Dyro on How Working with Hardwell and Tiësto Was "At First a Little Bit Intimidating"

Dutch-born DJ and producer Dyro has experienced rapid success in dance music over the past few years. He's produced successful original singles like "Metaphor," "Leprechauns and Unicorns," and "Black Smoke." Not only that, he's also collaborated with names like Tiësto, Bassjackers and Hardwell.

Currently, he holds a residency at Light in Las Vegas and will be hitting some of the major spring and summer festivals over the next few months like Ultra and Mysteryland.

This past weekend, however, Dyro paid a visit to Maya Day and Nightclub in Scottsdale on one of his first stops on his spring tour through North America. Up On the Sun was able to meet with him before his set and discussed his future plans and other things.

Have you played in Arizona before? I think I did play in Scottsdale with Bassjackers, last April I believe it was. I don't really remember though.

The first time we heard you, it was on Dada Life's podcast and we heard a mashup of "Metaphor" and "Kick-Out the Epic Motherfucker." Do you think the support and promotion of other DJs and producers helped launch your career so quickly? What do you think the cause was for your rapid success?

Well if you compare it to the old way of being successful, you had to be a really really good DJ to become popular. Now of days DJing is easier, it's easier to get in to. It's still hard to actually really a crowd and put down a good set, but now the fastest way is by making music and being a producer first -- and that's what I did.

I made a lot of songs. I sent them around to bigger artists. It found its way to Hardwell, he signed me to his record label, and then a lot of guys started supporting me. That's kind of how it all started.

You're number 30 on DJ Mag's "Top 100" between Fedde Le Grand and Laidback Luke, how does that feel for you?

It's like comparing apples and oranges. Its still good recognition and helps with your career and everything, but to be above guys like Laidback Luke, it's not fair, you know? I'm still really proud of my position, but like I shouldn't be that high. I mean I shouldn't be above certain guys. But still, I'm really happy, and really proud and thankful for everyone that voted.

What kind of music did you start listening to when you were growing up?

Everything, but the thing is, in Holland dance music is on the radio, it's part of our culture. It might be the reason a lot of DJs are from Holland. You turn on the radio and it's 50 percent dance music, 50 percent regular music, but I'm not specified to a certain genre. I listen to everything, I'm inspired by every type of music.

Who were some of the first DJs you started listening to?

The very first DJ was Tiësto, when I started producing I was a big fan of Hardwell and Laidback Luke. It's funny, all of those guys I was a really big fan of. And I work with them really closely right now. I did a collaboration with Tiësto, worked in the studio with Luke, released a couple songs on Laidback Luke's label. Hardwell and I, and Robin and I, are really good friends right now. So it worked out really well.

How is that? To be working with people you once idolized? Was it a bit intimidating at first?

Yeah, at first it was a little bit intimidating. But I still, not idolize, but really respect Hardwell for Hardwell. But I know the person behind Hardwell, and I became really good friends with him. I still respect Hardwell for his music and his career and all his success. So it's like I know home two ways, I know him as the person where most people only know him as an artist.

When did you acquire the name Dyro?

That's pretty easy, my real name is Jordy, if you rearrange the letters it's Dyro, without the J.

Was there a turning point for you as being a student who produced as a hobby to being a DJ and producer full-time?

Yeah. In the beginning you don't really get a lot of support with your music. You get a couple of likes on Facebook and that's it. When I was still in school I didn't expect anything. I think I was in my fourth year when I got signed by Hardwell. His management took me to Miami. That's when I started realizing that this could be really big. I did finish my school, just, very close. But I did it. That was turning point though, when I first got in contact with Hardwell.

What was your major in?

I don't know what the translation is, but I think it's engineering.

So you have completed 48 episodes of your Daftastic radio podcast, do you approach mixing a podcast the same way you mix a live set? How is it similar or different?

No, the fun thing with podcast is that I can put music in that I really like, and really respect. Some of those songs don't fit into a nightclub or in a festival, but I still really like those songs, and I want my fans to know about those songs. That's the difference between my radio show and live show, the live show is really in the moment and about enjoying the night. The podcast can be easy listening in your car.

You just kicked-off your US and Mexico tour, and you're heading to WMC and Ultra in a few weeks. Do you have any surprises, or anything special planned for those sets?

Not really. Me and Dannic did a song together, so we're hosting our own release party at the Wall in Miami. So that's the most special thing I can think of. Of course I'm going to play a lot of new songs at Ultra, but I think everyone is doing that.

So you're going to be touring for a lot of spring, what do you have planned for the summer? Residencies? More touring? Studio time?

I'm still doing my residency in Vegas at Light. We're working on a lot of stuff, just not confirmed yet. Summer is still far away still. But, we're working on a lot of festivals. I'm doing Mysteryland in New York, a lot of stuff. Everything keeps going.

How do you juggle making new music and life on the road? Is it something you do simultaneously or something you separate?

I really have to separate it. I'm not an on the road producer. I'm really used to my studio and I'm a perfectionist. I don't trust anything I hear on my headphones. I really take time off to be in the studio -- two weeks straight sometimes. Then I go back on tour for a couple of months.

Will you be getting any more studio time soon?

Oh yeah, I just came from Australia last week, we did a two week tour in Australia with Hardwell and Dannic for Future Music. Before that I had two weeks off in the studio. I made a couple new songs for Ultra.

So you don't have a solid out album out yet, any plans to make one?

To make an album I think you have to be a really settled artist. I mean, look at Hardwell, he hasn't done an album yet. It's also really hard to find a proper deal with a major label. There's a lot of technical stuff behind making an album. You need a lot of support from majors and everything. You just have to wait until you are a little bigger to do stuff like that.

Speaking of music, I feel like music can be an art or a science to people. Some people are more attracted to logic and theory of music creation, where others side more with the emotional intaginnable connectivity and art aspect of it. Which side do you lean on?

Yeah, I really lean one way. There's a lot of guys who produce by trial and error and want to be creative and do what they feel like. But I feel like it's really important to know the technical aspect of producing as well. I read a lot of books about producing, watched a lot of tutorials, read a lot of blogs and internet forums so, I think it's really important to know both.

Is DJing something you see yourself doing forever? Where do you see yourself in five, or 10 years?

DJing is really something. You look at Chester and he's been doing it forever. I don't see myself DJing until I'm 40, but producing, you can do it from anywhere, I could see myself doing it for a long time.

You have a day off to do absolutely nothing, money is no object, what would you be doing?

Wow. [Pause] I would go to Bora Bora.

Why Bora Bora?

I've heard a lot about it. It looks really cool. I have a lot going on in my head, so I want to relax and put my phone away and just be on an island for a long time. Just chill and do nothing.

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