Four years ago, Hardwell did the unthinkable.
Ranked No 4 on the DJ Mag Top 100 list in 2018 and the headliner of major dance music festivals, the Dutch spinner and producer announced he was going on an indefinite hiatus.
While the move was unprecedented for a DJ of his fame and calibre, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
That year, 2018, the dance music world plunged into mourning over the death of Avicii, the Swedish DJ who took his own life in Muscat, Oman.
His physical and mental struggles were documented in the unflinching documentary Avicii: True Stories and his death triggered some much-needed industry discussion surrounding the welfare of DJs in the intense and competitive dance music world.
For Hardwell, who by then aged 30 and 16 years into his career, it was time to give his mind and body the rest it craved.
In an exclusive interview with The National, he describes his return to regular performances from March as being as refreshing as it is calibrated.
"I now really enjoy being on the road and I have put a limit on myself of doing a maximum of 40 shows a year, because it then gives me time to work in the studio and spend time with family and friends,” he says.
“I really feel that I am enjoying the most of life and that makes me a happier person and I think people see that on stage."
A much-needed conversation
This is a far cry from the preceding years, when the sheer adrenalin of the shows couldn’t offset the increasing weariness of constant travel and more than 100 shows in 12 months.
Hardwell understands how the glamorous life many DJs portray online makes such complaints sound hollow.
"That is the point in that we do need to talk about this without people thinking that we are bragging," he says.
"Listen, people know that I appreciate everything I have in my life and I love what I do, but when you get to a certain point that you are so tired that you are not looking forward to the next tour, that you don't want to make music in the studio any more, then this is the biggest sign of burnout.
“When I reached that moment, I realised that I do need the break."
The benefits had a revitalised Hardwell drop his superb new album Rebels Never Die in September and perform a ferocious set at Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm festival in December.
Hardwell now wants to help seasoned and aspiring DJs find their own sense of balance.
In December, he appeared in a provocative session on mental health as part of the XP Music Futures conference in Riyadh.
The remixer and record producer says such discussions are needed to inspire the wider dance music industry to build an effective framework and initiatives to tackle mental health experienced by artists, who are predominantly young.
"There is no right guidance when it comes to DJs. For example, if you are a professional sportsman you have a whole team looking after your health.
“Even for [non-EDM] singers, they get to go on tour and come back and take time off to work on their album," Hardwell says.
"For some reason, we DJs are working to our limit. There is pressure to play the shows, do social media, make music, prepare the DJ sets and now with many DJs having their own radio show, that has to be done too.
“The workload is crazy and you have to ask if this is the way that we need to do it because it is like working five full-time jobs at the same time.”
Help among friends
Hardwell disagrees with the idea DJs should unionise to demand better work conditions.
Effective change, he says, begins when sectors of the industry forego the zero-sum attitude pervasive within the scene.
"It is hard to demand something like this and I don't think it is to be done through an organisation but from the DJs themselves," he says.
"It is just not necessary to do 200 shows a year. You can be good with doing 30 shows a year, because that can make you financially stable and give you more time to work on your music and be with your family.
“Now I know at the beginning all these shows seem fun because you work so hard to achieve them.
“Ten gigs become 40 gigs a month and you just want to go and play everywhere because you are living your dream.
“But then, after two years of this, you realise you are tired and it's not so fun. We need managers and booking agencies to be more aware of the physical and mental health of the artists."
In the meantime, while we hope the EDM scene eventually dances to a different tune when it comes to mental health, Hardwell — real name Robbert van de Corput — is content to build his career to his own rhythm.
His re-entry to the DJ Mag Top 100 at 43rd place this year is a far cry from his No 1 position in 2013, but he truly sounds on top of it all.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
NINE WINLESS GAMES
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (Oct 30, EFL)
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Nov 6, Europa)
Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)
Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
