For anyone in the Australian hardstyle scene there has scarcely been a moment, more proud than seeing our very own Dillytek take it from level to level.
Those boys have really done us proud, and following multiple track and studio sessions between them and Frontliner, a new Defqon.1 anthem was born.
The anthem has had mixed reviews. Some love it, and some hate it, but why?
It’s a very well-engineered track, when played the crowd go insane, we’re well used to having MCs at our events, It features a unique and solid reverse bass, a hard and crunchy kick, a motivational speech, and was produced by engineers we have so much time for. Most cite the work of 360 as their key concern.
Enter 360 – if you don’t know him, where have you been hiding? With well over 700k fans on his Facebook, the Australian Hip-Hop vocalist has been building momentum with his work for over a decade.
He’s a quadruple platinum-selling artist, and has even sported a spot on the front cover of Rolling Stones magazine (an honor bestowed on very few). He could arguably be one of the biggest rappers these Australian shores have ever seen. So what was it about his performance that didn’t gel with some?
Hardstyle fans are unique in musical tastes, a large percentage of us shy away from commercial radio, and in many ways we live in a bubble filled only with Hardstyle. It’s easy to miss trends and artists who don’t feature in our direct line of sight.
For 360, performing in the hardstyle scene was like going from being a mega star, to being a stranger. When you walk into a room with swagger and no-one knows who you are, you’re likely to raise a few eyebrows.
There was a collective though – Who is this and why are we being invaded by gold chain toting hip-hop artist?
The person aside. It’s been asked by so many, does pop centric rap belong with hardstyle? Is it too commercial, are we toting a line that really doesn’t work? It’s a legitimate call because let’s face it, it’s not something you usually hear in hardstyle tracks.
Have we been missing a potential goldmine, or has it been missed for a reason? Let’s call it an acquired taste – like the vegemite (marmite) of the music world.
Time to take a step back, hardstyle in all its musical gorgeousness is a scene that was founded on principles of unity and respect amongst others. We’re fallible humans and even a scene that is as accepting as ours can be guilty of the “you’re not from around here” mentality.
We’re drawn to hardstyle because we’re misfits from the commercial world. If you’re not one of us, who are you?
I have to admit, I didn’t like it at first but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. I have a feeling there will be lots in the scene that will feel the same. There is only one recommendation – give it another play, close your eyes and imagine this on huge speakers that have fireworks shooting out of them.
Now. Tell me what you think?