From: Netherlands
DJ style: “Progressive house.”
Best known for: “‘Toulouse’, ‘I Could Be The One’.”
Fave tune of 2018: “‘Be Somebody’, my collaboration with Steve Aoki & Kiiara.”
Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2018: “I love how incredibly talented Ookay is. We hung out during rehearsals in LA and he plays so many instruments live. He’s incredible.”

He might still be baby-faced, but Nicky Romero has now been touring the globe for more than a decade. This year the Dutchman has been trying to push himself further than ever, while at the same time staying true to the fundamentals of what got him where he is today.

“I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with many talented artists across genres this year and I plan to continue doing so in 2019,” says the man who worked with ROZES on ‘Where Would We Be’, Spyder on ‘PRTCL’ and also remixed Steve Aoki’s ‘Lie To Me’ in 2018.

“I’ve found a lot of joy returning to progressive house,” he continues. “Going into the studio and pulling up old projects or sounds I haven’t explored recently has been really exciting and reminds me why I love producing and performing.” Romero has previously admitted to having suffered burnout owing to his jam-packed touring schedule and recognises that losing Avicii was a tough moment for him this year. “He was a dear friend, collaborator and an inspiration. I don’t think we’ll see anyone like him again.”

Words: KRISTAN CARYL

Nicky Romero has been hitting all the big notes this year across multiple touch-points. He’s been touring the festival main stages around the world as part of the Ultra Worldwide events, as well as holding down a residency both in Ibiza at Amnesia and in Las Vegas at the Wynn.  

“This range of different shows gives me the chance to play a lot of different material, at clubs and festivals alike, and I love to be able to promote new talent as well as play my own records,” Nicky tells DJ Mag. “It’s also been exciting to celebrate five years of Protocol Recordings this year — the new talent coming through via my inbox has been incredible. I’m looking forward to seeing these artists develop.”

Words: ANGUS THOMAS PATERSON

For Nicky Romero, 2015 was another typically hectic year. Playing at all the biggest festivals across the world, including Ultra Miami, Europe and Japan, at EDC Las Vegas and Tomorrowland in Brazil and Belgium, the DJ/producer still found time to drop the first installment in his new ‘Lighthouse’ trilogy of productions.

Nicky also knuckled down to get his Protocol label bubbling more than ever before.

“We’ve got some seriously great talent on our roster,” he says, “and we had our 50^th release at the beginning of the summer. We’re also taking our Protocol nights around the world, and they’re always great fun. I’m so proud of everything that is coming out there.”