DRUID | Behind The Decks

Written By Cale Hackfaith

Howard began his DJ career in 2014, and that year played his first club show at Sky and Lotus (Brisbane). In a quick turn around, only a year after emerging into the DJ scene, he quickly started to produce music. He played around with different genres, before settling on hardstyle. He said at first, it was quite difficult, especially with hardstyle as there are a lot of elements you have to get your head around.

“For me, it was like night and day listening to different sets and realizing that this genre is really sick; there is a feeling in hardstyle that you can’t really explain. It’s a connection with who ever was writing the music and you feel what they are trying to produce and I pretty much wanted to share that with people”.

Come with me as I step Behind The Decks with Druid

The past 12 months you have warmed up for some massive names in the industry, has there been a moment that has made you realise that wow, this is getting a bit bigger than what I expected?

Yeah, it’s been really good, but definitely at the Fortitude Music Hall the other week for Da Tweekaz. I think after that I thought “this has way more potential than I could have imagined”.

Keeping on that point (warming up for some huge names), have you ever been star-struck meeting some these artists?

Definitely, warming up for D-sturb, he’s pretty much that new, raw hardstyle sound. Obviously, when he came, he wasn’t on top, but now it's pretty obvious he’s one of the guys on top of the scene. I finished my warm-up set that night with one of my tracks and seeing him get really into it was a surreal moment for me, so yeah seeing someone I look up to getting into my music is really awesome!

What is your next step in your career?

Just to keep releasing new music; I think I’ve been creating and putting out good, solid music for the past 3 years now, so I’ve got a catalogue of tracks that I’ve been sitting on. I’ve just released a track that has been getting some good recognition, so that’s good! Hopefully Defqon comes back to Australia, because I would love to play that! So yeah that would be a goal for sure.

Is there a festival around the world that you would really love to play at?

I think Defqon NL in Holland or Supremacy or even a HSU event here in Australia would be awesome! But, ultimately, the number 1 reason why a lot of people get into this scene, is to play at Qlimax, that would be pretty sick! I also think I should maybe experience the events first before I say whether or not I want to play there.

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

I used to have a bunch of artists that I said I wanted to be like them, but over the years, getting to speak to so many artists in the scene, I sort of lost that feeling of wanting to be like them and it kind of changed to me wanting to be myself and carve my own path. Obviously, I look up to DJ’s and want to be like them, but I’ve definitely started to focus more on myself and what I want to create.

What’s on your Spotify at the moment/ what are your favourite tracks at the moment?

This might sound weird but I don’t really listen to much music; I try to listen to my tracks that I’m making to constantly improve them but I don’t listen to that much music as a whole. If I do listen to anything I like to listen to Drum n Bass!

How much time do you put into producing tracks/editing them?

I’ve got so many projects on the go, but I think maybe 4-5 hours a day and a few hours here and there on the weekends. I try to only do it when I’m feeling inspired; if I’ve come from work and I’m drained then sometimes I destroy stuff that I’ve made - I’ll change stuff that doesn’t need to be changed. I need to be in a reasonably good headspace to do those 4-5 hour days, just to make sure I’m producing really good stuff!

What would you say to someone who hasn’t listened to hardstyle?

Don’t be afraid, what are you scared of? Hardstyle is so soft on the inside; it brings people to tears with the raw emotion. Peoples perspectives are definitely changing on it, some people won’t change and that’s fine but just don’t be afraid. It won’t hurt to try it!

And finally, we ask all our guests the same closing question, what's the craziest thing you've seen behind the decks?

Nothing really from behind the decks, but I saw GPF stick his fingers down this girls throat at his gig in Sydney.
*GPF (Greazy Puzzy Fuckerz) is renowned for weird and wacky things like this, including licking faces and assorted vegetables being tossed around his shows*

Honestly, it was a pleasure to sit down with Druid - definitely a future ahead in the Australian hardstyle scene! Shortly, Druid will be releasing his new album, which we cannot wait to hear.

Check out his socials and Spotify down below before hearing his exclusive Behind The Decks mix uploaded tomorrow, and catch him at most of Brisbane’s hardstyle events!