Jaxx & Vega Interview: A New Solo Era, a Hardstyle Supercollab, and His Bold Vision for EDM's Future

The QR Network · Best of Jaxx & Vega | Big Room, Mainstage, EDM, Festival Mixes

First things first, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. This feels a like a full-circle moment, as beyond being a long-time fan since your releases on TNC and  Bonerizing Records, I also had the pleasure of releasing “Jaipur” with VSNS on Intensity  Recordings as well as coordinated with you and your team to make it possible to release one of our biggest hits, “Move It” by OUTRAGE & ALEJANDRO.

​It’s been over a year now since  Janis decided to take a different path and you began steering the Jaxx & Vega project solo.  Now that you’ve had time to settle into this new chapter, how has that transition been for you  on both a creative and personal level? What do you miss about that daily collaborative  dynamic, and what have been some of the unexpected freedoms or challenges of leading the  project on your own?
Thank you for having me! 

When Janis told me about his decision, I completely understood. We started our careers at a time  when our main focus was purely on making music and getting it signed to the main imprints of our  idols. That has changed drastically. 

He realized that nowadays, you more or less have to be an influencer to stay relevant and the fact  that the music itself doesn’t really seem to matter anymore led him to step away from the industry. I respected his decision, and we're still good friends. We stay in regular contact and still talk a lot  about music. 

When it comes to production, I definitely miss his creative ideas and clever sound selections. On the other hand, I can now fully focus on my own ideas and experiment with things I might not have  tried before. 

​We’ve all noticed that our main sound Big Room doesn’t have as many listeners anymore and has  been somewhat replaced by what people now call “TikTok Techno.” Of course, I tried to adapt and  merged the classic Jaxx & Vega sound with this new trend. But I’ve realized that I’m not really a  big fan of it anymore. 

So yes, you can definitely expect a comeback of the classic Jaxx & Vega Big Room Sound in the  coming months. It takes a bit of time to get the records released, but the wait will be worth it. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jaxxandvega (@jaxxandvega)

I’ve worked with and for almost every big artist in this industry, and now it’s time to get back to my roots and focus on the fans who have always supported me. ​

Let’s dive into your upcoming release, which is a massive supercollab with Justin Prime,  SaberZ, and Jawny Sparklez—a track that feels like it was destined to happen. Can you walk  us through the origin story of this record? How did the four of you finally come together, and  what was the energy like getting all of those distinct, powerful production styles and Jawny’s  performance to merge into one cohesive festival hit? 
The track is actually about two years old now. Justin and SaberZ came up with the main idea, which is a remake of the Tiësto classic "Love Comes Again." Since there were already a few Big Room versions out there, we decided to give it a twist and create a Hardstyle version instead.

Hardstyle is one of the most popular genres in Europe right now, and I play it a lot in my sets so the track naturally turned out super euphoric, which we all loved. The vocals from Jawny are the cherry on top, and in my opinion, they fit the track perfectly. 
​
Justin, Beni, and Kris are absolute masterminds, very detail-oriented and I really enjoy working with them. Pretty much every idea we come up with turns into a massive track. And for the Big Room fans out there: don’t worry, we’re also working on some new Big Room stuff! 

Your discography reads like a who's-who of mainstage music, with collaborations alongside  titans like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, W&W, Bassjackers, and Steve Aoki. What role do you think these big-name collaborations play for an artist's career in 2025? Furthermore, now  that you’re an established force yourself, how does that incredible resume influence the way  you decide to platform and champion rising talents like OUTRAGE, G-Sus and VSNS? 
For me, it has always been a dream to work with artists like the ones you mentioned. I’ve learned so much from them, and of course, those collaborations helped push my career forward. But over the  current situation I don't think big-name collaborations are necessary anymore for new artists. I  highly recommend new artists to not aim for that one Viral thing. Keep it Original! 

When I collaborate, it’s never about numbers or fame. It’s about passion and talent. I want to work  with artists who truly care about creating a great track and that’s exactly what happened with  producers like G-Sus, VSNS, and OUTRAGE. 

You can learn a lot from artists like them. I’m always open to working with anyone as long as the  production is professional or creatively outstanding.  
​
Some older ID's will definitely get released soon! ​

Intensity Recordings · Jaxx & Vega x VSNS - Jaipur

You’ve been a consistent force through what many call the ‘golden era’ of big room and  have seen the scene evolve firsthand. From your vantage point, how has the vibe of festival  music shifted over the past decade, both in what gets played on the mainstage and the  dynamics behind the scenes? What has it been like to not only witness that change but to  be an active part of shaping it?  
I see it alarming now how the Scene has changed. Of course you have a whole generation that has  changed and I might see it from a different older generation which does not mean everything is bad. You can learn a lot from that new era. But I believe that in 2025 and even more so in 2026 the industry is going to change significantly. Platforms like TikTok and others have become more  important for getting noticed or finding success than traditional channels like Beatport or DJ Mag.  Personally, that’s not really my thing, because I feel the quality standards are at an all-time low  right now. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jaxxandvega (@jaxxandvega)

I really hope people start shifting back to valuing production quality and originality over quantity  and meme trends. 

We’re witnessing an era where music gets released and one or two days later, it’s already forgotten because there’s a new track out. People’s attention spans have decreased massively;  I’ve noticed it  at some live shows. 

If you're not playing at a scene-specific venue, the crowd often needs a music change every 30-60 seconds otherwise, they lose interest. Mic work has also become way more important than it was 15 years ago. ​

At big venues, more and more people are just staring at their phones or filming the entire show  instead of actually partying. I’ve seen this at almost every event since COVID. It feels like people want to be entertained constantly, rather than just vibing to the music. Artists are adapting to this by making TikTok meme techno which might be fun for the younger generation,  but to me, it’s honestly ridiculous how they throw away legacies and their signature. You also notice that more and more people aren’t into this kind of music anymore and want quality productions to  come back.

We’ve gone from creating original festival anthems full of emotion to making soulless music with  one goal: going viral!  
​
I try to look at it positively and give my best to adapt my roots to new sounds and ideas. As artists,  we need to evolve with the times and make the most out of every change. The same thing happened with big room a few years ago, everyone was doing it, and eventually it became overproduced and a  bit boring. Maybe it needed to fade out for a while so it could come back stronger. And I definitely  believe it will, because at festivals it still works incredibly well. ​

Amsterdam Dance Event is just around the corner, and it remains the most important week  for networking in our industry. Seeing a packed-out label showcase, like the Nexchapter  nights in the past, is a perfect example of the energy there. As a veteran of the event, what  have been the most valuable things you’ve gotten out of ADE over the years? As your  career has evolved, what does a successful trip look like for you now? And finally, for the  countless producers heading there for the very first time this October, what’s one piece of  crucial advice you would give them to make their mark? 
ADE is still the best event to meet fellow artists and connect with fans from around the world. The  whole industry comes together in this beautiful city. For new artists, I highly recommend visiting  ADE and checking out the various showcases. Bring USB sticks, hand them out, or ask for  feedback it really helps, trust me! Of course, the events and label showcases are always the biggest  highlights. For me, it’s always special, and I make sure to play a lot of new music there because I know people are excited to hear it. The vibe is completely different since everyone is there purely  for the music. The shows I’ll be playing at ADE will be announced soon on my socials! 

With so much change behind you and a new solo path ahead, what is the primary focus for  the Jaxx & Vega project right now? What are the next major milestones you’re aiming for,  and as you look forward, how do you envision your role and your sound continuing to  evolve within the dance music landscape? ​
Right now, my main focus is making music. I want to help bring positive changes to the scene and  push for more quality. That’s why I’ve decided to bring big room back into my discography,  starting with releases at the end of this year. You’ll also hear some different genres here and there,  but the main focus will definitely be on the Mainstage Sound. I’ve even convinced a lot of other big room OGs to collaborate on new tracks, so fans can definitely get excited. 
​
Thank you for having me!
Marvin