New York, NY (Top40 Charts) At first you barely hear it.
Almost imperceptible, like a faint heartbeat under thundering drums and relentless rhythms. But you know it's there. You can feel it. Then suddenly, two of the most recognisable notes in dance music history burst through in all their brilliance, demanding that a new generation of fans lose their sh*t on the dance floor.
The track in question is Tiësto's seminal masterpiece 'Traffic', the rework is by Techno star DIØN, and what's about to drop is a hard dance cover for the absolute ages.
DIØN spoke about the significance the original single holds for him: "It was one of my first encounters with (electronic music). When I was really young my dad would pick me and my brother up from my grandmother who was watching us after school when my parents had to work. My dad always had this Tiësto CD playing in his car with this track 'Traffic' on it, and we would listen to it almost every time he picked us up. I never could have imagined that I would be doing a rework for this track."
When it came to the production, DIØN knew how vital it was to walk the line between authenticity to both the original version, and his own, trademark style. "For me Tiësto is a real legend and this is my favourite track of his. I had to make something that would stick close to the original sound but also a track that I could play in my sets and have my own elements in it like signature drums and acid. My sold-out 10-hour set in Thuishaven in June was the first time I played it out and it went absolutely crazy, I saw the hole crowd just living in the moment of it, especially in the long and uplifting break. I'm very happy how it turned out."
Weaving unforgiving ripsaw synths, depth-charged basslines, hardcore percussion and squelching, rave-style FX around Tiësto's iconic two-note riff like some sort of musical tornado, DIØN takes the original BPM and throws it out of the window without apology. His cover lands firmly in the heart of the hard dance arena, making it entirely appropriate that the track has just been named the official anthem for the Verknipt ArenA 2024 show in Amsterdam this summer, released on Verknipt Records.
DIØN's association with Verknipt has grown since the celebrated Dutch event gave their ADE stage to the youngster back in 2021. Delivering an explosive set that made the establishment sit up and pay attention, DIØN is now an integral part of the Verknipt family, headlining for them at shows around the world as they expand their global reach.
"DIØN's rework of Tiësto's 'Traffic' is a testament to his deep respect for electronic music history and his innovative approach to hard techno," said Verknipt founder Mer Hajbarati. "By blending the iconic elements of the original with his signature hard-hitting style, DIØN has crafted a track that's both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. This cover captures the essence of what the mission of Verknipt Records stands for - to champion the hard dance genres by providing an immersive platform for emerging and established artists. Our relationship with DIØN goes way back and we've grown together over the years, that's why we can't wait for him to play this track at the ArenA show, especially since it's the anthem of the event."
One of the most in-demand names in Hard Dance and Techno, DIØN courts support from some the genres' biggest superstars, including Amelie Lens, Sara Landry, and Fatima Hajji. His ROUGH MATERIAL label showcase at legendary Dutch venue Paradiso earlier this year sold out in a matter of minutes, and in June he bought the proverbial house down with an epic, monstrous, 10 hour set at Thuishaven. As he prepares to unleash his take on Traffic at arguably the biggest hard dance event of all time, it's safe to say he's cemented his seat at the A-list table.
DIØN - it's a hard new world.
DIØN 'TRAFFIC' is out on July 5th 2024 via Verknipt Records.
DIØN IS UNSTOPPABLE WITH 'TRAFFIC'
One of the hottest properties in Hard Dance, DIØN's career launched in 2020 with landmark single 'Public Enemies' via Autektone. In 2022 he set up his Rough Material imprint, now the only place to find his releases, including the four-track Rough Material EP, the Ketting collab 'Make My P*ssy Rave', the 2024 'Hard Rework' of 'Public Enemies', and original single 'Moments That Matter', each release accompanied by a custom fashion line hand-designed by DIØN. Blending early 90s rave with synths, rough kicks and his signature drum sound, DIØN counts support from Amelie Lens, Fatima Hajji and Sara Landry, the latter getting in the studio with DIØN, as has
Oliver Heldens, and Funk Tribu. On the tour circuit, from his explosive breakout set at VERKNIPT 2021 to his sold-out 2024 Rough Material showcase event at Amsterdam's Paradis, DIØN has carved a fearsome reputation. A certified Dutch headliner and now increasingly overseas, DIØN's tour diary is stacked, with an incredible 150+ dates in 2023 alone. With major new music to release and an increasingly global tour diary 2024 will take DIØN from bright young thing to a guaranteed A-lister.
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