It became too much for him. After years of playing and becoming the best DJ inthe world twice, Hardwell called it quits in 2018. That was then”indefinitely”. Hardwell returns this weekend. He’s on his comeback tourtonight Rebels Never Die in the Ziggo Dome, where he gave his lastperformance four years ago.
“Hello world”, Hardwell, or Robbert van de Corput, wrote on Facebook in thesummer of 2018. “Since I was little, I’ve been dreaming of the life I’mleading now. A life filled with music, people and the freedom to expressmyself.” Hardwell has already passed twice at that point DJ Mag named theworld’s best DJ and toured the world twice. He became famous with the song_Zero 76_ which he released with Tiësto, and scored a hit with singer Maanwith Perfect World.
It was his dream life, but it also turned out to be very tough. Hardwell saysin the Facebook statement that he feels like he’s growing up three timesfaster than normal. “I got to know myself better and I suddenly realized thatI still want to share so much with my family and friends. But being Hardwell Ino longer have the energy, love, creativity and attention for it.”
The world-famous DJ turned out not to be the only one who felt this way.Similar noises came out around the world around 2018, with the death of Aviciias the nadir. He succumbed to the mental burden of the heavy DJ existence.Laidback Luke became overwrought and Martin Garrix felt the pressure mountingenormously in a short time. He mainly wondered what he should do “again” tomaintain his success.
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Hardwell was going to ‘just be himself for a while’
DJs lead an amazing working life: their days are filled with interviews anddeadlines and the evenings are a blast at performances. Successful artistssometimes visit two different continents in one weekend. Hardwell describes itas a “roller coaster that never stops”.
“Everyone is having a hard time, but it’s good to take a break,” said LaidbackLuke about it. Hardwell did just that. “I’ve always tried to give 200 percentof myself and to keep doing that I need to take a break.” He wiped his agendaand gave one last show, on October 18, 2018 in the Ziggo Dome. “I want to comeback stronger than ever, but for now I’m just going to be myself for a while.”
He never stopped making music. “I’m still in the studio five days a week,”said the now 34-year-old DJ. “But my music is much more personal now.”Hardwell released a new album in 2020 with all his hits called The Story OfHardwell. In interviews he is candid about what the sabbatical has done tohim: his friends like him more since he took a step back in his career.
Now the Dutch top DJ is back. He played his first show in nearly four years inMiami last Sunday evening, immediately announcing his world tour Rebels NeverDie made an album of the same name with songs he released during hissabbatical and will be back in the Ziggo Dome on December 3. A full agendaagain, but Hardwell has changed. “I feel like young Robbert again. When Istill lived at home and had no deadline, but only made music that came from my