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Australian hardstyle ambassador Toneshifterz recently relocated to the Netherlands, where he joins a contingent of heavy-hitting expats from Down Under. It’s a seemingly natural move for the trailblazing artist, whose first release in 2009 instantly made him a household name for hard dance fans across the globe. And while he may have found a new residence, his dedication to his homeland is clear. In his near decade at the top of the game, he has played an instrumental role in creating an Australian scene strong enough to rival that of the Netherlands, with tens of thousands of raging fans packing out festivals and one-off events on the regular.

As hardstyle’s influence continues to grow internationally, Toneshifterz, née Elie Abwi, has found new ways to challenge his audience. His recent “Psystyle” finds an unexpected union between the worlds of psytrance and hardstyle. His and Brennan Heart’s collab remix of megastars Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s “Higher Place” proves he is helping further legitimize hard dance in the eyes and ears of the greater electronic music community. Toneshifterz clearly recognizes how much space there is for new fans to discover the blistering energy of hardstyle.

This month, Toneshifterz heads to Basscon: Wasteland to destroy the stage in front of a crowd of thousands of beat-hungry Headliners who have anxiously awaited this moment for years. His spine-tingling, euphoric melodies and sub-shattering reverse basslines will surely be a highlight of the weekend.

We chatted with Toneshifterz about his upcoming Basscon: Wasteland performance and his plans to continue to musically stimulate his fans.

An experimental tune like your track “Psystyle” can often be met with opposition from fans. How do you feel about challenging your audiences in general?
[Laughs] Yes, this is true. But to be completely honest, it’s being supported by a majority of the scene, [including] a lot of the EDM DJs who want something different to play in their sets. Crossing over into different genres from time to time, I believe, is a good thing. I think it’s cool to experiment and keep people interested but [expose new fans] to hardstyle from different genres. I’ve been experimenting a lot lately, dabbling in a lot of different influences, from EDM to trap to psytrance. But I promise there’s definitely lots of four-to-the-floor hardstyle coming soon.

You hit some serious adversity a few years back, which led to some huge changes in your career. Reflecting on that experience, how do you think it strengthened you as a person and artist?
Yes, I was sick before, and I needed to focus on myself to get back on track. So, I went back to Australia to straighten myself out. I always pride myself in hard work. While I was in Australia, I got to do some thinking, and I finished my two bachelor’s degrees full-time while producing and still touring full-time. But this is all over now; it’s made me stronger and wiser. I’m [more] conscious, and I take better care of myself—especially now, with the kind of lifestyle we live as DJs and producers.

You recently made the move back to the Netherlands. How do you feel things will be different for you this time around?
I moved here about six months ago, and it feels like yesterday. This time around, I believe I’m more prepared, [and I’m] healthier. I’ve come with an arsenal of music and planning that I’ve been preparing for the last couple of years. Things are already happening and taking place, and the momentum is rolling.

Does it make you feel more at home having such a large contingent of Aussie DJs so close to you?
Yes, there are a few koalas and kangaroos nearby [laughs]. Of course, it’s always good to have people from home accompanying you on the musical journey we’ve all embarked on. We all work closely with one another, and we’re blessed to have each other over here! I’m looking forward to the day when we are all on tour together in the US.

Catch Toneshifterz at Basscon: Wasteland 2017, taking place Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29, at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA. 

Alexander Dias likes his bass hard. Follow him on Twitter.

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