This year, Toneshifterz is responsible for creating the official Knockout Outdoor anthem. For the Australian DJ, it’s a truly special moment: “When HSU asked me to make the anthem, I honestly felt honoured. This isn’t just another show… it has become the biggest Hardstyle festival in Australia, maybe even in the entire Southern Hemisphere. As an Australian artist, it really feels like a full-circle moment,” he says.
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Toneshifterz has had a close connection with the HSU Crew since 2009. “I’ve been with HSU since the very beginning, back when they were running events at The Gaff – a tiny, sweaty club in the heart of Sydney.” That history even inspired part of the anthem’s lyrics: “I’m a misfit, I’m a wild one, I’m a freak… of the Harder Styles.”
According to him, the track is a tribute to the roots of the Australian scene: “It’s more than just nostalgia, it’s about honouring where we came from. I’ve witnessed the birth and growth of this scene in Australia. Seeing how HSU and Knockout have evolved into what they are now has been incredible. This anthem feels like a tribute to the people who built this scene from the underground up.”
“It’s a manifesto for everyone who feels like a misfit or freak”
The original theme for the anthem was Knockout Circus, but Toneshifterz was given freedom to put his own spin on it. “The team specifically told me not to go for the typical circus clichés. That really opened the door creatively. That’s how the idea of Freaks of the Harder Styles and Harder Styles United came about.” He explains: “I wanted to make it darker, grander and more cinematic, more Cirque du Soleil than carnival. It had to be a track that not only bangs, but also tells a story.”
The anthem opens with the line “Initiating Knockout circus protocol.” Toneshifterz says: “Right from the start, I wanted it to feel like a ritual, a moment where we initiate the protocol. It’s theatrical and deliberate. This isn’t just a track, it’s a manifesto for everyone who feels like a misfit or freak.” He emphasises the importance of the spoken parts: “The spoken words in this track aren’t just filler, they’re a personal declaration. When I say ‘I’m not here to follow the rules, I’m here to break ’em,’ I’m speaking for every raver who found their identity in this scene.”
A bridge between old and new
Musically, the anthem blends classic and modern influences. “A lot of what people now call ‘hard techno’ feels to me like an evolution of early Hardstyle and that’s what I grew up on. You can definitely hear those influences in the anthem, from the vocal chops to the reverse bass and gated kicks. It’s a fusion of old and new, and that’s intentional.”
He also revisited his own roots: “I went back to my early Toneshifterz tracks, those classic FX kicks and old-school leads. Legends like Technoboy, Tuneboy and Showtek have always been a big influence, and it felt right to channel that energy again.”
“This isn’t just a moment for Knockout, but for the whole scene”
The anthem will have a special moment during Knockout Outdoor 2025.“The anthem will have its proper moment in my set with custom visuals and a full light show. I’ve also prepared a stack of new music, edits and bootlegs just for the day. It’s going to be a proper journey.” For Toneshifterz, this project means more than just writing a track for a festival: “This isn’t just a moment for Knockout, it’s a moment for the entire scene. This anthem isn’t just for Knockout, it’s for everyone who’s ever felt like a freak on the dancefloor and finally found their people.”
Toneshifterz’ Knockout Outdoor 2025 anthem ‘Freaks of the Harder Styles’ will be released on Friday, August 8. Pre-save the track here to be the first to hear it!
