Tjis Michiel Verwest (Breda, 1969), better known as DJ Tiësto, is a Dutch record producer and remixer considered one of the world’s best DJs by industry magazines. Known as the Godfather of EDM, he has performed at clubs and festivals on every continent and at the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games. He has held residencies at Privilege, Pacha, and, this past August, at [UNVRS] with remarkable success, always performing on Mondays.
What was your experience at [UNVRS] like?
It was incredible—like going back to my roots. I used to DJ when I was part of Privilege, and going back to the same place was exciting. The show and the residency were great right through the end of August.
Do you notice much of a difference between then and now?
Yes, [UNVRS] is on a whole different level. It’s new—one of the best and most important clubs in the world—while Privilegia was older.
Do you think there’s too much technology?
No, it’s fine with me, and I think the sound is cleaner for the audience, and everything is spectacular—the lights and the production quality are much better. The vibe is the same because I only see people dancing; I don’t see the visuals or the lights. My job is to make people happy, and it seems like that’s working.
When I used to DJ at Privilege and Pacha, people used to dance a lot; now they’re more interested in taking photos or videos. Do you notice that?
I talked about it with the folks at [UNVRS]. It’s true that at the beginning of the set, people spend a lot of time interacting, but then it changes, and in the last two hours, their interest in their phones wanes and they dance a lot. I understand that during the first hour, they want to capture the memory of the night and the experience, but then they put their phones away and the atmosphere is very different. It was really nice to DJ until the wee hours of the morning and watch people dance and have a good time.
How do you view the evolution of music from the 1990s to the present?
It’s really interesting. I’ve been DJing for many years, and right now we’re in a very melodic phase, just like when I first started. For a while, I played a lot of trance and EDM, and there were other periods when I was influenced by Swedish House Mafia and Avicii. After COVID, I felt like something had to change—something was missing—so I leaned more toward trance. I’ve DJed in the United States, and now I was excited to return to what I’d done at Privilege and do the show on Mondays. It’s the perfect time to show the world what I’m doing right now. It’s 30 years of Tiësto’s music, featuring both old-school trance and newer, more contemporary trance.
Has his style changed, or has he just gone back to his roots?
The style has shifted back to what it was like before EDM—it’s from the 2000s but more refined, more precise, and better. It’s like fashion—like Gucci’s new collection, which is inspired by the ’70s. In this case, it’s a new collection by Tiësto inspired by his early days.
He has worked in places like Las Vegas, Dubai, Miami, and Ibiza. Where does he feel most at home DJing, and where does he like the audience’s response best?
The world is beautiful, so vast—there are wonderful places—and it’s hard to pick just one because there’s such a wide variety that I could DJ one night in Ibiza or Istanbul, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Canada, Mexico… Every place has a very special audience, and that’s more apparent than ever. I love going everywhere. Maybe I feel most at home in places where people love music, and Ibiza is, without a doubt, one of them. People are here to have a good time, and it’s fantastic.
What sets Ibiza apart from other places?
It’s very different because it sets the bar high and has a rich, high-quality musical history. Fans come to listen to great dance music and find something for every taste—everyone can enjoy their own style here, from pop DJs to underground ones or anything in between. It’s incredible and one-of-a-kind.
How do you see the future of electronics?
I think it’s stronger than ever. Back in the ’90s, people said it was going to disappear, but today it’s still going strong—there are a lot of very talented young DJs from England and the Netherlands. And the veterans are still great—like Carl Cox, who is a very solid artist, always delivering impeccable quality and remaining highly relevant—and others like Sven Väth. So the new generation and the old one coexist and are spectacular, with both producers and DJs.
There’s also a strong wave of women in the club booths these days.
It took them a long time to arrive, but they’re finally here, and they’re incredible and talented—new artists like Kiki, Lisa Cover, Charlotte de Wit, and many others who are on the right track, especially in electronic music.
Do you use artificial intelligence a lot?
It’s just for testing things out, to see how something specific would sound, but I don’t use it for the final production, since everything is done, written, and sung by humans. I think it’s a tool, but it’s not that accurate or good yet. Technology is evolving and advancing in every area—not just in music, but in every aspect of life. The world has to evolve; robots are on their way, and that’s what the future looks like.
Some use visuals and lights, and it seems like the show is more important than the DJ.
We have DJs for every taste—some focus on visuals, others are more pop-oriented or play new tracks; there’s a lot of variety. Similarly, many DJs don’t use visuals, and some fans love that while others don’t. There are very alternative artists who can’t be replaced by AI because they DJ with their heart and soul at all times. These artists can’t be replaced by anything. When you find yourself in the DJ booth at six in the morning, thinking about what to play in that very moment, you play the perfect song and have the crowd in the palm of your hand—neither AI nor anything else can replace that.
What is he dreaming about now?
Many of my dreams have come true. I’m living a dream. I have two children who are a dream come true, and we’re in Ibiza in a wonderful house. My dream is to keep making people happy with my music and for them to love it, to keep performing and producing because I love what I do just as much as when I started. Seeing that fans still come to the party on Mondays is a dream come true for me. Watching the eclipse and shooting stars with my kids is a dream. I’m living a dream. What more could I ask for?