-LO I created some kind of musical freedom for myself to make a more underground sound. I want to develop the whole HI-LO thing more and that is something I’m working on next to all thing I’m working on as Oliver Heldens.
5. What was it like working with Throttle on “Waiting,” and Tiesto on “Wombass?” What are some of your favourite stories from working with other artists?
Awesome, I had a great time with the both of them. I had so much fun working with Throttle on ‘Waiting’. I think he’s doing a great Job making a name for himself. And working with Tiësto is like a dream come true. He’s one of, if not the, greatest DJ of all times. I learned so much by working with him and in return I learned him how to shuffle, haha!
