Longevity depends on evolution.
In 1994, Tijs Verwest donned his pseudonym: Tiësto. Today, the DJ and dance music producer is a GRAMMY® Award-winning, platinum-certified, international icon.
He is the only artist to ever hold the titles of “The Greatest DJ of All Time” courtesy of Mixmag, “#1 DJ” according to Rolling Stone, and “The Godfather of EDM” as proclaimed by Billboard. After making history in 2004 as the first DJ to open the Olympic Games, he remains a sought after headliner everywhere from Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra, to Tomorrowland. From his high-profile residency at Hakkasan to his crossover success, Tiësto created the blueprint that defines what it means to be a success in today’s dance music world.
Despite his sonic evolution, he says he has never lost his connection with the crowd. “I grew up being a real DJ, so I have the ability to feel the audience reacting to what I’m playing. I can grab them and take them on a journey. That’s why I’ve been around for so long.”
Tiësto has ushered dance music into one new era after another. He began as an originator of the genre known as “trance,” but bringing an entire genre into the global spotlight wasn’t enough. His music evolved from Progressive House to more club-centric hits, and now to an exciting new blend of radio-ready dance music. Along the way, he scored a platinum single in the US with “Wasted” [feat. Matthew Koma] as “Red Lights” went gold. Beyond sales achievements, he garnered a Grammy® for the Best Remixed Recording for his rework of John Legend’s “All Of Me” in 2015. Fellow legends such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, and Kanye West continue to tap him for remixes as well.
Tiësto as a bona fide tastemaker cannot be disputed. His influence has informed the very DNA of a whole generation of rising DJs and producers with many counting him among their biggest inspirations. Musical Freedom, one of his two record labels, helped launch the careers of superstars including Martin Garrix and Oliver Heldens. Through clubs across the world he remains a mainstay. His popular CLUBLIFE compilation series boasts five volumes to date, while his radio show of the same name reaches an audience of over 41 million listeners across 353 stations in 77 countries every week. Established brands including T-Mobile, Budweiser, and 7UP continue to partner with Tiësto because they recognize his status in the electronic music world.
Despite decades of success, Tiësto never stops pushing forward. Instead, he takes risks, while preserving the sonic backbone that made him a legend.
2018 is no exception for Tiësto. Venturing into uncharted waters again, he kicked off the year by teaming up with Atlanta trap royalty and hip-hop superstar, Gucci Mane, and artist/producer duo, Sevenn, for a rework of his legendary club banger, “BOOM.” On its heels, he is releasing the up-tempo, future-smash “Jackie Chan” with Post Malone, Dzeko, and Preme.
For as much as he is a legend, he is as current as ever. In the end, Tiësto’s next evolution may very well be his biggest, boldest, and best yet.