In the second and final Gearbox Special of PLAFONDDIENST, Phil and Floris dive even deeper into the label machine. Not only looking ahead to January 17 at the Ziggo Dome, but also explaining why a second area is being added this year and why Gearbox is about much more than just raw. As if that wasn’t enough, Exproz joins the conversation, sharing stories about Australia, Ziggo Dome stress, and performing in front of his parents for the first time on such a massive stage.
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“The soul of Gearbox is the music I love, and it’s open to everything.”
This year, the Gearbox Grand Prix will feature a second area, hosted by Gearbox Fusion. For Phil, it’s a logical step: “I’ve always had a love for hard techno. For me, it’s not a separate world, but another variant within the harder styles.” According to him, it’s built on the same foundation: hard kicks, drive and energy, but with more rhythm and groove. Floris sums it up neatly: “It’s like football, everyone supports their own club, but we forget we’re watching the same game.”
Phil sees the addition primarily as an enrichment of the event. “Hardstyle has become a bit too compact at times. Then it’s important to offer something different.” That it sparks discussion is only natural. “When people talk, you’re hitting something.” Still, some reactions hit close to home: “When people say, ‘Gearbox has lost its soul,’ that hurts. This is my label.” He closes with what Gearbox stands for: “The soul of Gearbox is the music I love, and it’s open to everything.”
Exproz: from France to the Ziggo Dome
For Exproz, the road to the Ziggo Dome wasn’t a fast one. He started making music alongside his IT job, purely out of passion. “I’m just a small guy from France,” he says. “When I was able to release music through Revolutions, that already felt unreal.”
The move to the main label was deliberately delayed. Phil kept the brakes on despite outside expectations, and Exproz kept working. “I thought: we just keep going. It’ll come when it comes.” In those early days, he had very few people to rely on. “It was often just me, So Juice, and then straight to Gearbox.” Still, he gradually grew into the group and eventually joined the main label.
On January 17, everything comes together. Exproz will perform with Gearbox at the Ziggo Dome, while his parents see him play live for the first time. “For a long time they thought this was just a hobby,” he says. “So I told them: you have to come for a big one.” For Exproz, the moment means more than just a show, it’s proof that the long road, patience and hard work have paid off.
Gearbox Overdrive closing
Gearbox Overdrive will close Gearbox Grand Prix with a unique uptempo showcase featuring Abaddon, Dark Individual, Rosbeek, Screecher and Tharoza. It will explicitly not be a regular back-to-back, but one collective performance. Floris highlights how special the concept is: “The goal is to close the Ziggo Dome in the best possible way. Everything that will be played is one hundred percent original music.”
According to Floris, it’s the collaboration that makes the show stand out: “All tracks were made together. Every track is by all five of them.” The result is not a loose set, but a 45-minute continuous show, built exclusively for this night.
Gearbox Grand Prix
Gearbox Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, January 17, at the Ziggo Dome. With an extra Fusion area, a personal Ziggo Dome moment for Exproz, and an Overdrive closing built as a statement, this edition feels like the release after months of preparation. With this second bonus episode of PLAFONDDIENST, the Gearbox two-part special is complete and you’re fully up to speed for what’s coming. Head to the official website for tickets and more information.
Listen to the Gearbox special now on YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.
