Fresh Off Winning the Tomorrowland Academy DJ Contest: An Exclusive Interview with ONINE
Hello, and thank you for joining us! Could you provide some insight into the main inspirations and influences that led you to pursue a career in music?
“First of all, thank you for having me. My journey into music started in 2019 when I was going out to clubs a lot. I became fascinated by what was happening behind the scenes, especially by watching the DJs perform and seeing how they controlled the energy of the crowd. That curiosity inspired me to buy my first DJ controller. Around the same time, a friend introduced me to FL Studio, and I started producing hip-hop and trap beats. Producing music quickly became just as exciting to me as DJing. A few years later, I met someone who introduced me to the electronic music scene, and from that moment on, I knew this was the direction I wanted to pursue. Since then, I’ve been fully dedicated to developing my sound as both a DJ and producer.”
With versatility being a key aspect of the dance scene, we’d love to know how your style of play originated and how it has evolved over time?
“At the beginning of my journey, I listened to a lot of trap music from Atlanta, especially Future, who has always been one of my biggest inspirations. His music is known for its hard-hitting drums and powerful bass, and that definitely shaped my musical taste. Even though I now produce electronic music, those influences are still very present in my sound. I love creating heavy basslines and combining the energy of Bass House and Tech House with elements inspired by hip-hop and trap. I want people to not only hear my music but also feel it on the dancefloor.”
Known for getting crowds moving with your bass-heavy sound, could you talk us through your approach to music production and how it differs from others?
“When I first started producing, I mainly created club remixes. I would begin with an acapella from an existing song and transform it into a dancefloor-ready version. The vocal was always the centerpiece, and I built the entire track around it from the drums and bassline to the groove. That workflow has stayed with me over the years. Today, I mainly produce original music, but I still often start with a vocal idea or a certain feeling and build everything else around it. This approach helps me create tracks that are both catchy and effective in a club environment.”
Courtesy of Press
With social media playing a key role in promoting your track ‘WHERE U GOING MAMA?’, we’d like to hear your thoughts on the power of having a strong online presence and the impact it has had on you as an up-and-coming act within the dance scene?
“For me, social media has become one of the most important parts of building my career. Within about a year, I managed to grow my TikTok community to around 25,000 followers, and I use the platform every day to share new music and receive instant feedback from my audience. ‘WHERE U GOING MAMA?’ is the perfect example of the power of social media. Thanks to a strong presence on TikTok and Instagram, several videos featuring the track went viral, helping it reach almost 300,000 streams. It showed me how powerful social media can be in connecting music with listeners and turning online momentum into real streaming success.”
Having started your career as a hip-hop DJ, could you talk us through that experience and explain how it has influenced your current electronic sound?
“I’ve been a DJ for five years now, and I spent the first three years playing hip-hop. Looking back, that period was incredibly important for my development. It taught me how to read a crowd, react to the energy in the room, and build a set that keeps people engaged from beginning to end. It also made me much more creative behind the decks. Even today, you can clearly hear those influences in my productions. Although I mainly produce Tech House and Bass House now, my roots in hip-hop and trap are still part of my identity. I enjoy working with hip-hop and trap vocals and blending them with electronic music to create my own signature sound.”
After winning our Tomorrowland Academy DJ Contest, could you tell us how that achievement felt, as well as what it was like performing on the Mainstage at Bootshaus Cologne and what that experience truly meant to you?
“Winning the Tomorrowland Academy DJ Contest was without a doubt the biggest moment of my career so far. Having the opportunity to perform on the Mainstage at Bootshaus Cologne right after Oliver Heldens was something I could hardly believe. As the closing DJ, my job was to keep the energy high until the very end. I interacted with the crowd, used the microphone, and stayed true to my own sound. The audience’s reaction was incredible, and it was one of those moments I’ll never forget. Many of my close friends were there to support me, which made the experience even more special. Winning the contest showed me that all the years of hard work, practicing, DJing, and producing had truly paid off. It also opened many new doors and gave me the confidence that I can perform on the biggest stages.”
Courtesy of Press
With the summer season in full swing, could you talk us through what the future holds for ONINE in terms of new music, upcoming collaborations, and live performances?
“Right now, I’m spending a lot of time in the studio working on new music. I already have several tracks ready that will be released in the near future, and I’m really excited for people to hear them. Another exciting milestone is that I’ll be hosting a radio show on Tomorrowland’s One World Radio, which is a huge honor for me. I’m also very happy that Bootshaus has invited me back to perform at an upcoming event at Cologne Bonn Airport. Looking ahead, my goal is simple: to keep releasing great music, continue growing as an artist, and perform on bigger stages in front of audiences around the world. I’m excited about what’s coming next, and I truly believe this is only the beginning of my journey.”
Remarkable to say the very least, we will most certainly be keeping a close eye on ONINE and all his future endeavors within our community. You can stay fully up to date by following him on Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify!
