From: The Netherlands
DJ style: Hardstyle
Best known for: “My produced music/ own style.”
Fave tune of 2018: “‘Legends Never Die (Wildstylez Remix)’.”
Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2018: “Sound Rush.”

Dutchman Joran Metekohy has had a busy year by anyone’s standards. He’s managed to spend plenty of it in the studio and has collaborated with fellow hardstyle giants like Hardwell (sort of) and Headhunterz, and also remixed tracks for W&W, Vini Vici, Armin van Buuren and more.

“My style is constantly evolving and I’ve combined forces with big artists from other dance genres to explore boundaries,” he says. “The best examples of this are my Chakra and Great Spirit remixes, and ‘Shine A Light’ with Hardwell.” The latter has been a big hit, with more than five millions streams clocked up in quick time.

Although he says that the constant travelling (again this year all across Asia, America and Europe) takes its toll, he says he still gets a thrill from exploring “new countries, events and communities”.

He also found time to start his own new label, Art Of Creation, with Headhunterz, and debuted Project One — a new collaborative show with the same artist — at ADE. One of the singles, ‘Children Of The Drums’ soon got one million streams and proves the label has already connected DJs and dancers alike.

Words: KRISTAN CARYL