Instagram story viewer> @theorangecourier> Posts

The Orange Courier

@theorangecourier

34

followers

2

following

Delivering you the freshest news in the Harder Styles scene
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
by @tecaspt

POSTS STORIES REELS

After years of going harder and faster, Hard Dance has somehow decided the next big thing is… going slower.

‘Slowtempo’ is suddenly everywhere, but the basic idea behind it really isn’t new. More than a decade ago, Subground was already experimenting with lower BPM’s, just for very different reasons.

I’ve been thinking about that parallel, what separates the two, and whether there’s actually something worth keeping once the current shock value wears off.

Personally, I don’t think ‘slowtempo’ itself will last. But maybe some of its ideas will. My thoughts on this are now live on the website! by @theorangecourier

One of my recent articles explored Hardstyle moving into the mainstream. While writing it, I kept coming back to the opposite question:

What happens when Hardstyle takes something from the mainstream and makes it its own?

This follow-up goes into samples, bootlegs, covers, publishing and copyright - and how a scene built on borrowing changed once it became too visible to ignore. Available now on the website by @theorangecourier

My first Decibel Outdoor is in the books. Three days exploring Beekse Bergen, jumping between Hardstyle and Hardcore, from the classics to the modern stuff - with a few surprises, some incredible sets, plenty of mud, and very tired legs by the end of it.

I went into Decibel wanting to finally experience one of the events I’d spent years watching from afar. I came back with plenty to say about the music, sound, stages, crowds, accommodation, logistics and, especially, just how much festival you actually get for your money.

The full review is now up on The Orange Courier - including the good, the bad, and the things I’d definitely do differently next time.

Did Decibel live up to your expectations this year? by @theorangecourier

Hardstyle is on Mainstages. It’s in viral pop remixes. It reaches people today in ways that would have felt almost impossible twenty years ago.

But I keep coming back to a different question: does reaching more people actually create more Hardstyle fans?

Does somebody who discovers The Saints through ‘Danza Kuduro’ keep digging? Does a Mainstage appearance bring people into our scene, or simply give Hardstyle a few minutes in front of a crowd that moves on to the next thing?

Because hearing Hardstyle and becoming a Hardstyle fan are not the same thing.

I don’t think there’s a simple answer - but I think it’s a conversation worth having.

New article is out, you can read it in the website! by @theorangecourier

There was a time when Australian Hardstyle fans had to look 16,000 kilometres towards the Netherlands for the rarest moments in our scene.

Now, increasingly, Europe is looking at Sydney and asking: why do they get that?

Australia spent years exporting artists into the European Hardstyle machine. Today, HSU is bringing dormant acts back to life, securing once-unthinkable bookings and even hosting world premieres.

From Project One, Showtek, Headhunterz and The Prophet to Rebelion premiering MWI at EPIK 2026, my latest article looks at how Australia went from exporting artists to importing Hardstyle history.

Read the full article now on The Orange Courier by @theorangecourier

The dancefloor has always meant freedom, unity and belonging to me. But freedom without safety is a lie.

Over the past months, everything that has unfolded around the “neorave” scene has forced some very uncomfortable conversations into the open.

This article is, above all, my attempt to put my thoughts on the whole matter into words. Protecting those who come forward, making our dancefloors safer and taking allegations seriously is essential. But so is finding the truth, separating allegations from facts, and treating every case for what it actually is.

‘When The Dancefloor Stops Feeling Like Home’ is now live on The Orange Courier. by @theorangecourier

Thousands of Warriors once again made their pilgrimage to the Holy Grounds to answer their Sacred Oath. However, the Gods decided that this was not to be.

The most anticipated Hard Dance event of the year was cancelled just as its first day came to an end. As a dangerous heatwave spread through central Europe, Dutch health services reached capacity, leading authorities to issue a Code Red warning, the first in the country’s history. Thousands of Warriors were left stranded and asked to leave the premises on very short notice.

Personally, this has left a scar that has been very difficult to process and heal. To me, and to many others, Defqon.1 is the highlight of the year. My own calendar runs from Defqon.1 to Defqon.1, not from January 1st to December 31st. It is this event that makes all the work, difficulties, and sacrifices worth it. Being denied the privilege of living it is one of the most disconcerting things that could have happened to me.

To me, writing is an escape, and as soon as I read the news about the cancellation, I knew I had to write about it. My “review” this year isn’t so much about how I spent my weekend, but more about my thoughts on what this cancellation means.

You can now read my scrapbook of thoughts about Defqon.1 on the website. by @theorangecourier

Defqon.1, the ultimate destination for fans of the harder styles. Does it live up to the hype? Absolutely! Is it a perfect experience? Not quite, but it’s certainly moving in that direction.

Every year, I put together an in-depth write-up of my experience and share my feedback on the event. I don’t always publish it, but this year, I’ve decided to let it out into the world. You can read the full piece on the website. by @theorangecourier

Here’s the big changes announced today for Defqon.1 during the Release stream, along with my own highlights out of these changes and the lineup… Who are you most excited to see this year? by @theorangecourier

Já está disponível no blog a minha opinião sobre a última festa da Hard Dance Portugal! 🎶 Falo um pouco de como o evento correu, da venue em si e dos pontos fortes e menos fortes do evento.

Agora o foco vai para preparar o vlog! 🎥👀 Em breve vais poder ver (e ouvir!) um pouco do que lá se passou… Fica atento! by @theorangecourier

New blog post is live! Taking a closer look at the “neorave” phenomenon, its impact on the Hard Dance scene, and why it raises some serious concerns… Read my thoughts via the website! by @theorangecourier