In this exclusive interview, we’re catching up with DJ’s From Mars as they unveil the secrets behind their latest release, “Loneliness” featuring the collaboration with superstar DJ and producer Hardwell, and Tomcraft.
Get ready to experience the rebirth of a dance music classic! Dutch superstar Hardwell, the enigmatic spacefaring Italian duo, and the legendary producer Tomcraft have come together to reimagine Tomcraft’s iconic 2002 hit, ‘Loneliness.’ Released via NITRON, the electronic imprint of Sony Music Germany, on November 3rd, this nostalgic musical journey brings three dance music legends together to breathe new life into a timeless classic.
We had an exclusive talk with them, to discover more about this release.
Hi guys, how are you today and which country are you right now?
Hey! All good, we’re in studio right now, ready to start for a tour in USA next week!
Can you tell us how the collaboration with Hardwell and Tomcraft for “Loneliness” came about, and what inspired this unique partnership?
We met Tomcraft some years ago at a Festival and we discussed about possible collaborations. After some years, we came out with this demo of “Loneliness” since we thought it was really perfect for this moment, techno is coming back strong! So we sent the demo to Hardwell cause we felt it was really matching with his new sound, and he loved it! So he worked on the final version and it was amazing! We’re really happy with the result, everything was really easy and smooth!
“Loneliness” is a blend of different musical styles. How did you manage to combine your signature sound with Hardwell and Tomcraft’s styles to create a cohesive track?
It’s really a mixture of styles! We wanted to keep the original vibe by Tomcraft, but we wanted to add our electro touch. The lead synths, the bass, all those elements that we always love to use in our productions. And then, Hardwell added his master touch on the final version, he’s definitely one of the best producers on Earth, his sound quality is so powerful but clean and defined, we love how he was able to make it sound. So it was really a team work, but keeping the original vibe alive, cause we all love the original, so it doesn’t sound like a patchwork
What was the creative process like when producing “Loneliness”? Were there any specific challenges you encountered during the production?
Actually everything was really easy. Tomcraft was really nice to give us the permission to use the original parts of his song. We worked on the demo in a couple of weeks, we tested it in our sets and it sounded really good. Then the final version by Hardwell was literally perfect! So we didn’t have to face different points of view, everyone was reallyhappy at every step of the production process. That happens when the main idea is good, you don’t need to overproduce cause the main thing is already there.
Could you talk about the role of technology and software in the production of “Loneliness”? Are there any favorite tools or techniques you used for this track?
Basically Serum is the instrument that we used for almost every synth sound. The bass, the lead synth, the pads, it’s all Serum. We used to produce with a lot of different VST instruments but lately we found out that Serum is basically all we need, it’s the best and most versatile instrument at the moment. Of course we also used some audio samples, all the drums are brand new. We were lucky to use the original vocals so we didn’t have to work too much on vocal processing since it was already perfect and we didn’t want to change the original vibe. That’s what we did for the first demo. Then Hardwell worked on it and we don’t know his “secret weapons” but the final mix is really incredible!
Let’s talk more about you guys. Have you been using the helmets since day 1? Do you believe it had a positive impact in your career?
Actually it started as a joke, at the beginning the meaning of the helmets was being “anonymous”. Fun fact, it turned out to be the most recognizable thing! That happened really randomly but since the first small shows we played in our hometown, in small clubs, we saw people curious about this box thing, they wanted to take photos with us, so we understood it was a good idea. Plus, nobody knows who we are when we arrive at the clubs so this is also a good thing. And we can play when we are 60 years old without looking old, haha!
What advice would you give to up-and-coming DJs and producers who are just starting out in the industry?
The most important thing is being unique. Today, there are millions of djs out there, everyone trying to be the next David Guetta or Martin Garrix. But if you copy their style, you’ll be exactly that: a copy. Being different is crucial, now everyone can be a dj with a cheap laptop and a free Soundcloud account, so the only thing that will make you recognizable is having your own unique signature style.
What is your favourite social media platform for connecting with your fans?
Mainly Instagram. It’s perfect for us, we can share contents, music, everyday life, everything. We’re trying to improve our TikTok contents but it’s a bit different, you need to be funny or make some dance moves, and we’re not really into that, we prefer focusing on music production, so Instagram is just perfect for us at the moment.
I want to ask 1 non-music related question, with you being on the road so much, you get to taste so many unique foods. Where is your favourite food from?
Good question, but we are from Italy! So we love to taste different international dishes, we love Japanese food, we always enjoy some tapas when we are in Spain, we love German beers and French wine……but when we come back home, nothing can beat a good homemade pasta!!
Finally… Can you share any future projects or collaborations we can look forward to from DJ’s From Mars, especially those with a unique twist like “Loneliness”?
Yes we’ll release a new collab at the end of the month (but still can’t say with who), then we’ll work on our usual “Best Of 2023” Mega-mashup in December. And then we’ll work on new music for 2024, so stay tuned!!
This ‘Loneliness’2023 version promises to be a seamless blend of Hardwell’s trademark mainstage sound, DJ’s From Mars’ mash-up, electro energy, and Tomcraft, the original mastermind behind ‘Loneliness’, high-octane grooves.
Download/Stream: https://nitron.lnk.to/loneliness
Follow Hardwell: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Follow DJ’s From Mars: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Follow Tomcraft: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
ON/OFF: Hardwell, Tomcraft, New Release, Interview, EDM Music
