The fact that Eelke Kleijn DJs in his socks and produces in a standing position tells you exactly what you need to know about him. He never feels more at home than when he’s behind the decks, and there’s no separation between the booth, his studio, or the dance floor. This natural air he brings to all facets of his music is reflected in its organic feel and has helped his creative identity shine in a crowded scene.
Four albums into a well-established yet still rapidly ascending career, Kleijn is an artist very much in his element. Success has come on his own terms, without compromise or being calculating. In the grand scheme of things, he’s an underground artist, but one who has effortlessly made the jump into the wider world when the time and opportunity felt right. His remixes for the likes of John Legend, Pendulum, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and James Newton Howard & Jennifer Lawrence are testament to his ability to reach wider audiences without giving up on his core values. Recent success has also come in the form of ‘Transmission,’ with both the original version and Joris Voorn’s remix fully living up to their potential across DJ sets, leading charts, and radio stations.
With a background playing piano, guitar and bass and a healthy sideline in composing for film and TV, his productions are imbued with a deep sense of musicality and emotion, always engendering a strong sense of space, place, and occasion. His work scoring Hollywood blockbusters like Batman vs Superman, Rush, Parker and This Means War has been met with great acclaim, with plenty more on the way.
His own imprint, DAYS like NIGHTS, is becoming an increasingly important part of what he does. Serving as a multi-faceted platform where he enjoys total creative control, it encompasses a label, a radio show and podcast, and world-renowned events.
Last week, the talented producer began a new chapter in his creative journey, releasing ‘Connected,’ which saw the celebrated Dutchman explore an indie-electronic approach that further enriches his audial style and rich discography.
Combining immersive storytelling in production and lyrical depth, this twelve-track album, marking the fifth of his accomplished career, fuses the various elements of Eelke’s musical influence to form a diverse collection of vocal tracks and collaborations, featuring standouts such as ‘The Way I Feel,’ ‘Watching Over Me,’ ‘Another Life,’ ‘Beg You’ and ‘Strangers Town,’ accompanied by hit record ‘Transmission.’ Paired together with a new live show concept, this album offers an auditory experience that is both expansive and intimate, and a testament to Eelke’s abilities and as a mainstay DJ and producer.
Fresh off a massive week which included the album release on May 2nd and the first supporting live show, Eelke managed to find some time to provide a magical Main Mix for When We Dip. What follows is a stirring, cinematic journey that threads the line between light and dark, leaving Eelke’s unmistakeable mark. Enjoy!
‘Connected’ is available here
Eelke Kleijn: Instagram // Soundcloud
DAYS like NIGHTS: Instagram // Soundcloud
TRACKLIST:
1. Mark Novas – Realign
2. John Monkman feat. Tailor – Place To Be (Extended String Mix)
3. Tonco – Promises
4. Cyantist & QuiQui – Dancing Uncontrolled
5. Kaz James _Rocker In The Disco
6. Jats (ofc) – Home
7. Jeremy Olander & Fahlberg – For Your Mind
8. Eli & Fur – Mom’s Violin (Fur Coat Remix)
9. Aalson – World of Reflections (Mitch de Klein Remix)
10. Eelke Kleijn – Stranger’s Town feat. ZOE ASKA (Lost Strings Version)
11. Sonickraft & Rafael Cerato – Controller
12. Bren Lock – Fading
13. Paride Saraceni, Altercity – Chase It feat. Haptic
14. Eelke Kleijn – Beg You feat. Leo Wood (DC Club Mix)
15. Messy – Sleep Better (With You)
16. Future Utopia – Mountain Girl feat. Ruelle (Future Utopia Remix)
17. Sonickraft – Zodiaque
18. Corren Cavini – Solutions (Eelke Kleijn Rave Revision)
19. Solid Sessions – Janeiro (Pronti & Kalmani Vocal Mix)