Yet another superstar has emerged from the Dutch DJ production line.. Having recently inked a deal with Ultra Music, one of the leading electronic music labels in the world, the timing couldn’t be any better for his debut single and EP for the label in Spring. However, the recent developements haven’t been well received by all of Headhunterz followers.. Read further for a statement by Willem Rebergen aka Headhunterz himself, and the official video for Kaskade - Lessons in Love (Headhunterz remix)!
Headhunterz has climbed the rankings to become the #1 hardstyle DJ not only in Netherlands, but the world. Voted incredibly high #11 spot on DJMag' s 2012 top 100 poll, his ranking according to The Official Global DJ Rankings' algorithm's calculations is presently #27 in the world.
So a week ago, Rebergen issued a statement on his Facebook page saying:
Maybe some of you saw the exclusive release of this news through Q-dance earlier. I’m pleased to announce that last week I signed a recording deal with Ultra Music in the USA. It took some time to wrap up as I want to have complete creative control in every aspect of my career and stay true to the authentic hardstyle sound. I am looking forward to get this exciting adventure started. Lots of music is ready to go and the releases are being planned as we speak. It’s an exciting time for myself, Ultra, Q-dance and our whole scene and I can’t wait to be a part of it all!
Now, after looking at the comments of worried fans, he has some comforting words:
So I have been following some of the comments on the post of this afternoon about me joining Ultra and I’d like to share a few words.
I know that I am part of a scene full of passionate people who have embraced this type of music as a part of their lives and so it didn’t come as a complete surprise that many people have the feeling that the scene as it is or was is slowly slipping through their fingers.
We can’t deny that things are rapidly evolving and growing and this is where the desires and opinions of the listener and the artist can sometimes clash.
First of all let me state that I have never ever considered to go against the current of my own success. Every artist, every sports man, every creator and I think I can also speak for my colleagues/friends will be delighted if success comes after what they love doing the most. I don’t see any reason for this to be a taboo. It is possible (and this is the story of a lot of successful people) to achieve something exactly by doing something fully passionate and creating something that you truly love creating.
Asking an artist to stop this flow of success that comes after it, although I understand the underlying reason, like asking a star soccer player to keep playing at his local club while he has the opportunity to start playing on a world level. He will realize very well that even at that level, he’s still playing soccer and what’s even more important, he was asked in the first place because he does what he does.
And that is what happened with me. I had one single very important request to Ultra and that is to give me total freedom in doing what I love doing. As long as that is possible, I am happy and satisfied.
Although as you know my sound is in Hardstyle terms pretty accessible, I am very excited to start providing Ultra with music, being in full control of my creativity and can’t wait to see the first frowns when they have to release some tracks which are quite the opposite of what people are used to hear on the radio. That is the adventure we have decided to start together.
So here we are, maybe opposed to each other. You think for the sake of a scene, I tell you that I do care for the scene too, as I said earlier: It is my vision and my joy to be able to stay true to Hardstyle, but what is even more important: To stay true to myself. Because that is the reason that you came to hear my name in the first place. I was simply doing what I love doing. And so will I continue.
Thank you for the amazing support over the years because as I said many times, we did it all together. I know very well that my intentions are right, my heart is in the right place and so is yours.
Everything comes, changes and ultimately goes. You, me, Headhunterz, Hardstyle everything. There is nobody to have control over that. It is the natural flow of life. See this, let go and celebrate life with music.Love to you. -Headhunterz
Photo: Headhunterz Ziggo Dome show at ADE 2012, Day 4 photographer Johan Vivie