Afrojack News
11 Years of ‘Payback’ by Steve Angello, Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman
Only right can happen when progressive house kings meet in the studio. 11 years ago, the world was blessed with ‘Payback,’ one of the most emblematic tracks in all history of electronic dance music.
Steve Angello, one third of Swedish House Mafia, and Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman, a legendary name in the progressive house world, united in 2014 to create what became a generational song.
Traveling all over the world, ‘Payback’ provided, and still provides, the soundtrack of sunny festival days and magic nights under the lights. Its unforgettable melody gets crowds going, and still feels fresh as ever, 11 years after its release.
Steve Angello’s iconic lead combined with Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman’s emotional yet powerful aspect, gave birth to a song that shaped the way progressive house evolved.
Although the track has no vocals, it remains perfect and is one of those instrumentals that ascend you to another dimension.
The Story of ‘Payback’
Like other legendary songs, ‘Payback’ has its own backstory. Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman opened about the record in an interview, saying: “We wanted to prove the doubters wrong at that time in our lives. That’s the simple reason behind the name Payback.”
The duo’s wish of proving haters wrong became reality as the track is now their most streamed record, with currently over 55 million streams.
Steve Angello spoke about the collaboration as well, praising the talent of the duo: “They had a great initial idea and I loved the potential of the record! They are super talented and they have loads of great music in the pipelines!”
‘Payback’ Through The Years
Played by big names like Alesso, Martin Garrix and Afrojack on stages at festivals such as EDC, Ultra and Tomorrowland, the track hit the industry and never left, gaining attention from the biggest artists and events.
Over a decade since its release, ‘Payback’ still gets played in many sets, especially at Steve Angello and Swedish House Mafia shows.
It is a staple in the boys’ sets and hits the feels just as it did back in the day. Moreover, its place on festival mainstages remains standing high, with the renaissance of progressive house taking over the globe.
Steve Angello maintained the song relevant in time, producing various mashups, with the most known and appreciated being the one that features vocals of ‘More Than You Know’ by Axwell & Ingrosso.
In 2024, ‘Payback’ received a melodic techno remix by Kevin De Vries and Cassian, although there were mixed feelings from audiences. Some said the classic should not be touched, while others appreciated the artists’ take on ‘Payback.’
Celebrate 11 years of ‘Payback’ by Steve Angello and Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman by streaming the single below.
New EDM Friday May 29 brings new music from Tiësto, Skrillex, David Guetta, Frank Walker, and more.
New EDM Friday May 29 brings together new singles, EPs, album releases, and records made for clubs and festival sets, covering house, bass, techno, and crossover electronic music. From Tiësto and Olivia Sebastianelli with Don’t Lose Your Head to David Guetta and Bebe Rexha with Sad Girls, Skrillex, Frank Walker, Blanke, and Wax Motif, these are the tracks you should not miss on this week’s New EDM Friday.
Tiësto ft. Olivia Sebastianelli – Don’t Lose Your Head
Tiësto teams up with Olivia Sebastianelli on Don’t Lose Your Head, a new single released through Musical Freedom on May 29. The track was first previewed during Tiësto’s EDC Las Vegas 2026 set at circuitGROUNDS, where it arrived as part of his continuing return to trance-rooted production. It also follows Bring Me To Life with FORS and Beautiful Places with Brieanna Grace, both linked to the rollout of his forthcoming album. With its EDC Las Vegas 2026 debut, vocal feature, and placement in Tiësto’s current album cycle, Don’t Lose Your Head gives this week’s New EDM Friday one of its main headline releases.
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – Sad Girls
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha reunite on Sad Girls, marking another release from one of the most commercially successful artist pairings in modern dance music. The collaboration follows previous records including I’m Good (Blue), One In A Million, Family, and David Guetta’s role in Bebe Rexha’s breakthrough hit Hey Mama. Released as part of the rollout for Bebe Rexha’s upcoming album Dirty Blonde, the track continues her recent move back toward dance-focused releases while bringing her together once again with one of the defining names of global EDM. With a partnership that has already produced multiple chart hits across the past decade, Sad Girls arrives as one of the biggest crossover releases on this week’s New EDM Friday.
Frank Walker – OASIS
Frank Walker releases his sophomore album OASIS through Palm Tree Records, the label founded by Kygo in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. Across 12 tracks, the album brings together dance-pop production, songwriting-led collaborations, and a wider emotional focus around freedom, love, escape, and self-discovery. The project includes ARTY, Bryce Vine, VAVO, Josh Ross, Norma Jean Martine, TELYKAST, Steerner, Danielle Bradbery, Ryos, Good Humans, salem ilese, and more, with Remember Us featuring Dustin Lynch serving as the focus track. As his second full-length project, OASIS gives this week’s New EDM Friday a major album release from one of Canada’s leading dance-pop artists.
Blanke – SKYFIRE
Blanke continues the rollout toward his debut album with SKYFIRE, a two-track EP released as the second part of his ongoing album series. The project includes Arsenal and Beautiful Tragedy, with the first track pulling from Blanke’s earlier bass sound and the second moving closer to the melodic dance influences that first brought him into electronic music. The EP also comes during a busy year for Blanke, with direct support dates for REZZ, festival appearances at Ubbi Dubbi, Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge, and Rampage Open Air, alongside continued growth for his drum and bass alias ÆON:MODE. As a compact release tied to a larger album world, SKYFIRE adds a strong bass-focused entry to this week’s New EDM Friday.
MAYETRIX – HOLD ME CLOSE 2 U
MAYETRIX makes his bitbird debut with HOLD ME CLOSE 2 U, his first original release after building early traction through SoundCloud remixes and unofficial flips. The Australian producer, also known as Josh Sytema, has developed a sound connected to hypertrap, dubstep, and Y2K-influenced bass music, with one of his flips reaching Coachella 2026 before he had released an original track. HOLD ME CLOSE 2 U moves the project into a more personal space, pairing soft synths with distorted bass while centering on human connection and the difficulty of expressing appreciation for people close to you. As his first official release and first appearance on bitbird, the track gives this week’s New EDM Friday a strong debut entry from a new name in bass music.
Wax Motif – Bite Down
Wax Motif returns with Bite Down, a new Insomniac Records single arriving after the release of his sophomore album House of Wax II and his EDC Las Vegas 2026 performance. The track keeps his groove-focused house sound at the center, with darker basslines, vocal work, and club-focused drums tying it back to the style he has built across both underground and crossover releases. It also follows a major album cycle that included collaborators such as Ty Dolla $ign, ZHU, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jozzy, Maeta, MC Lan, 24hrs, and GTA. Coming after House of Wax II and early support at EDC Las Vegas 2026, Bite Down gives this week’s New EDM Friday a club-focused release from one of house music’s strongest cross-genre producers.
What So Not ft. Alina Pash – EVEREST
What So Not opens his next project era with EVEREST, the first single from his forthcoming EP I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY. The track reunites him with Alina Pash after Tragic, their collaboration from What So Not and Buunshin’s 2025 EP The Quiet That Hurts, but this release pushes their partnership into a larger trap-focused sound tied to his early electronic roots. Alina Pash brings Ukrainian-language writing into the track, with What So Not describing the original studio session as the first time they created together in Los Angeles. As the first official release from his newly announced EP, EVEREST gives this week’s New EDM Friday a major trap and bass entry from one of Australia’s most influential electronic producers.
R3HAB – Lost in translation…
R3HAB continues the rollout toward his upcoming album with ‘Lost in translation…’, the sixth release tied to the project and another step in the producer’s evolving sound direction. Released through his own CYB3RPVNK label, the track leans into melodic dance production while continuing the balance between club-focused energy and crossover songwriting that has defined much of R3HAB’s recent catalog.
Act of Rage and Last Word – Bloodrush
Afrojack presents: Kapuchon – Secret Moves
Basement Jaxx – Jump N’ Shout (Gorgon City Remix)
Borgore, Smokey, Hekler – SMACK!
Boris Brejcha, Chemutai Sage – Alicante
Brennan Heart – Free Your Mind
Curbi – Talk Dirty
Deborah De Luca, Marie Vaunt – Lalala
Dyro – The Light
EDX – Equinox
Elderbrook – Is It Over Now?
Galantis – Stay Alive
Hugel, Flagrant Drvms, Barbara Doza – Ron Y Coco
Jonas Blue – Girl
Josh Le Tissier, 2ACES – Like Home
Kryder – Ascension
MADDS, Dainjaa – Chasing Bodies
Merow & Julia Kleijn – Dopamine
Mike Candys – Backrooms (EP)
MUST DIE! – Speakerbox
Ofenbach, Starsailor – Four to the Floor
Pnau, Raleigh Zan – Crash
Robin S, Francis Mercier – Show Me Love (Devotion)
Sander Van Doorn, BLR – Touching Myself
Showtek presents: SHOWTEKNO – Dimensions (EP)
Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Raluka, Kes Kross – Coffee Shop
Ultra Europe 2026 Drops Phase 2 Lineup with Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, DJ Snake and more confirmed for Split this July
Ultra Europe 2026 has dropped its Phase 2 lineup, adding more names to its return to Split, Croatia from July 10 to 12, 2026 at Park Mladeži. Now heading into its 12th edition, the festival’s latest announcement brings in Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, DJ Snake, AFROJACK, and Subtronics, joining a Phase 1 lineup that already included Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, FISHER, John Summit, and Amelie Lens. The update gives the 2026 edition a much fuller look across the Ultra Main Stage and RESISTANCE, while keeping more names saved for the next announcement.
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Phase 2 Adds Trance, Big-Room, Bass, Techno and House to Ultra Europe 2026
The Ultra Europe 2026 Phase 2 lineup strengthens both sides of the festival. The new additions bring more mainstage names into the July weekend, while RESISTANCE also gets a heavier presence through techno and house bookings. With Phase 1 already led by names such as Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, FISHER, John Summit, and Amelie Lens, this second announcement gives the 2026 edition a fuller lineup across its main festival stages.
Phase 2 additions:
- Adam Beyer
- AFROJACK
- Armin van Buuren
- CamelPhat
- DJ Snake
- Hardwell
- Jamie Jones
- Nico Moreno
- Oliver Heldens
- Subtronics
- HALO
- Maddix
Subtronics Stands Out Among Returning Ultra Europe Regulars
While several Phase 2 additions are familiar names for Ultra Europe, Subtronics still gives the 2026 announcement one of its more interesting talking points. He played Ultra Europe 2024, appearing on the same day as AFROJACK and DJ Snake, so his 2026 booking is not a debut. What makes it worth noting is the context around the booking. Ultra Europe has long been associated with mainstage EDM, house, techno, and its RESISTANCE programming, while large-scale bass bookings have not been as constant in the festival’s Croatia lineup. Bringing Subtronics back after 2024 keeps that part of the lineup visible and gives the July weekend a different pull next to the festival’s more established returning names.
For many of the other additions, Ultra Europe 2026 reads as a return to artists with a longer history in Split. Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, AFROJACK, and DJ Snake have all appeared at past editions, while Adam Beyer, CamelPhat, Jamie Jones, and Oliver Heldens have also been part of previous Ultra Europe lineups in recent years. That matters because Phase 2 is not relying only on newness. It brings back names already tied to the festival’s mainstage and RESISTANCE identity, then places Subtronics inside that structure as one of the less typical bookings for the Croatia edition. For a lineup that already had Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, FISHER, John Summit, and Amelie Lens in Phase 1, this second announcement makes the 2026 edition feel more complete without giving away the full final lineup yet.
Ultra Europe 2026 Still Has More Names To Come Before July
With Phase 2 now out, Ultra Europe 2026 has a much clearer outline, but the lineup is still not complete. The festival has already confirmed a strong mix of mainstage names, RESISTANCE artists, and newer additions across the first two announcements, while the poster also confirms that Phase 3 is still on the way. That next update will likely help fill out the remaining stage programming, daily structure, and support acts as the festival moves closer to its July return to Split.
For now, the 2026 edition already has enough confirmed names to show how Ultra Europe is building its 12th edition. Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, DJ Snake, Amelie Lens, Sara Landry, Adam Beyer, FISHER, John Summit, and Subtronics give the lineup both familiar Ultra names and bookings that widen the festival’s appeal. More artists are still expected to be announced before Ultra Europe 2026 takes over Park Mladeži from July 10 to 12, with tickets and updates available through the festival’s official channels.
Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 Confirmed Artists So Far include Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix, Afrojack, and more
As we gear up for the historic debut of Tomorrowland Thailand from December 11 to 13, 2026, the first confirmed artists are already setting the frame for one of Asia’s most closely watched festival debuts. Ahead of the complete lineup announcement, Tomorrowland has shared an early group of confirmed names for the Thailand edition, including Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Lost Frequencies, NERVO, and Dimitri Vegas. Unlike the usual Tomorrowland lineup reveal, where the full artist list is released alongside stage hosts and wider festival details, the Thailand confirmations have been shared through separate official moments. Axwell mentioned the Swedish House Mafia appearance during a One World Radio interview, while other names were introduced through Tomorrowland and Tomorrowland Thailand posts, giving the debut edition a more gradual artist reveal before the full lineup is published.
Swedish House Mafia Are Set For Their First Thailand Show As A Trio
Among the first Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 confirmed artists, Swedish House Mafia carries the clearest headline value because the December booking would bring Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Steve Angello to Thailand together under the Swedish House Mafia name for the first time. All three members have played in the country across separate appearances, and Axwell Λ Ingrosso previously performed in Thailand as a duo, but the trio has never performed here together as Swedish House Mafia. That gives the confirmation more local context for Thai audiences who have followed the members’ individual and duo appearances over the years. The confirmation came through a conversational exchange on One World Radio, when the host asked Axwell where the group was going next in the Tomorrowland world. Axwell first pointed to Asia, then narrowed it down to Thailand, saying, “I think it might be somewhere in the Asian regions. Uh more like Thailand actually,” before adding, “We’re going to be there in December.” When the host asked if that meant Tomorrowland Thailand, Axwell replied, “Yeah. Yeah. That’s the thing.” The host then repeated the point back for clarity, saying Swedish House Mafia’s next stop in the Tomorrowland world would be Tomorrowland Thailand, with Axwell later adding that he had seen Wisdom Valley, loves going to Thailand, loves Tomorrowland, and said, “So let’s mix the two.”
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NERVO Announced Their Tomorrowland Thailand Set On The Tomorrowland Winter MainStage
NERVO were one of the first names confirmed for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026, with the announcement made during their Tomorrowland Winter MainStage set instead of through a standard lineup graphic. Mim Nervo set up the reveal by telling the crowd that “there’s something new happening” before she and Liv Nervo turned around to show the message printed across their shirts: “She Is Playing At Tomorrowland Thailand.” The moment was later shared by Tomorrowland Thailand as the first artist reveal for the 2026 line-up, placing NERVO in the earliest group of artists confirmed for the festival’s debut edition from December 11 to 13, 2026. Their booking also connects the Thailand launch to Tomorrowland’s wider history, since NERVO have been regular names across the festival’s stages over the years and were part of The Way We See The World, the 2011 Tomorrowland anthem with Afrojack and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.
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Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Were Confirmed After A Tomorrowland Winter Stage Moment
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike were confirmed for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 after another Tomorrowland Winter stage reveal, this time during Dimitri Vegas’ set. Although Dimitri Vegas was the one performing in the clip, the announcement pointed to the duo’s Thailand booking, with the message “See You In Thailand” appearing near the decks as he gestured toward it. The follow-up post from Tomorrowland Thailand then confirmed Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike for the 2026 edition, placing them among the first names announced for the festival’s debut in December. Their place on the early list makes sense given how closely they are tied to Tomorrowland, where they have been staple MainStage names for years and have helped carry the festival’s big-room identity across multiple editions. The next detail to watch is whether Smash The House will also appear in the stage host program when Tomorrowland Thailand releases the complete lineup and stage host details.
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Lost Frequencies Was Confirmed Through A Tomorrowland Winter Travel Guide Reveal
Lost Frequencies was confirmed as one of the first Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 confirmed artists through a Tomorrowland Winter reveal centered on a Thailand travel guide. The moment pointed directly to the Belgian artist’s next Tomorrowland destination, with the later Tomorrowland Thailand post confirming that he will perform at the festival’s debut edition from December 11 to 13, 2026. His place in the early artist list carries a strong connection to the festival’s Belgian roots, as Lost Frequencies has become one of the country’s most internationally recognized electronic acts while remaining a regular name across Tomorrowland over the years. His previous Tomorrowland Belgium MainStage sets have often brought out the more melodic, vocal-led side of the festival, from crossover records to singalong moments that translate well beyond the EDM core. For Tomorrowland Thailand, that history gives his booking a familiar link to the main festival in Boom, and it leaves a lot of anticipation around how that same Lost Frequencies magic will translate to Wisdom Valley in December.
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Afrojack Was Confirmed Through A Tomorrowland Thailand Studio Intro Reveal
Afrojack was confirmed for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 through a studio-based reveal, marking a different type of announcement from the earlier Tomorrowland Winter moments. In the clip, the Dutch producer was shown working on an intro before the camera revealed the project name saved as Tomorrowland Thailand intro v1, turning the studio session into the confirmation. His place among the first Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 confirmed artists fits closely with the festival’s history, as Afrojack has been a staple name at Tomorrowland for years and remains one of the most recognizable Dutch artists connected to its MainStage sound. The confirmation also links back to several early names already announced for Thailand, including NERVO and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, with all three connected through The Way We See The World, the 2011 Tomorrowland theme. For the Thailand debut, Afrojack’s reveal adds another long-running Tomorrowland figure to the list while raising interest around whether the intro he was working on will be used for his own set or for a wider festival moment in December.
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Martin Garrix Was Confirmed Through A Bangkok Tuk-Tuk Reveal
Martin Garrix was one of the next major names confirmed for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026, with his announcement moving the rollout from Tomorrowland Winter moments to Bangkok itself. The reveal showed Martin Garrix inside a tuk-tuk in Bangkok, with the Tomorrowland Reflection of Love stage visible on his shirt, tying the announcement directly to Thailand and to one of Tomorrowland’s most recognizable stage concepts. His confirmation gives the debut edition another artist closely connected to Tomorrowland’s modern MainStage history, from repeated appearances in Boom to festival moments that have made tracks like High On Life, Pizza, and Scared To Be Lonely part of the wider Tomorrowland catalog for many listeners. For Tomorrowland Thailand, his Bangkok reveal also feels like the strongest local visual so far, because it places the announcement inside the city instead of using a clue from another festival setting.
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Alok Was Confirmed Through A Hotel-Room Teaser Featuring Pad Krapow
Alok was confirmed for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 through a hotel-room teaser that used a Thai food order as the reveal setup. In the clip, he is seen making music in his hotel room before ordering pad krapow, with the order leading to the Tomorrowland Thailand confirmation. The reveal placed Alok among the early names announced for the festival’s December 2026 debut, following the same artist-by-artist rollout that has already introduced names through stage moments, visual clues, and Thailand-specific teasers. His early confirmation also fits Tomorrowland’s wider lineup direction, since Alok has played major Tomorrowland editions before and remains one of Brazil’s most recognizable electronic artists on the global festival circuit. The next detail to watch is where Alok will be placed once Tomorrowland Thailand releases the full stage breakdown and stage host details.
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What To Watch For Next In The Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 Lineup
With the first Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 confirmed artists now revealed, the next major piece is how the full lineup will be arranged across the festival’s stage structure. Tomorrowland Thailand has already confirmed six stages for its debut edition, including the Mainstage, CORE, and Freedom, while the remaining stages have not been announced yet. That makes the next update important because it should show whether Thailand follows a familiar Tomorrowland structure with major MainStage names, label-linked stage hosts, and deeper programming across CORE and Freedom, or whether the debut edition introduces more Thailand-specific stage concepts alongside the global festival brands.
That also opens the door for more speculation around frequent Tomorrowland artists without treating anyone as confirmed. Names like Armin van Buuren, Alesso, Hardwell, Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet, Don Diablo, Meduza, MORTEN, Tale Of Us, Anyma, Adriatique, Agents Of Time, Solomun, and Keinemusik are the kinds of acts people will naturally watch for because they have appeared across major Tomorrowland editions or fit the confirmed stage worlds of Mainstage, Freedom, and CORE. For now, the early announcements show that Tomorrowland Thailand is starting with artists strongly connected to the festival’s history, but the full lineup and stage host reveal will be where the December debut at Wisdom Valley becomes much easier to understand.
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