Not yet a household name in the U.S., MaRLo (Marlo Hoogstraten: Dutch by birth, Australian by residence) is sure to soon find his way onto nearly every playlist of savvy electronic music lovers.
In fact, acolytes of that addictive EDM imprint, Armada Music, have long been fans of his signature tech-house melodies that resonate especially well with hardcore trance fans. Today, MaRLo is considered the #1 trance DJ/producer in Australia. This year saw MaRLo’s noticeably increased presence in the U.S., as attested to by his gig calendar.
From Ushuaïa, Ibiza and Tomorrowland, Belgium to Creamfields, UK and Ultra Music Festival, Miami, this rock star shows more than promise as both a dynamic mixer of varying EDM genres and progressive sounds and as a producer who possesses the undeniable aptitude for feeling a crowd’s energy—building on it all the way to the end of his electrifying sets. The KnockTurnal tracked down MaRLo to hear from the man himself how he plans to conquer and innovate EDM in the not so distant future, one magical set at a time.
Your career is really taking off in the U.S., this past year especially! To what do you attribute this?
MaRLo: I hope my music and performances! I’ve had the opportunity to play some incredible shows like Ultra [Music Festival] Miami, Exchange in LA., Bliss in Seattle, and many, many more great clubs and festivals too. I think that the U.S. audience is very passionate and supportive. I absolutely love playing in the U.S.
You play a dark, blistering kind of trance. Would you even call your style trance? How has trance evolved over the past five years?
MaRLo: I never pre-plan my sets, and just kind of adjust my music to the vibe of the crowd. At BKWRHS I played a later set-time in a hot sweaty warehouse, so I felt like a darker set suited the vibe best. I always just try and play what I would like to hear if I were in the audience, and this changes from whether you are playing a pool party, festival or indeed a warehouse in Brooklyn. Of course, I always still play a lot of my own tunes.
What’s next for trance music? Where do you think the capital of trance innovation is if you had to name one clubbing capital?
MaRLo: No idea what’s next! I don’t think about that sort of stuff at all. I just focus on what I enjoy to play and make, not what other people are doing. There’s no such thing as a clubbing capital with the Internet. Everyone around the world can listen and watch the same sets and follow their favorite artists. Some cities have bigger populations and more venues, but bigger doesn’t always mean better. I’ve played some incredible parties in small clubs with great vibes.
Tell us about the EDM scene in Australia. How has it (or has it) influenced you?
MaRLo: The music scene in Australia is super-strong. Australians love to party and they really know their music. I’ve actually just done my own stadium shows called ‘Altitude’ in Australia where I did a four-hour set and had live vocals from Emma Hewitt, Christina Novelli, Emma Chatt and Chloe. This is a big pinnacle moment in my career and I’m really hoping to take the Altitude concept worldwide next year.
What was a highlight from your summer circuit?
MaRLo: It’s always hard to pick just one because gigs are all special and unique in their own way, but my Altitude stadium shows were for sure a big highlight! A ton of work went into those shows production and planning-wise and I’m energized to do more…
What’s next in terms of your creative process?
MaRLo: Well, a lot of my focus has been on my Altitude shows, and of course also on producing new music. I’m so excited about what the next year will bring, and I can’t wait to come back to the U.S. soon!
MaRLo is set to perform Stateside at Dreamstate in San Bernardino, CA, on November 26, 2016.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/marlomusic
