Welcome to the first installment of many more to come in my new series – Artists Uncovered. I was inspired to start this feature to share some of the finest talent that exists with the wider EDM community. We inaugurate this series with one of my all-time favorite producers WildVibes.

This first episode of Artists Uncovered is in partnership with The QR Network, a site for interviews with EDM artists and labels.

WildVibes (Wouter Postelmans) is a young Belgian producer who has found success through his distinctive, evocative progressive house style. He has been supported multiple times by famous YouTube channels including massive support from AirwaveMusic and Proximity. His releases have spanned Revealed, AirwaveMusic and Eonity among others.

Ever since making an appearance on SoundCloud a few years ago with multiple progressive house bootlegs, he has stuck to the heartfelt genre with many more viral remixes and originals. The maestro has been steadily improving his production prowess since the inception of his project. After a multitude of insanely stunning, yet overlooked remixes and singles, he went viral following his remix of Alan Walker’s Alone around two years ago. A short while later, he produced another masterpiece in his remix of Zedd’s Stay, all the while continuing to produce stunning originals. My personal favorite from him, Far From You (w/ Martin Miller ft. Arild Aas) – a track written for his girlfriend – came not very long ago, and since then he has been focusing his energy on more original tunes, including Flashing Lights and You And Me (see below for a full selection).

Most recently in 2019, WildVibes signed his collaboration with Patrick Key and David Shane to Revealed, as a community release on their website. I couldn’t be happier to see Wouter gain further recognition in the broader audience of Hardwell on Air and Revealed.

As you’ll most definitely catch in his interview below, he’s all for sharing the unique progressive house sound which he’s known for, and he recently released an FLP for Progressive House via frequent distributor Eonity. If you’re a budding producer looking to get some tips and tricks from one of the best in the game, make sure to check it out.

The QR Network and I sat down with WildVibes to talk about his approach to music, his dedication to progressive house and also how romance has shaped his productions.

Read the full interview below:

Last we heard, you were enrolled at the prestigious Herman Brood Academy for music production. What do you feel is the biggest influence it has had on you?

Well, I actually quit the Herman Brood Academy last summer. I did not learn as much as I had expected to. Also, the fact that I was producing 24/7, day in and day out, was limiting my inspiration and the quality of my work. Nevertheless, I made so many good friends; sharing the same passion with others is one of the best things in life. Home away from home (from my girlfriend) was one of the hardest things in life I’ve experienced. I translated this experience into a song, called Far From You. Since the summer of 2018, I’ve studying Business and Management at Artevelde University College and I’m really satisfied with my decision. I have so many tracks in progress and I can’t wait to show them all to you!

If there was one producer and one vocalist who you could collaborate with, who would they be and why?

It’s a hard choice because there are so many talented artists out there, but if I had to choose, I would like to work with:

Manse – because of the amount of emotions he can put in 1 track. His sound is super unique as well.

Nicky Romero – although he’s world-known, he’s really down-to-earth and humble.

Magnificence – because of their technical knowledge; their mixing skills are next level.

Third Party – insanely good melodies and atmospheres.

Axwell /\ Ingrosso – nothing to say here; they are just legends.

And as for vocalists, I would really like to work with KARRA or Delaney Jane. They both have such fresh voices which can take your track to the next level.

What do you believe makes your progressive house style so unique?

I think it is the passion for music and life. Every track of mine contains a real life story. I use several elements to build a track. When you hear those elements separately, you will not get goosebumps, but when you combine every single element and make 1 product out of it, you will feel all of the overwhelming emotions.

To create such a story, I always start with a piano. This way I can feel the emotion that needs to be added in the melody. Once I have the melody down, I move on to make a phat synth, using plugins like Serum, Kontakt and Spire. Although this makes for a smooth synth, I really like to add organic sounds to my tracks, as they give the natural, emotional feel that my tracks need. In the breaks, I want to touch people’s hearts, but in the drop, I want them to jump around with joy.

Music makes me so happy – it’s a channel through which I can express all my feelings. Life is so beautiful right now, I have everything I need! I really like to be in an inspiring natural environment. If I’m in the studio, my background is always covered with a nature wallpaper. Adding my feelings into my music is an amazing experience which I do with every track of mine. In fact, one of my dreams is to rent a house in Sweden or Norway together with my girlfriend for 1 month, in the middle of nowhere in a forest during the winter. Listening to some good music while making a fire, eating, sitting close to each other. That’s the best side of life.

What do you think about the progressive house scene and how it’s evolving? Will you continue to produce immune to external influences or will you adapt your sound instead?

To be honest, I can’t predict where progressive house is going to go, but I really like how it’s evolving right now – finally some major labels are signing progressive house again. Personally, I will always produce what I like and I won’t follow any hypes or trends.

When you’re not producing music, what music do you listen to?

I enjoy listening to house – mainly EDX & Nora En Pure. Their music always remind me of the summer with pool parties, Ibiza, having fun and enjoying life.

I also really like Timmy Trumpet’s music, which reminds me of a funny story! My girlfriend Sophie really likes every genre, but she usually listens to pop music. One day, I picked her up from school and I had a few high BPM tracks to ask her opinions on. The first track was Skan & El Speaker – Hustler (feat. Highdiwaan) and we really went so crazy on this track – I didn’t expect it at all. Afterwards, I showed psytrance to her, and tracks from the likes of Armin Van Buuren, Vini Vici, and Timmy Trumpet are now in her personal Spotify playlist!

You’ve noted that Swedish House Mafia’s Tomorrowland set was a turning point which inspired you to create music. Has there been one track in specific, however, which has driven you towards progressive house?

Correct, and the song was Don’t You Worry Child. Every time I hear this track, I get goosebumps. It means so much to me, because this track made me fall in love with Progressive House.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your journey as a producer from a beginner to the stage you’re at now?

As a human being: Be kind and live an amazing life because you only live once.

As a producer: Stay humble, keep working, ask non-producers for feedback, take enough breaks and make the music you like.

Make sure to experience the WildVibes progressive house sound for yourself through my selection of his greatest originals in the playlist below:

I would like to thank The QR Network for their support with this interview, as well as Wouter for lending some of his valuable time to give heartfelt answers to these questions. Make sure you check out The QR Network’s other interviews with the likes of Nino Lucarelli, KAAZE (both of whom worked on my Melodic Masterpiece this week), Herobust, Lucille Croft and more on their website.

The next installment of this series is close to completion and will be posted very soon, stay tuned! If you have any guesses as to who the next artist is, or if you have recommendations as to who I should feature – make sure to drop a mail at info@stagsedm.com.