Nightcraft has had an extraordinary year. Besides major collaborations with Radical Redemption, Crypsis, Regain, and many others, he found himself in a unique situation. He was given the honor of creating the Shockerz anthem, but as we know, the event was canceled. What do you do with a record like that? He released it anyway as an ode to the event. “You could make an anthem and put it in a drawer, but that’s not how I work.”
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The news reached Nightcraft while he was in Japan. “I was literally on the other side of the world,” he says. “That’s when news like that hits extra hard. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but at that moment, there’s nothing you can do about it.” Still, he quickly decided not to give up.
Instead of scrapping the anthem (featuring Nolz’s vocals), Nightcraft opted for a different approach. “If you put so much time, emotion, and energy into a track, it deserves an audience.” According to Nightcraft, releasing the anthem didn’t feel strange at all; it made perfect sense. “It became an ode. To Shockerz, to the history of the event, and to what it meant to so many people.”
A Night with Nightcraft: Sold out in 4 hours without a lineup
Besides the Shockerz story, the episode extensively explores the growth from his previous alias Royal S to Nightcraft. From jump to raw, the hardstyle producer witnessed the changes in the scene firsthand (even the beginning of the famous “HEE HOO!”). The coming year also looks promising for him: with new releases, collaborations, and a clear vision, he’s staying true to his sound. His own event, A Night With Nightcraft, sold out in four hours, even before a lineup was announced.
In episode 39 of PLAFONDDIENST – The Hardstyle Podcast, Nightcraft opens up about the past year, his future plans, and a whole host of possibilities. Listen to the full episode now on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.
Footage via Nightcraft / Kate Duijts Photography
