Afrojack is putting in the work to prepare for his biggest performance of the year on Saturday.
After the pandemic resulted in the cancellation of 18 months of his headlining shows at European and US dance music festivals and residencies, the Dutchman – real name Nick van de Wall – has been making a steady comeback before he takes the decks at Soundstorm, formerly known as MDLBeast, the mammoth four-day EDM spectacular in Riyadh beginning on Thursday.
These included a run of well-received club dates in North America, followed by a private UAE show last weekend at the Global Citizen Forum in Ras Al Khaimah.
So how does it feel to be back on the road after the enforced absence?
“I was scared as hell at the beginning,” he tells The National. “My first shows were in the US and it was after a year a half and you do ask yourself things like ‘Do the people still love my music?’
“I remember hopping online and seeing how people were responding to techno in these small parties so I started to over-prepare things and by the time I went on stage, I played a techno song first, followed by a house track and then my own material and they responded to that the most. So after that, I just went back to my own set and it went well.”
A star boost
The temporary dip in confidence aside, Afrojack echoes many peers in describing the unintended career benefits of the pandemic.
“It did give me the break I never knew I needed,” he says.
“For the past 12 years, my life has been a non-stop roller coaster and I never really thought about what am I going to do after. I am 34 years [old] now and it made me think where I am going to be when I am 44.”
That newfound reflection resulted in Afrojack taking a keener focus in his label, Wall Recordings, and forging stronger ties with MDLBeast, the Saudi music company behind Soundstorm and fledgling in-house dance music label MDLBeast Records.
Both interests were combined on To the Floor, the lead single from MDLBeast Records’ first official release, the compilation album Soundstorm, Volume 1.
A vibrant house music remake of the 2010 hip-hop hit No Hands by rappers Waka Flocka Flame and Roscoe Dash, the track is a collaboration with Black V Neck, a Miami duo signed to Afrojack’s label.
“They only came on to my radar because they were recommended by the team at MDLBeast,” he says of Black V Neck.
“You can tell that the team over there in Saudi is so passionate about what they are doing. They have the enthusiasm and the heart and I wanted to give them a shot to get the label off the crowd.”
The relationship stems from Afrojack’s keen interest in the growing Saudi dance music scene, which he witnessed first-hand with a pair of 2019 shows in Jeddah and the inaugural Soundstorm festival.
It’s all about the fans
As someone who also spearheaded EDM’s entry into China five years ago, Afrojack is familiar with the kind of excitement and hunger EDM lovers have in an emerging market.
So his advice for fellow superstar DJs making their debut in the kingdom as part of Soundstorm, which includes British techno pioneer Carl Cox and Dutch trance music star Armin Van Buuren, is to take it easy and create a memorable, feel-good set.
“It will be amazing but you do have to guide the crowd a little bit because they are not used to being able to just walk out of the door and party. So you really have to adjust your set-list to give everyone a first-time experience,” he says.
“There is no need for complicated remixes. As a DJ, you have to realise that many fans are getting to see you for the first time in their home country, so you really want to play the classics and the hits.”
Afrojack performs at Soundstorm on December 18. The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday, December 16 to 19 in a purpose-built location in Banban, Riyadh. Tickets are from Saudi riyals 399 ($106), which includes a shuttle bus from various locations in Riyadh, and go up to Saudi riyals 8,999. Doors open from 3pm. More information is available at mdlbeast.com
Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from MDLBeast in 2019:
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EResults%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHong%20Kong%2052-5%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESouth%20Korea%2055-5%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EMalaysia%206-70%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3EUAE%2036-32%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2021%2C%207.30pm%20kick-off%3A%20UAE%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EAt%20The%20Sevens%2C%20Dubai%20(admission%20is%20free).%3Cbr%3ESaturday%3A%20Hong%20Kong%20v%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
if you go
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
