Laidback Luke

As a popular figure on the EDM scene since the late 1990s, Dutch producer Laidback Luke lives the life of a jet-setting, multi-millionaire, superstar DJ and works with the kings of electronic music, yet has also found the time to become an ultra-fit, international kung fu champion. Growing up in the northern town of Hoofddorp in Netherlands, his father was a musician and his brother played drums in punk bands, but Luke struggled to learn an instrument and was overjoyed when he discovered digital music-making programmes on his home computer and began creating beats. In his youth he was an enthusiastic graffiti artist before becoming inspired by Chicago house legend Bad Boy Bill and West Coast techno pioneer Donald Glaude and, with the help of DJ Dobre from Chocolate Puma, he released his first 12-inch single 'Act the Fool' for Touche Records in 1995. His hard techno minimalism developed more funky, pop friendly hooks as the years went by and, after releasing albums 'Psyched-Up' and 'Electronic Satisfaction' in 2002, he befriended future Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello and became a party-starting, high energy DJ at clubs across mainland Europe. He had a string of remixes that became big club anthems and collaborated with some of the world's top DJs on tracks such as 'Show Me Love' with Angello and Robin S, 'Turbelence' with Steve Aoki and '1234' with Martin Solveig. His partying gave way to a lifestyle of fitness and health as he married and had a daughter with American DJ Gina Turner and, despite touring the globe relentlessly, his obsession with martial arts led to him representing the Netherlands at the 2013 Kung Fu World Championships. His label Mishmash Records also gave early opportunities to artists such as Avicii, Afrojack and Knife Party, and Laidback Luke later made his name in the US with residencies at the big superclubs in Las Vegas and appearances at Ultra Music Festival. His 2015 album 'Focus' featured guest spots from Canadian songwriter Trevor Guthrie, producer D.O.D. and Italian DJ Benny Benassi. Always prolific with his remix output, touring schedule and regular vlogs, he warped Tiësto's track 'Jackie Chan' into a soulful, thumping disco monster and teamed up with Ale Mora and Shermanology for a re-working of Kelis's 'Milkshake' in 2018.

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