BEING BOLD

1. RAINE: What is one or more examples in how you have embraced your bold?

Starting my own two-hour weekly radio show back in 2001 was pretty bold, I guess. Back then, a lot of my fellow DJs said I was crazy for doing a two-hour radio show just about trance music every week! Now those DJs have their own radio shows too… But I never suspected that it would have such an impact on my career as a DJ and producer too. The radio show became the center of everything I did and still is to this day. I share all my new tracks and news in my show and use it as a platform to communicate with my fans.

Also, starting Armada back in 2003 was pretty bold since at that time, a lot of labels were quitting because of illegal downloads due to services like Napster. Maykel, my business partner, already saw that change was coming and now with streaming, the music market seems to be on the up again!

FAILURE / OBSTACLES

2. RAINE: What was the most challenging moment that you had to overcome in your entrepreneurial or creative career?

In 2010, I was voted #1 DJ in the world for the fourth time but I felt so unhappy because of the pressure I put on myself. I wanted to please every single fan but I couldn’t because there would always be someone criticizing my work. It was hard to deal with that. I went to see a coach and read a lot of books about being creative. I took some time off and it went a lot better then.

WELLNESS / MIND. BODY. SOUL

3. RAINE: How would you define balance and what are some hacks that you use to maintain balance in your life?

Balance for me is finding the perfect amount of time between family life, being on the road and being creative. I have a great team of people around me that help me with this balance. I simply can’t plan everything by myself. It’s a day-to-day struggle to be honest, because there are only 24 hours in a day and there’s always something I want to do but can’t because of the lack of time. I made a few decisions in my life to make sure that the most important things in my life still happen, like sports for example. Having a personal trainer motivates me a lot to keep active in the gym and to look after my health.

FINANCE / FUNDING

4. RAINE: What is some advice you can give in funding a creative career or business?

Recently I’ve seen a lot of artists using kickstarter to fund their albums and projects. But I think you don’t need a lot of money to start your musical career. A simple laptop with a good DAW like FL Studio or Ableton Live can get you really far. In fact, buying a lot of gear and plugins won’t make your music better. It’s all about the ideas you have and put into music. Then, when your product is finished, find a good A&R to help you develop your music and promote it, and find ways to reach your potential fans.

MINDSET

5. RAINE: What comes to mind when you hear the words “an athletic mindset” when it comes to creative entrepreneurship?

If your goal is to DJ all around the world on several festivals and in clubs, you need to be some sort of athlete to survive the lifestyle of planes, jetlags and hotels. It’s very important to look after your body, it’s your temple! Your diet becomes very important too. You can recover faster if you eat healthy, especially when you grow older.

YOUR WHY

6. RAINE: What is your “Why?” Why have you chosen to pursue this path?

Music has always been my passion, bigger than just a hobby or something I like. I feel the need to share the music I make with the people that are open to it. When you get in that “bubble” with your fans, it’s the greatest feeling ever. It has nothing to do with just success or money or fame. That connection you can feel with a crowd is so powerful and ultimately the only reason why I do what I do.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

7. RAINE: What are you most excited about regarding an upcoming project?

Promoting and touring with my ‘Balance’ album is something truly special because this album is so different than the previous 6 I produced. It’s a new venture into known and unknown territories, like for example producing a hardstyle track or a downtempo one. It’s not the sound I’m known for, but it excites me and I can’t wait to translate it to a stage and audience.

THE “AHA” MOMENT

8. RAINE: When was your “aha” moment in discovering this was the path you wanted to pursue?

After my first ever gig in U.K. on February 5, 2001 in Cream in Liverpool. I remember the crowd was so hyped up and I never witnessed anything like that. It was the same day my track ‘Communication’ came out on a big U.K. label so people all of a sudden knew my name and wanted to come and hear my music.

LIFE PIVOTS

9. RAINE: What was a major life pivot that you have experienced and how did you successfully navigate it?

I guess the birth of my kids. All of a sudden, they became the most important thing in my life, other than touring and making music. It’s actually strange how I became more productive in the studio since then. When they are at school, I have time to be productive and I don’t waste time anymore. I’m just creative because I have only some many hours before they come home. My wife plays a very important part in this too. She manages three kids in the house: Fenna, Remy and me!

MEMORIES

10. RAINE: What life experience impacted you the most and how did it change you or your course in life?

The birth of my daughter was like an earthquake. All of a sudden, I wasn’t the center of attention anymore. It was about her! I began to see what’s really important in life and it made me change my outlook on life in general.

BELIEFS / MANTRAS

11. RAINE: What would be considered by others as the “whackiest” belief or superstition that you have had as it relates to your path to success?

I always keep a spare USB in my left pocket in case one of the USBs fails in the players I’m playing with on stage. It’s strange because I already have three on stage so I don’t really need it. But I’m a backup guy. I lost too many songs and projects due to failing hard drives. But the amount of backups I make may be a little too much.

WORDS OF WISDOM

12. RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with others on a similar journey?

Don’t be a prisoner of your own style.