2019 has been another big year for Bassjackers. If their debut album title is anything to go by, you might say 2019 has been ‘The Biggest’ year for Marlon Flohr and Ralph van Hilst. Set for release in November, the album sums up just why they’ve been voted by fans consistently into the poll year on year since 2015; it’s full of straight-up, no-nonsense big room bangers with no excursions into the saccharin pop trap that many of their peers fall into. Their recent release, ‘Primal’ with Dr Funk, is proof of the high-octane EDM theatrics the album will bring. 

The secret to this, we reckon, is Flohr and Hilst’s unique dynamic. The former represents their DJ side, the latter is happiest deep in the studio. The pair complement each other and mean both sides of the Bassjackers operations are firing at all times in all the right spaces — whether that’s some of the biggest mainstream festivals imaginable or consistently denting the Beatport big room top 10, these guys have it covered. Big. 

Do you submit your DJ setlists to the relevant royalties collecting society?

“We think our management does that.” 

What more can we do to combat the mental health crisis in our scene?

“Listen to your body, know your limits and take a step back when you need to.” 

Are you personally doing anything to improve the gender balance of line-ups?

“Well, we once participated in a TV show that was in search of the next female DJ. So yes!” 

What changes have you made this year to be more environmentally friendly?

“There is a brand new Tesla standing in the driveway of our house/studio that is self-sustained by solar panels.” 

What was your favourite toy when you were a kid?

“SNES [Super Nintendo Entertainment System].” 

What’s your guilty pleasure?

“Temptation Island.” 

From: Netherlands
DJ style: “Big room.”
Best known for: “Energetic music and sets.” 
Fave tune of 2018: “Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs Julian Banks and Bassjackers feat. Snoop Dogg ‘The Bounce’.” 
Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2018: “Belgium’s D’Angello & Francis.”

The appearance of big room botherers Bassjackers in this year’s Top 100 DJs is not at all surprising given the year they’ve had, not to mention all the work they’ve been putting in to make their shows are extra-special. “We worked extra-hard on making our sets even more well-balanced,” Marlon Flohr and Ralph van Hilst explain from their base in the Netherlands. “There’s new visuals and we wanted to make interactivity and energy work hand in hand to create an awesome, all-round experience.”

One of the first times their new show was performed was at Tomorrowland, where the popular duo used a headline main stage appearance to debut a raft of new tracks and collaborations. These included a slew of cuts created alongside regular studio partners Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, as well as a hook-up with the one and only Snoop Dogg. They say we’ll be able to grab those soon, with a swathe of singles and a new album scheduled for release in the months ahead.

Words: MATT ANNISS

Nearly 20 tracks and remixes released, headlining huge festivals and sell out gigs across the world — fair to say 2017 has been pretty large for the Dutch duo. Oh, and there was the small matter of appearing in one of the biggest games of all time. “Our track was featured in the video game ‘Destiny’. This made playing the game even more special,” the Bassjackers tell DJ Mag. 

The highlight of their live season was playing the mainstage of Tomorrowland — “the cherry on the top”, says one-half of the duo, Ralph Van Hilst — but they were busy in the studio as well, creating their ‘Signed By Bassjackers’ music production series, “in which we gave away our project files and released a studio session online where we explained what we did and why,” says the other half of the duo, Marlon Flohr. Invaluable to any fans of their big room sound.

And 2018 plans? “We already have releases lined up deep into 2018 — which include our collabs with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike — that have been making waves on the internet for quite some time now.” News to our ears! 

2015 has been a sensational year for fun-loving Dutch duo, Bassjackers. They've toured the globe, released Beatport number ones and even indulged in philanthropy; the duo support The Zoëzo Foundation who help children suffering with Leukaemia.

Music-wise they've collaborated with EDM heavyweights like Afrojack and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, plus hot-tipped up-and-comer KSHMR. They've also teamed up with the best EDM imprints on the block — cue Spinnin', Ministry Of Sound, Revealed and more. It's in America that the duo's sound has translated best — they've charted record crowds at their weekly club residency at The Light in Las Vegas.

For next year, the duo say they'll “be experimenting with some new styles” on their upcoming release and have another gigantic tour in the pipeline for 2016.