What started as a spontaneous lockdown project has grown into a staple within the hardstyle scene: Tweeka TV celebrates its 100th episode. The online streaming concept by Da Tweekaz has, over the past few years, not only connected fans during a time of isolation but also created a unique stage where artists and audiences could meet in an unfiltered, personal way.
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The beginning during the pandemic
In April 2020, at the height of the first COVID lockdown, Kenth and Marcus of Da Tweekaz, together with moderator/cameraman Rossum, decided to launch their own livestream. “We had a lot of new music ready and wanted to find a way to stay connected with the fans,” Marcus recalls. Q-dance gave the final push by inviting them to play a DJ set. From their new office in Belgium, they built the very first setup using improvised furniture and borrowed cameras.
The first broadcasts were chaotic and basic: a webcam on a laptop, microphones lying on the floor, and an IKEA desk as a studio. Yet the concept immediately caught on. “People still remember episode one or two,” Kenth says. “They’ve been part of the journey since the very beginning.”
From living room to cult status
What makes Tweeka TV unique is its laid-back atmosphere. Mistakes, technical problems and drinking games were more the rule than the exception. That spontaneity is exactly what made the streams so beloved. “Fans loved seeing us struggle or laugh when something went wrong,” Marcus explains.
All revenue from the streams was reinvested into better equipment, lighting, and sound. Yet it always remained a true DIY project, run by just three people. “Rossum handled the cameras and moderating all by himself, while we were behind the decks playing, talking, and reading the chat,” Kenth recalls. “With the three of us, we did the work that other streams needed six to eight people for. And that direct contact made it so much more personal for the viewers.”
After the lockdown: here to stay
When clubs and festivals reopened, Da Tweekaz decided to keep Tweeka TV alive, although less frequently. The weekly shows were replaced by monthly editions. “We felt we couldn’t just drop it,” Marcus explains. “Fans told us the streams helped them through the pandemic. Some even made lifelong friends.”
For many, Tweeka TV has since become a virtual home base, with a tight-knit community on Discord and recurring themed editions like the Christmas specials or the notorious alcohol episodes. “It feels like the house parties we used to throw back in Norway,” says Kenth. “A group of friends, drinks, music and anyone can jump on the decks at any moment.”
From structure to chaos
Every episode follows more or less the same pattern. “A Tweeka TV stream always starts calm and structured,” Marcus explains. “But as the hours pass, it slowly slides into chaos. After hour two, some people are tipsy; after hour three, it’s out of our hands, and that’s exactly what the fans love.”
Legendary moments and guests
The list of memorable moments is endless: a cat tree as a birthday gift, Keltek losing a tooth during a push-up shot, Warface getting so drunk that he ended up in the local newspaper, and Ran-D breaking his detox after just one vodka-sprite. “He first said, ‘No, I’m detoxing.’ An hour later he was holding a vodka-sprite and the party exploded,” Marcus laughs.
Artists like Sound Rush, Hard Driver, and Bassbrain (almost a permanent co-host) have become inseparable from the concept. “Bassbrain was always there,” Kenth recalls. “He must have taken 5,000 shots in the first fifty episodes. Fans kept shouting ‘shot for Bassbrain,’ and he was always up for it.”
Remarkably, no guest ever asked for payment. “That shows how strong the sense of unity is within the hardstyle scene,” Kenth emphasizes. “Everyone came just for the fun and for the fans.”
The 100th episode: a nine-hour marathon
The anniversary show promises to be an epic edition. With a carefully curated guest list of fan favorites and new faces, the stream will last no less than nine hours. The line-up: Adrenalize, Bassbrain, Coone, Da Tweekaz, Gezellige Uptempo, Hard Driver, Noiseflow, Radical Redemption, Ran-D, The Darkraver, Used, Villain, Warface, and Wasted Penguinz.
The build-up resembles a festival: from party-friendly euphoric hardstyle to pounding uptempo at the end of the night. “It’s going to be pure chaos, but the best kind of chaos,” Marcus predicts. “After four hours, we’ll just let go and see where it takes us.”
The future of Tweeka TV
Da Tweekaz are clear: they’re not stopping. “As long as our schedule allows it, we’ll keep doing this,” Kenth says. “It’s fuel for our soul.” With support from partners like Magic FX, who provide spectacular special effects, and the tireless efforts of Rossum and Bassbrain, Tweeka TV seems far from its final chapter. “Episode 100 is not the end,” Marcus concludes. “It’s the start of a new chapter.”
Tweeka TV – Episode 100 will be broadcast live this Friday from 3:00 PM to midnight on the Tweeka TV YouTube channel.
Footage via: Da Tweekaz / Rossumedia
