The Dark Side of the Sun: Luuk van Dijk’s label and new ventures
Amsterdam-based DJ and producer Luuk van Dijk is dominating the house scene with his productions and live performances, fueled by contagious energy.
Photo credit: Luuk van Dijk – Facebook
Known for his strong basslines and groovy vibe with an old-school vision, Luuk van Dijk’s sound is instantly recognizable. He has performed at a range of local and international clubs and festivals, including Paradise, Awakenings, elrow, DGTL, and Cocoon. His productions have been picked up by major labels such as Hot Creations, Eastenderz, and Solid Grooves.
Luuk recently dropped his single, ‘Do It Timmy,’ via Factory 93, showcasing his talent for creating tension-filled, energetic tracks. He also released the EP ‘Get My Luv’ on ANOTR’s No Art after nearly three years, proving his skill in producing dancefloor hits. He is also focused on his label, Dark Side Of The Sun, which releases quality music from various talents.
EG had the chance to sit with Luuk van Dijk to learn more about his latest releases, his label, his new event series, and his future endeavors. In this interview, the artist shares insights into his creative process, the inspiration behind his tracks, and his thoughts on the role of AI in music production.
EG: Hi, Luuk! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you at right now? How have you been?
Luuk Van Dijk: Hey, thanks for having me! I’m currently on a plane heading to the United States! I’ve got two shows in Philadelphia and Miami this weekend. I love playing in America. I’m doing really well; the past month has been super nice. I didn’t fly out as much as usual, so it was great to see a lot of friends and bring them to the shows I had in Holland. The last few months were quite hectic travel-wise, so it was nice to have a few weekends in Holland and feel energized. I’m ready to kick it this weekend in the States.
EG: Congratulations on the release of ‘Get My Luv’! You must have been excited to be able to share this one with everyone. What has the initial reception been like? Do you remember the first time you tested these cuts live?
Luuk Van Dijk: Thanks! This one was special. I make a lot of music, and some tracks just work so well on the dancefloor that you know you’ve got something good. And with social media, you can easily connect with fans and see if they’re excited about certain tunes, like when I post videos on my feed and people start requesting the track. I usually get a bit nervous when releasing new music because you never know how it will be received. Will fans like it? Will other DJs play it? Will it get support from Spotify, Apple Music, etc.? But with this one, I was totally relaxed and excited to release it. I’m super happy with how it’s doing!
EG: What was the recording process for ‘Get My Luv’ like? Did you set out with a clear destination in mind? Do you have some sort of “blueprint” you tend to follow to organize yourself better, or does every track require a different approach?
Luuk Van Dijk: This one was a perfect example of just fooling around in the studio and finding the right pieces of the puzzle in a short time. I had been making loops and trying to come up with something for hours, and usually, after three hours, I give up and go home. But suddenly, everything fell into place. When I had the beat, bass, stabs, and vocal hook, I was so happy. It’s great to find all the elements for a solid track basis so you can relax and know it’s going to be all good. For me, it’s best to find all the right elements quickly because inspiration is key in my process. I’m not great at going back to a project later; everything needs to fall into place ASAP!
EG: ‘Get My Luv’ signals your much-awaited return to ANOTR’s No Art imprint after almost three years. Why did you decide to go with No Art for this particular release? What’s your relationship with the label like?
Luuk Van Dijk: We go way back, and obviously, the boys are doing great. So when they suggested doing another release, I was like, sure, let’s go! This is the fourth time I’ve released on their label, and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s all come together. When we locked in the EP, it wasn’t the same as what came out. There was a different track on it, but three weeks before the release, I made ‘Came To Party’ and knew it had to go on the EP. I sent it to them, they played it at Coachella, and it got the green light. I don’t think the track I left out will ever see the light of day, but the EP is perfect as it is now. Who knows?!
“I like to make all kinds of house music—sometimes more clubby, vibey, low-key, and sometimes just a banger”
EG: And you’re also celebrating the drop of ‘Do It Timmy’, your new single on Factory 93 Records, right? So, what’s this one all about? How did this one come about?
Luuk Van Dijk: Oh, this was a fun one to make. It’s different from the ‘Give My Luv’ EP because this track is all about tension, energy, and how it builds up. I love how it drops after the big room vocal break. I was doubting it because a climax with kicks only can be quite anticlimactic, but I just love it this way. I like to make all kinds of house music—sometimes more clubby, vibey, low-key, and sometimes just a banger.
EG: You’re behind your own Dark Side Of The Sun imprint. Where’s the imprint at the moment? Is there anything you can anticipate on that front?
Luuk Van Dijk: Right now, the label is focused on releasing quality music from talents and friends. There’s so much cool stuff coming out soon from Kepler, S.A.M., Milion, Benjamin Berg, D Stone, to name a few. Most of the time, when I release something, it starts as a promo and ends up being released. When people ask what I want to release, I always ask them to send the tracks they don’t know where to send. That’s why every release on the label sounds a little different, and I love that. I know most people want to hear a certain vibe or sound, but I started the label because I needed a home for tracks that couldn’t fit elsewhere. So I’m going to keep doing that.
EG: And you have recently launched your Get Closer event series as well. Congratulations. Can you tell our readers about the concept of Get Closer and where to catch it?
Luuk Van Dijk: I wanted to start a party that was different from the usual ones I play. It’s all about intimacy, low-key vibes, not too serious, and just good times. If you ask me, the most fun times are chilling with friends, having a slice of pizza, grooving, and feeling like time is standing still. We just threw an edition at BRET, a small, unique location in Amsterdam, from 1 in the afternoon till 1 at night. My girlfriend was making cocktails, I was handing out pizza, and my friends were helping out with the rest. DJs like Theo Kottis, Milion, and Dan Dusty played amazing sets. Halfway through, I played, and after, we all went B2B. For the last tracks, I was on the dancefloor with everyone, having the best time ever. Friends described it as if they were at someone’s house party—mission accomplished.
EG: By the way, how do you feel about the recent implementation of AI in the creative side of music? Have you explored any form of AI recently on ‘Get My Luv’ or ‘Do It Timmy’? What’s your relationship with that like?
Luuk Van Dijk: So far, I haven’t used AI in making music as I’m a very old-school producer. I use the same gear over and over and stick to what I know. I don’t think AI is necessarily a bad thing because all good music comes from people’s minds. Even if you use AI, there’s a human behind it with the idea to make something. So, I think it’s just an extension of our inspiration. Barney Stinson would say, “New is always better.”
“It’s all about intimacy, low-key vibes, not too serious, and just good times”
EG: Finally, can you provide some insights into what’s next for Luuk Van Dijk? What can we expect from you in the coming months? Where can your fans catch you next?
Luuk Van Dijk: The next track coming out is a tune I made with Kolter. Trust me, it’s a good one. There are loads of great gigs coming up, so just check out my schedule on Instagram and come dance somewhere! In the meantime, have a listen to my Get Closer radio show. I’m very excited about what the future will bring. Roll on the good times!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Luuk! See you on the dancefloor!
Luuk van Dijk’s ‘Do It Timmy’ is now available on Factory 93. Stream and download here.
Follow Luuk van Dijk: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook
