TIESTO (TIJS VERWEST)

Narrowing his scope to a fusion of house beats laden over a bass heavy groove, Tiesto then started playing out at a well known club in Breda called The Spock. Resisting the sounds and trends of the time, he caught the attention of the GM of Rotterdam's based label, Basic Beat Recordings, by creating his own distinctive style and sound. From this, Tiesto's first mixed series entitled Forbidden Paradise was born. Shortly after, he formed his record label, Black Hole Recordings and released his own Magik cd series. He also mixed the first two Space Age volumes and the much respected In Search Of Sunrise 1, 2 and 3. Through these imports, Tiesto was raised to mythical status in the States by his cult following.

Tiesto's US debut was marked with the release of Summerbreeze (2000), a mixed album featuring his remix of "Silence". Peaking the Billboard Charts at #3, "Silence" featured the vocals of Sarah McLachlan which became a mega-club hit, remaining one of the most influential tracks of this progressive dance era. This was what indeed made the world fall in love with him. It was this record which fully broke Tiesto in the U.K., spending four weeks in the Top Ten.

Tracks like Flight 643, Urban/Suburban Train and Gouryella - his collaboration with fellow Dutch trancemeister Ferry Corsten - have been played by everyone from Pete Tong to Paul Oakenfold. In fact Oakenfold has become his greatest ally, asking Tiesto to mix the opening track on his album Bunkka and putting Tiesto tracks on all his recent compilation albums.

There has become a huge demand for Tiesto's remixes, and so after declining a remix for U2, he did a great remix for Dave Matthews Band's 'The Space Between', which set a new standard for mixing rock and house music. Tiesto has also remixed a track from Moby's album, "18" featuring 2 b-sides - Love of Strings and Life's So Sweet.

In Summer of 2001, Tiesto ruled Godskitchen in Ibiza. In 2002, he was snapped up by Cream who gave him a residency at Amnesia alongside Paul Van Dyk. "2002 is the first year I've had a real residency in Ibiza so it gives me the chance to play some longer sets and influence the sound of Ibiza," he stated.

But it is America where Tiesto has caused the biggest impression. The Americans lap up his DJ sets, he loves their "youthful enthusiasm" and was high on the bill at the last Coachella festival in Palm Springs. It was a phenomenal 2002 for DJ Tiesto, who started the year by playing four major New Year's Eve parties, reaching 60,000 people in the UK. He also embarked on a 12 date U.S stadium tour with Moby & David Bowie, Carl Cox, and Digweed, and still had time to jet off to his residency in Ibiza.

After winning almost every dance related award in 2002, a crown was put on his career by being voted the number 1 DJ in the world in DJ Magazine`s Top 100. He repeated this achievement for the second consecutive year in 2003.