Secret Cinema

Jeroen ‘Secret Cinema’ Verheij has been surprising us lately with his fresh new material. Tracks like Kurzweil, Shake Ur Tech-Ass, Jazz Me (Cocoon) and more recently Reaktivate and Elevate (DMOM) have inspired and uplifted many ravers, DJ’s and producers. Lets dig a little deeper into the history that preceded these recent successes.



1990 – 1994

Verheij started producing as Meng Syndicate in 1990. His first release 'Sonar System' was an instant rave classic. In 1993 Michel de Hey recognized Jeroen's excellent producing skills and invited him to release his music on Michel’s Immaculate Music record labels. The melodic anthem ‘Meng’s Theme’ came within a year of signing in 1994.



- Secret Cinema

At this point (’94) ‘Secret Cinema’ was born to vent Jeroen’s more refined side as a producer. The first track he released under this alias was his second international hit for ’94, Timeless Altitude. It sold over 20.000 copies within six months and proved to be more timeless than anyone could have expected at the time.



- Grooveyard

At this point, Verheij came up with yet another identity: Grooveyard. It was under this guise that verheij released Watch Me Now. This energetic track also made its way into musical history, sold ten thousands of copies and was licensed to dozens of compilations in ‘95.



1995 - 1999

By now Verheij had become one of Holland’s most respected producers and started playing mainstage gigs for festivals like Mysteryland and Dance Valley. The follow-up Grooveyard release was Mary Go Wild which went on to top Dutch and Belgian charts and won Jeroen ‘Update’ Awards for Best Dutch Producer and Best Dutch Single in ’97. His next Secret Cinema release ‘Masculinity’ was also rewarded with two awards in ’98.



2000 – 2007

2000 saw the production of another massive Grooveyard hit in collaboration with Michel de Hey; ‘Compound’, which again sold ten thousands of copies and is still a popular track with many DJ’s. Verheij then went on to reinvent his Secret Cinema live set. A year later his first full album ‘White Men Can’t Funk’ was released. A string of techno classics like Volt, Saccades and Another Sweater followed and the albums ‘Revenge of a Nerd’ and ‘Skunk & Espresso’ were released. The techno scene was booming at the time and Secret Cinema headlined many festivals around the globe including most major Dutch festivals and events. One of the highlights was the closing set at the main stage of Awakenings Festival. A spot that only Secret Cinema, Richie Hawtin, Adam Beyer and Dave Clarke have filled.



2008 – 2010

In 2008 Verheij started broadening his horizons as a businessman by promoting his own events (Secret Cinema Invites). A year later he established his own agency (INHOUSE Bookings). And finally, his own record label (Gem Records).



In 2009, after 16 years of releasing on Michel de Hey’s imprints, Verheij started to shop around for new labels that could accommodate more growth for the Secret Cinema brand. Cocoon Recordings picked up ‘Kurzweil’ and spawned one of Secret Cinema’s biggest hits since the turn of the millennium which was soon followed up by the even bigger Jazz Me EP from which Shake Ur Tech-Ass presided at the pole position of the Beatport techno charts for weeks.