Oliver Heldens
Dutch electronic dance producer Oliver Heldens is regarded as one of the primary figures of the future house scene. While he incorporates elements of numerous styles of dance music, including techno and breakbeat house, his most well-known tracks, like the 2014 U.K. chart-topper "Gecko (Overdrive)," combine deep house with big room and progressive house. The tracks produced under his own name tend to be melodic while maintaining a funky edge. Since 2015, he has additionally released darker, heavier club tracks under the name HI-LO. He returned to the pop charts with 2019's "Turn Me On," a collaboration with Riton and Vula Malinga, and subsequently released tracks with Kylie Minogue, Firebeatz, Funkin Matt, and others. He teamed up with Ian Asher for a rework of Sérgio Mendes' "Mas Que Nada," which appeared in 2024.
Heldens began his career with a handful of singles on the CR2 label in early 2013. This was a pivotal year for Heldens, and saw him remix Martin Garrix's smash hit "Animals" as well as release two singles for Spinnin' Records ("Stinger" and "Thumper"). Later that year, he teamed up with Oxygen Records and released "Onya" featuring Alvar and Millas. In the meantime, "Gecko" was picked up by major DJs and producers including Pete Tong, who named the track his "Essential New Tune" in January 2014. It also led to Tiësto releasing the track on his Musical Freedom label. Heldens remixed Robin Thicke's "Feel Good" and made headline appearances at several of Europe's top EDM festivals that summer, including Tomorrowland and Creamfields. A vocal version of "Gecko" titled "Gecko (Overdrive)," featuring The Voice U.K. contestant Becky Hill, was released in June of 2014 and hit number one on the U.K. singles charts. At the end of the year, Heldens had another Top Five hit in the U.K. with "Last Night (Koala)" featuring KStewart. Heldens ranked at number 34 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs of 2014 survey, and following his Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1, Tong named Heldens "one of the breakthrough producers of the year."
In 2015, Heldens launched his Heldeep Records label with the single "Renegade Mastah" by HI-LO, which was later revealed to be a new Heldens project. Under his own name, he continued to release solo singles such as "Melody" and "Bunnydance," as well as collaborations with Da Hool, Zeds Dead, and Tiësto (including the 2016 U.K. Top 40 hit "The Right Song"). He also remixed songs by the Chainsmokers, Katy Perry, Calvin Harris, and others. In 2017, he released the single "What the Funk" (featuring Danny Shah); Steve Aoki released his remix of the track on his Dim Mak label. The following year, Heldens remixed Sofi Tukker's "Best Friend," which featured Nervo, the Knocks, and Alisa Ueno. He also teamed up with Sidney Samson for the single "Riverside 2099."
Early 2019 saw the release of the single "Summer Lover" (feat. Devin & Nile Rodgers). Heldens and Riton teamed up with vocalist Vula Malinga on the song "Turn Me On," which sampled the synth hook from Yaz's "Don't Go." The track was a major worldwide hit, earning gold or platinum certifications in several countries, and topping Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. "Lift Me Up," a collaboration with Firebeatz, Schella, and Carla Monroe, followed later in the year. Heldens issued numerous singles in 2020, including "Details" (featuring Boy Matthews), "Break This Habit" (featuring Kito Bun), and "Freedom for My People" (with Shungudzo). "Never Look Back," co-written and sung by Syd Silvair, appeared in early 2021. Heldens then released the breakbeat-driven "Zapdos" under his own name, followed by several HI-LO tracks. He also released "Ma Luv" with Italian producer MorganJ, "Another Chance" with Roger Sanchez, and "Deja Vu" with Anabel Englund.
In 2022, Heldens released a cover of "I Was Made for Lovin' You" by KISS, featuring Chic's Nile Rodgers and House Gospel Choir. He also released "LOW" with Tchami and Englund, and covered Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," retitled "We Don't Need," with Piero Pirupa. Rounding out the year were "Believe in Ghosts" (with warner case) and several additional HI-LO singles, including the DJ Deeon-sampling "Wanna Go Bang." The Yazoo-referencing "Oops," sung by Karen Harding, appeared in 2023, followed by "Disco Voyager." Heldens collaborated with Kylie Minogue for the single "10 Out of 10," which appeared on her album Tension. Heldens covered New Order's "Blue Monday" with vocalist JD Davis, and additionally released "Sound of Vondel," the Shantel collaboration "Bucovina 2023," and "Out of Love," a variation on Hall & Oates' "Out of Touch," featuring WeiBird. Heldens and Ian Asher released a club version of "Mas Que Nada" by Sérgio Mendes in 2024.
© Aneet Nijjar & Paul Simpson /TiVo
Similar artists
-
-
-
Details (Ferreck Dawn Remix)
Dance - Released by Kangarooli Tracks - RCA Records on 12 Jun 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Existencia
Reinier Zonneveld, Hi-Lo, Oliver Heldens
Techno - Released by Filth on Acid on 6 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
MHATLP (HI-LO Radio Edit)
House - Released by Spinnin' Records on 9 Oct 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
WANNA GO BANG
Hi-Lo, Oliver Heldens, DJ Deeon
Techno - Released by Drumcode on 30 Sep 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Was Made For Lovin' You (DubDogz, Bhaskar Remix)
Dance - Released by Kangarooli Tracks - RCA Records on 23 Sep 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fire In My Soul (Remixes)
Dance - Released by Kangarooli Tracks - RCA Records on 1 Feb 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Industria
Hi-Lo, Eli Brown, Oliver Heldens
Techno - Released by Filth on Acid on 18 Mar 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Balearic Mornings
Hi-Lo, Reinier Zonneveld, Oliver Heldens
Techno - Released by Filth on Acid on 30 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What The Funk (feat. Danny Shah) (Steve Aoki Remix)
House - Released by Dim Mak Records on 1 Dec 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ibiza 77 (Can You Feel It)
House - Released by HELDEEP Records on 23 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
THIS
Sander Van Doorn, Oliver Heldens
House - Released by Doorn Records on 29 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Turn Me On (Marshall Jefferson Anthem Mix)
Dance - Released by Ministry of Sound Recordings on 1 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
This Groove (The Remixes)
Dance - Released by HELDEEP Records on 24 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Somebody (feat. Bright Sparks)
House - Released by HELDEEP Records on 25 Sep 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
King Kong (HI-LO Touch)
Dance - Released by HELDEEP Records on 19 Mar 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -