In an extended episode of the PLAFONDDIENST Podcast, Radical Redemption joins at bench for an honest conversation about his life and career. He talks about the upcoming No Retaliation albums, reflects on his much-discussed split from ID&T and Most Wanted, and shares how he first got introduced to the harder styles.
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Fully committed
Radical Redemption, real name Joey van Ingen, lives and breathes music. Literally. “Yeah, I live there,” he laughs, referring to his studio. “When I sink my teeth into something, I go all in.” That dedication isn’t just for show — it’s a necessity in a world where standing still means falling behind. “It’s dangerous to think you’ve made it,” he explains. “If you do, you might last another three or four years, but then it’s game over.”
His work ethic is relentless — but it works for him. “I’m lucky that with my ADHD, I don’t need much sleep. Three hours a night is enough. Over the past nine days, I’ve averaged three and a half hours of sleep per night. I’ve only been in the studio, and I actually perform well under those conditions.” What doesn’t fit into that picture? Distractions. “I don’t do drugs or alcohol — I’m just completely focused. I really want this.”
That focus only sharpened a few years ago when he decided to leave his booking agency. “That was a big thing, of course,” he recalls. “And then I heard people in the scene say, ‘he’s done.’ Some people probably liked that too — one less competitor.” But where others might have hesitated or backed down, Joey did the opposite. “That was like diesel on the fire for me.”
“If there’s anywhere that’s eye for an eye, it’s here”
He doesn’t sugarcoat the scene. “This is a brutal business. If there’s any place that’s truly eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, it’s here. The moment people smell blood or a spot opens up, they go for it.” That pressure only pushed him harder. “It gave me even more motivation to spend more time in the studio and work even harder.”
He refuses to blame others. “I’m not going to put the blame on someone else when things don’t work out. I made the choice to walk away from something — now I have to give it everything to make it work.” Feeling sorry for himself isn’t part of the plan either. “It’s easy to point fingers, but you shouldn’t feel sorry for yourself.” What drives him? “I want to be able to look in the mirror and say: you gave it everything you had. Because if you don’t do it yourself, no one else will.”
Radical Redemption in a new episode of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast
In this extended episode of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast, Radical Redemption dives deeper into his absence from several festivals, growing up in the spotlight, and his upcoming No Retaliation albums.
Listen to the full episode now on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.
