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Showtek giving up hardstyle?
In a recent article in the Australian magazine 3D World, Showtek gave an interview publicizing their upcoming Australian tour, during which they mentioned “We’re not going to stay a hardstyle act.”
Woah, what?
So, maybe it isn’t as dramatic as it seems, they add: “We are really working on our own sound and I think we’ve already accomplished a lot. Tiesto, for example, is not a trance DJ – but his music sounds a bit trancy. He’s just a brand nowadays, and, with Showtek, it’s actually the same”. They follow it up with “We are not going to make house or trance. We are going to develop our sound even more – tracks like Electronic Stereophonic is really our stuff. You’ll see”.
So how did we get here? Firstly, it’s not surprising that Showtek are breaking away from hardstyle. Showtek have always been a strange brand, an outsider, a Dutch duo far more embraced worldwide than in their homeland. The most recognizable and arguably the most successful hardstyle act ever, yet they do not garner the respect amongst the hardstyle faithful that other legendary artists do. Their sound is one of the few to break free from the constraints of hardstyle, one of the few hardstyle brands recognizable in pop culture.
And their split from hardstyle has been further facilitated recently with Showtek deciding to split with the Platinum booking agency to form their own booking agency to handle them and other Dutch Master Works artists, after a rumored falling out with Platinum refusing to book them at a certain hardstyle festival (for those who don’t know: Platinum booking agency handles most big names in hardstyle, and Q-Dance almost exclusively books through Platinum, leading to allegations of corruption, shady dealing and anti-competitive practices).
Showtek are one of the few hardstyle acts who have the crowd pulling ability to do this (as they effectively waved goodbye to ever playing at a Q-Dance event again), and they have an unashamedly popular, worldwide sound. No massive name in hardstyle could afford to not be booked at Q-Dance parties; but Showtek are not trying to be a massive hardstyle name, they are trying to be a massive name full stop.
So what will this Showtek actually sound like, if it isn’t hardstyle? Obviously their recent album is a good indicator, especially the track “Electronic Stereophonic”, of which I have never seen a producer beat off to their own track as much as showtek have with this one, mentioning it in almost every interview since the album came out.
Ultimately, it seems like a more accessible sound, without as much of the “distorted and aggressive sounds” that accompany most hardstyle, to use Walt’s words. Think a softer “hard dance” sound that blends genres, coming from a hardstyle direction but containing elements from different genres like rock, trance, house and pop. It’s still undeniably Showtek, with their sound almost instantly recognizable from their productions. In fact, it’s really a sound that is just more Showtek, and less hardstyle, to sum it up.
And so, we see this positioning makes sense in a wider view of Showtek trying to really forge their own place, their own niche in the hard dance scene – not limited by any genre expectations, producing whatever they want, playing at what parties they like, globetrotting worldwide. Analogue players in a digital world, anyone?
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9 COMMENTS
First of all, showtek is indeed a failure to create hardstyle nowadays and thats a fact. Their kicks are soft and they are getting worse in producing. In reality, they are becoming weak compare with the upcoming hardstyle producers and the current hardstyle producers. Well, now they are just pretending to say that they want to give up hardstyle and create their own sound.
what the fuck is that?
Just because they are getting weak in Netherlands, the motherland of hardstyle and now talking bull shit? LOL!
Don’t make the world laugh at you, showtek.
you guys are getting weak and fucking noob these days
good luck
you motherfucker.you showtek win 4 awards.at hard dance awards,and you say about showtek that they are weak,bull shit.the people from NED,are hungry ,because they are not a part from platinum now,they have the courage,to leave them,platinum who are some sclaves for hhz and tby
you motherfucker.you showtek win 4 awards.at hard dance awards,and you say about showtek that they are weak,bull shit.the people from NED,are hungry ,because they are not a part from platinum now,they have the courage,to leave them,platinum who are some sclaves for hhz and tby,and platinum now,has fired the best mc,mc ruffian,i dont know for what reason,but,the q-dance festivals dont be so good ,without ruffian and showtek
Lamisch reaction indeed. Showtek are weak producers? You do not understand the technics behind producing when you make a remark like that.
Weak kicks? Don’t make me laugh. Tracks like Electonic Stereophonic has huge kicks, with a lot of sub-bass. Which works like a bomb on good sound installations.
I can’t wait till they make more tracks like ES. Great sound, very innovative!
Showtek are rotten. They produce softstyle. Only track I have like from them recently is We Speak Music.
And Peter, Ruffian was fired for getting in a number of fights at an event and for battering his girl. I would dis-own him for that so good on Q-Dance.
Sure he’s a good MC and Defqon.1 won’t be the same, but that’s the price to pay for having morals.
I personal like the new album that Showtek released… It’s a lot more creative and fresh that what Headhunterz, Wildstylez or any Hardstyle producers have produced. I doubt that Showtek is becoming “weaker” all there events are usually soldout.
While Headhunterz and other hardstyle producers lack the ability to make a good song… None of there songs have a meaning to it like Showtek does. For example compare “The World is mine” to [Project One] Headhunterz + Wildstylez “Best of both world”.
Which brings me to my other point… Headhunterz does not create a “unique” sound… EXAMPLE: “Rock civilization” … the introduction before the melody is taken from Pendulum – Slam and the Melody is basically Scooter – “Jumping all over the world” with some notes changed.
IMO Showtek is the best Hardstyle producer by far and they have a new unique sound that will make them more popular then anyone.
SHOWTEKIS THE FUKKN BOMBFOR ALL OF U HATERZ,,SO FUKKN STOP HATING
Hardstyle is getting more and more commercialized, that is a fact.
I think some artists will not obey to the nu style culture and choose continuously to make old fashioned hardstyle, while others follow the trend and make commercial hardstyle because it has more listeners.
The thing about Showtek, that they are going to save the world with their “unique sound” is bullshit in my opinion. I RATHER think it is pretty much all about money. They do not only follow their “passion” for music, they make music that has a wide audience, because there are more money in it, and nothing wrong with that, I just don’t think they are THAT special, however, indeed they have a very commercial sound. I my mind Showtek ARE the symbol of commercial hardstyle, like Tiesto is of his genres, I don’t exactly know what they are. trance, electro house???
some of the newer tracks he has produced is pop music isn’t it?
O wow, they are world famous and have one awards.. doesn’t mean I have to like their music.. Jesus, they aren’t gods now just because they won some awards for their ‘new’ style. I preferred their older tracks far more and now they get famous with soft stuff? Perhaps because hardstyle has gone mainstream!
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