ZIX

Thou shalt dance. For those who know and love Zix, it’s assured - thou shalt dance. With a style that never fails to get the dance floor pumping, Zix has firmly established himself as one of the most revered techno DJs of the Netherlands. People who know Zix come to parties knowing they will be taken on a journey. Those who don’t are hooked from the moment the first record hits the turntables.

Zix was born in the South of Holland as Ziggy Willemse. Named after David Bowie’s infamous alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Zix was destined for a career in music. At a young age, Zix became an accomplished drummer, establishing the love of rhythm and sound that would later be reflected in his productions and DJ sets. His style of techno can only be likened to the powerful steady rhythm of a steam train bearing down on you. Later his popular radio show was to be named LocoMotive, truly reflecting the harnessed energy of his live sets.

Growing up, Zix was exposed to an eclectic range of music, from mainstream to underground, from Roxy Music to the Doors. This diversity and open mindedness led to an appreciation of many different styles of dance music, from early Techhouse to Detroit techno and almost everything in between. However it was Steve Rachmad’s Emerging CD that set Zix on his path to being one of the most inspired techno DJs in the Netherlands. According to Zix, “It was a style and kind of set that I’d never heard before - very unique on its own. It totally blew me away with its depth and energy.” Zix was hooked. Immediately he embarked on a quest to create a sound of his own. Personal, unique, and full of emotion.

It is this sound combined with his trademark long mixes and intelligent stylings that give fantastic songs an extra level of depth. He has built his reputation – and sets – on the ability to weave the different sounds together, with rarely heard or soon to be classics tracks.

Zix started his DJ career in the summer of 1999, and immediately established a reputation for igniting the dance floor with his high energy sets. In 2004, he joined the renowned Dommelvallei organisation as the first resident DJ and firmly established his relevance in the underground dance culture of the Netherlands.

Whether producing or at work behind the decks, there are two things on which Zix always focuses: emotion and energy. As a DJ, Zix is known for taking the crowd on a healthy, emotional rollercoaster, bringing them to a sustained, energetic state of ecstasy. As a producer, he is on a quest for the ultimate blend of emotion, energy and depth. His first release, Multivitamins, was released on Common Good #4 in 2009, with acknowledgement by such notables as Luke Slater, Concrete DJZ, and Edit Select among others. Zix will be taking his drive and energy to the stage at Awakenings early 2009. Look for more releases in the near future from Zix, as well as several collaborations in the works with Dave Miller and Solid Decay.