Thom Jongkind and Idir Makhlaf, aka Blasterjaxx, met during a workout, but not the kind that happens on a dancefloor.

“We actually met at the gym,” says Thom. The Dutch house DJs were already working individually as producers when they met but then, says Thom, they “clicked” and Thom decided to invite Idir to start making music with him as Blasterjaxx (the same name as Thom’s label) in 2012.

That same year, they put out their ‘Reborn EP’, a collaboration with Latin house producer D-Rashid, which was promptly snapped-up by Laidback Luke for his Mixmash label.

This year, the pair joined forces with Hardwell — who they call “a huge inspiration” — when he did an edit of their trouse track ‘Fifteen’.

As DJs their finest moment this year, they say, was their gig at the Ultra festival in Miami. During their set they played their remix of Tiësto’s ‘United’, a rework they’d collaborated with the Dutch DJing star on. It was, they say, the tune of the festival. And, says Idir, it was a dream realised too.  “Tiësto inspired us both when we were young producers,” he says. “Working with him is as good as it’s got so far.”