Afrojack News
Inked Beats: Tony Junior on Music, Tattoos and Reality TV
In this candid and riveting interview, Dutch DJ and producer Tony Junior takes us on his incredible journey from a rock music teenager to becoming one of the biggest names in EDM and the Hardstyle scene.
We dive deep into how Tony’s passion for electronic music was ignited after discovering the raw power and energy of hardstyle. He opens up about making the transition from playing in rock bands to immersing himself in EDM production and performing at the biggest festivals like Tomorrowland, Defqon.1, and more.
I want to start off first, can you tell us a little bit about who you are, where you’re from and what it is that you do.
All right. This is always fun to do. I think it’s always very hard to talk about myself, but my name is Tony. Born and raised in Holland, in Utrecht. I’ve been a drummer. I was always in music. That was my only option in life, I guess. I started playing in bands when I was like 10 years old. I made a switch from being a drummer to making electronic dance music in, let’s say, 2011, 12.
And I’m 34 right now and living life with music.
Do you have an earliest memory that really drew you into music? Or how did you become a drummer? You just picked up some drumsticks and started banging around in the house?
The thing is my father was a famous drummer here in Holland in a Dutch band. It was called Het Goede Doel. And for me, it was super logical that I would play the drums like my dad, because I was like one year old and my mom would hold me and had a small drum kit for me, and I was already playing and fooling around with it. So, the moment I had conscience, I knew I’m going to be a drummer. It’s the only thing I like.
It was like Pokémon and playing the drums. That was my whole youth and after a couple of years in school, I quit high school when I was 12 years old. So, everyone saw like, all right, this kid needs to be doing what he wants to do, not like doing mathematics or history class, whatever. He’s good to go.
How did you go from playing rock music to becoming a DJ? What did that transition look like for you?
That was, to be honest, one of the most important moments in my life because that flipped it all around. I had this pop rock band. I played for almost eight to nine years and that started when I was like 10. So those guys were like 10 years older, but they were my best friends. So, for years and years, we did a lot of shows.
We recorded albums and EPs and when I was around 21 years old, that band split up. We got into a musical fight and we were never able to fix that. So suddenly one night, I lost my best friends and my reason to wake up in the morning because my life was playing the drums with my band and making new songs and just hanging around and being together. And then one day it was just simply, boom, it was gone.
So, then I got super addicted to playing Call of Duty. I played Call of Duty for one year, like almost professional. I played 12 hours a day and suddenly I came to like realization when I went to my first house party in Utrecht here. It was a show with Sunnery James, Ryan Marciano, Leroy Styles and Melvin Reese. And I was like, holy s***, this is what I’m going to do. I’m going to sell the Xboxes and I’m going to make music on my own because I cannot have fights with band members and have issues about money.
It’s going to be around me and I can decide everything. So that moment, like when my band split up and that year doing nothing, changed my life until now.
Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano are kind of Big Room House, mainstream EDM, you would say. Did you decide to take that route first? What made you decide on that specific subgenre of music?
I’m going to feel like almost old with saying this, but in the time, I started, it was a little simpler. EDM wasn’t a term yet. It was just House music.
Everything was house music. And you had like, you had Trance, you had Hardstyle and Hardcore, but like Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano or those guys, but you also had like the Swedish House Mafia. They were just House. My first party was the party where they played a lot of Latin House. And that got me. But within a couple of months, I became a big fan of the Swedish House Mafia and Avicii. Back then it was Progressive House and that was like what we call Big Room-ish now. So, like the old Swedish House Mafia and Avicii stuff.
You had Latin House, you had like the Dutch House, so the old Afrojack stuff. I felt the most connection with Latin House and normal House first. So, I just started producing that because that’s what I heard and had a party with. I was like, I’m going to make this music. That’s what I love. And later, like months of producing and locking myself into the studio, I started to love Big Room House as well. From 2015, I became a Big Room EDM DJ. It’s interesting, the evolution of the genres.
Would you define your music then at the time as Latin house, or would you just say a default?
No, the Latin House, that was a time that I produced a lot of music, but it never was good enough to release. So, when I started making electronic music in 2011 or 2010, 11-ish, I locked myself up in the studio literally for three years, doing nothing, no drinking. I never did drugs and not going out, just making music, music, music. In those three years, I accidentally scored like a number one hit here in Holland. I made like a remix of an old Dutch song from the 30s, and that became a number one hit.
Suddenly I was all over the radio and people and clubs were booking me, and they didn’t even know what I was. Was I a dancing act? Was I a DJ? Was I whatever, a live act? So, the Latin House was something I liked to play during those shows. I produced, but after a couple of years when my music evolved, it got good enough, and I got signed to Spinnin’ Records.
But before that, I had like random releases on random labels, and I was super f******g happy that I got a release. So Latin House, it’s definitely rooted in my electronic music taste. But I didn’t make it a lot that came out so that the public could hear it. That makes sense.
How did you discover hardstyle? Have you always like hardstyle? How did you go to kind of what the music you’re doing now?
Like for me, I never say I’m Hardstyle. I always say the Harder Styles because I’m not Hardstyle. I make it, but I can do like a Hard Techno song as well. But I always flirted during my sets with the Harder Styles and Hardstyle.
If you look back to my old releases, like Immortal or Nobody Beats the F*****g Drum, those are kind of old school Hardstyle songs, but just 20 BPM lower. So, and during my sets, I played the last 20, 30 minutes was Hardstyle because I love to play it. And sometimes I made like a bootleg or, but I never like said in my career, okay, it’s going to 130 BPM to 150 BPM.
And that’s what happened now. So, I always was busy with Hardstyle already. Like when I started, you had like, you had House music and like Latin House, Minimal House, Tech House. You had Techno, you had Dubstep, Jungle, whatever, Trance. And now everything is so blended that Techno is almost early Hardstyle.
So, it’s coming so close, like music wise. So early old Hardcore is almost Techno from now, you know? So, in the Techno scene, all the credible people are playing show Tech songs. So, it’s a super interesting time.
And that’s why I never said I am this, or I am EDM or I am whatever. And what happened a couple of years ago was what we call EDM. I never put myself into like I am EDM or I am Hardstyle or whatever. So, I just like put it up 20 BPM around 150. And a couple of weeks ago, I did an Uptempo song with a friend of mine called Rosbeek. I’m doing some harder Techno songs and I make what I like to play. And that’s the thing. I don’t want to be credible Hardstyle like Headhunterz or Brennan Hart or Wildstylez. I just like the music and when people like it, I’m a happy man. And when people don’t like it, I’m a happy man as well.
When you’re talking about haters, how do you respond to hate online? And how do you respond to those people? How would you respond to those kinds of haters?
If you don’t have haters, you’re not doing a good job. The more people who hate you, there’s also people that love your stuff and I was on television in Holland a lot. That’s like a side thing that started a couple of years ago that I didn’t even want, but they just asked me for like television programs and asked me for The Bachelor and Exhibition Robinson. So, I’m experienced when it comes to getting hate on social media, because when you do something on TV, let’s say you give a rose in The Bachelor to a girl that the whole world doesn’t want you to give it, everyone’s going to hate on you.
And with music, it’s interesting because my music is my baby. I spend time making them, producing them, playing them. So that hurts a little bit more.
The people that hate will listen to your music as well, probably. I don’t really care. And genre-wise, for example, in the Hardstyle industry, they are very protective about their genre. And I get that, because I was on a podcast a couple of months ago, and I spoke with a lot of people, because there were people that thought I would enter the Hardstyle industry and wanted to be credible. And people think of that like, no, f*** off. It’s our industry.
But I get why they are that protective because they feel like it’s their genre. It’s like 10 years ago, they were like maybe outsiders loving to rave with Hardstyle or Hardcore. And they think that people didn’t like those sub-genres or people that went to hard sell festivals.
So, they’re like if you didn’t like us back then, don’t like us now. Don’t touch us. So, they’re protective and I respect that a lot. So, I understand that they maybe can hate on me, because I’m making songs with like Brandon Hart or Coone, or Da Tweekaz. But there’s a lot of people that like Hardstyle as well.
And they’re like, oh, I like the song, whoever the f*** it is. And you see that with a lot of genres, I think people are always scared that it goes too commercial and it isn’t cool anymore to like a kind of genre, I guess. It goes too mainstream. So, I’m super cool and super chill with that. That’s why I never say I am Hardstyle. I am Harder Styles.
F****g love it or hate it. I don’t care.
This interview was originally published on the Drop Bass Not Bombs podcast and an excerpt has been transcribed for this article
EDM Festivals in September 2025 are guaranteed to keep the momentum rolling as summer transitions into fall.
From legendary brands making global moves to underground takeovers and bass-heavy spectacles, here’s your guide to the top EDM festivals you won’t want to miss this September.
Tomorrowland x Insomniac
Dates: Aug 29 – Oct 18 (majority of shows in September)
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Two titans of dance music, Tomorrowland and Insomniac, join forces inside Las Vegas’ cutting-edge Sphere for a once-in-a-lifetime set of shows. Expect immersive visuals, boundary-pushing production, and a lineup featuring DJ Snake, Alan Walker, Subtronics, and more. This historic collaboration sets a new benchmark for festival experiences.
Ultra Japan
Dates: September 13–14
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Ultra returns to Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park with its signature brand of high-energy stages, global superstars, and local talent. The 2025 edition brings Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Calvin Harris, DJ Snake, and more alongside Asia’s rising EDM acts. With Japan’s passionate crowds and futuristic setting, Ultra Japan is always a standout.
Experts Only
Dates: September 20–21
Location: New York City, USA
With the record label going from strength to strength, John Sumit‘s Experts Only brand is now expanding with it’s very first festival. Taking place in the heart of NYC, the debut will see a headline performance from John Summit himself along with Kaskade b2b Cassian, Pete Tong, Green Velvet b2b Layton Giordani, and more.
Lost Lands
Dates: September 19-21
Location: Legend Valley, Ohio, USA
Excision’s bass music mecca is back, bringing the dinosaurs, the pyro, and enough sub-bass to shake the earth. Lost Lands 2025 promises the heaviest dubstep, riddim, and drum & bass lineups of the year with sets from Acraze, SVDDEN DEATH, Rezz, and of course, Excision himself. Expect massive production, late-night sound camps, and a community vibe like no other.
Together Festival
Dates: September 5–6
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
One of Southeast Asia’s biggest EDM gatherings, Together Festival takes over Bangkok with a mix of mainstage giants and regional talent. Past editions have hosted Martin Garrix, Zedd, and Marshmello, with 2025 inviting Afrojack, Paul Van Dyk, Sub Zero Project, Topic, and more.
PRIMER Music Festival
Dates: September 6–7
Location: Athens, Greece
Set against the backdrop of the historic Greek capital, PRIMER has quickly become a must-stop on the European circuit. Known for blending top-tier headliners with a Mediterranean vibe, this year’s edition welcomes Armin van Buuren, ARTBAT, Purple Disco Machine, and more.
Beonix
Dates: September 19–21
Location: Limassol, Cyprus
On the shores of the Mediterranean, Beonix brings a mix of house, techno, and progressive sounds to Cyprus. With stages designed around art and immersive visuals, the festival creates a sleek balance of music, design, and seaside relaxation. Artists like Armin van Buuren, Roger Sanchez, and Boris Brejcha are expected.
Caprices Festival
Dates: September 19-21
Location: Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Caprices is set high in the Swiss Alps with panoramic mountain views. This boutique festival draws house and techno purists for intimate sets from the scene’s best. Think Franky Rizardo, Loco Dice, and Cassy paired with breathtaking alpine backdrops.
Nocturnal Wonderland
Dates: September 13-14
Location: Southern California, USA
As North America’s longest-running rave, Nocturnal Wonderland continues to enchant with colorful art, glowing lights, and a diverse lineup across drum & bass, house, trance, and bass. Hosted by Insomniac, the festival mixes nostalgia with cutting-edge production for a true rave wonderland.
CRSSD Festival
Dates: September 27–28
Location: San Diego, USA
Held at San Diego’s Waterfront Park, CRSSD has become the West Coast’s premier house and techno festival. With its oceanfront skyline views, palm trees, and craft food and cocktails, the vibe is unmatched. The 2025 edition is set to feature Purple Disco Machine, John Summit, Jamie Jones b2b Adam Ten, and more.
From the futuristic Sphere in Vegas to the alpine peaks of Switzerland, September offers some of the most diverse EDM festivals of the year. Whether you’re chasing underground grooves, mainstage anthems, or bass-heavy madness, the month is stacked with choices around the globe.
Sporty-O is once again breaking down the barriers between genres with the release of his thumping new EP ‘Symphonic Resistance.’
His music has been going viral with it being featured in over half a million videos on TikTok and amassing over a billion views through those videos. After releasing the amazing ‘Blue Lights’ to tease what was to come, he’s now unveiled the full force of ‘Symphonic Resistance.’
The EP kicks off strong with Sporty-O injecting his mix of hip hop and EDM into possibly the world’s most powerful chant, the haka. The track has a very tribal feel from the chant and the fantastic percussion, topped off with some super heavy synths. ‘Bumble Bee’ keeps the powerful synths coming and takes on a style reminiscent of some classic DJ Snake which is always a welcome sound to hear. Kicking on into track 3, ‘You A B***h’, Sporty-O really lets loose with a drop that hits like a train thanks to his excellent use of dynamics. Rounding off the EP is ‘Blue Lights’ which offers a shift in energy with a slightly calmer feel that still pumps out tonnes of dancefloor energy.
Sporty-O’s past productions have wracked up plenty of accolades for him with his tracks getting support from the likes of Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, and many more. Also, his discography has ventured across several major labels including Virgin Music, Jungle Cakes, and Zone Records. All this success has earned him spots on some of the biggest stages in the world from Tomorrowland to Ultra Music Festival. It’s a repertoire that is truly mind-blowing and is one that is sure to continue expanding with the release of ‘Symphonic Resistance.’
Sporty-O said of the EP: “Symphonic Resistance is a musical celebration of melodies, harmonies and concepts that effortlessly & colourfully dance outside of the norm while encouraging the listener to embrace creative & artistic freedom in every aspect of life — because you only live once. Why live that life like everybody else!”
Sporty-O takes inspiration from all the right places on this EP with a sound similar to that of the legendary Jauz. However, the EP is no mere replica of others work as Sporty-O’s unique style shines through, and he continues to impress with his production skills.
You can follow Sporty-O on his socials below:
Airbeat One has grown vastly since its debut in 2002 and this year for its 22nd edition they pulled no punches.
250 DJs, over 225 hours of music, 200,000 visitors from over 50 countries, and countless unforgettable moments. The numbers only tell part of the story so here’s some of the many reasons you should be adding Airbeat One to your festival season for 2026.
The Stages
The amount of time and effort that goes into building stages is monumental and Airbeat One puts everything into creating jaw-dropping, vibrant, massive stages. The mainstage is a whopping 180 meters wide and 45 meters high. Changing its design every year according to the theme, the mainstage evolves from edition to edition. Words cannot describe the spectacle that is their mainstage, and it doesn’t stop there. Every stage boasts a unique style that catches your eye and boggles the mind from this years entrancing butterfly stage to the harder stage taking on the shape of a bulls head.
The Lineup
Afrojack, Maddix, Oliver Heldens, Steve Aoki, Vini Vici, Alok, Amelie Lens, Armin Van Buuren, Hardwell, Lucas & Steve, Timmy Trumpet, Dimitri Vegas, and Sebastian Ingrosso. All of these world-renowned artists took to the stage this year as part of the 250 DJ lineup. The pull that Airbeat One has for some of the best artists in the world is astonishing and makes for 3 days and 4 nights packed to the brim with talent. While it’s certainly a more techno and hardstyle centric festival, there’s still a diverse platter of genres to be heard to keep everyone entertained. In one visit you can tick off a whole lot of artists from your bucket list.
Pyro/lighting
Seeing pyro and fireworks at the end of the day at a festival is a lovely site. But what if there was more. A lot more. Airbeat One is full throttle all day with their visuals as even opening artists get pyro. Instead of fireworks only happening at the end of the day, they put on a show for hours with fireworks and pyro going off throughout DJ sets. This makes every set an astonishing spectacle that keeps on giving and giving. The flames go even further than just the stages though as on the arches over the walkways you’ll find more fire lighting your way to the next stage. For miles around you can see the sky being lit up by the array of lasers and other FX lights which are truly dazzling. Rounding off this years edition of Airbeat One there was an intense 15-minute firework show followed by Armin Van Buuren which is one hell of a way to end a festival.
The Themes
While a lot of festivals look fairly similar year on year, Airbeat One changes its look drastically each year to suit the theme. Every year they take on the theme of a different country with past editions celebrating the cultures of India, England, America, and this year Spain. The mainstages design is based around famous buildings from the country that’s acting as the theme as well as the other stages following the theme. The whole site is decorated to fully immerse you in the culture offering a fresh look every year. 2026 will see Airbeat One transform Neustadt-Glewe into a Dutch landscape with The Netherlands taking over the theme.
Site Design/Care For Festival Goers
The site, its design, and all the stalls make sure to cover you for everything you need in any kind of weather. They offer plenty of spaces with shade from the sun, shelter from the rain, and places where you can rest your legs. Comfy seating and hammocks can be found around the site which gives you the opportunity to take that much needed 10 minutes to recover before heading straight back into the crowd. In the event of rain there’s lots of solid paths around the site allowing you to get around without sinking into the mud. You’re also covered on the hearing protection front with plenty of stalls around the site where you can acquire ear plugs. Along with this you can enjoy a diverse selection of food with there being plenty of different food stalls to take your pallet on a journey around the world. All these things add up to make the festival experience a delight even when you’re away from the stages.
It has been another barnstormer of a year for Airbeat One as they have further solidified themselves as one of the best festivals in the world. It’s a sensory delight everywhere you go and it’s continuing to evolve with constant improvements being made every year. The festival will be taking place from July 8th – July 12th 2026 with The Netherlands as its theme. Make sure your calendar is clear.
You can learn more about Airbeat One through their socials below:
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