When it comes to Hardwell's Revealed Recordings, it's all in the name. More than a decade since its inception, the label's legacy is crystallizing not only for its deeply influential music, but also for what it has since revealed about the EDM community.
Revealed was released in 2010, a time when the relentless drums of big room house were knocking out tooth fillings at every major EDM festival. Its founder, 22-year-old Hardwell, emerged at the time as a buccaneer beatsmith intent on changing the fabric of the genre with unconventional mainstage anthems like “Spaceman.”
c/o Press
But big room house's heyday disintegrated in 2018, and the genre's popularity plummeted due to rampant saturation. Citing the pressures of a grueling touring schedule, Hardwell's shocking indefinite hiatus threw another wrench into Revealed's rotor.
The label, however, flourished. She continued to act as a magnifying glass on the dance music zeitgeist, highlighting the importance of new talent and a strong brand. If you frequented EDM blogs at the time, chances are a large portion of the music releases featured the iconic Revealed Recordings triangle.
The brand became a beacon of resilience as its owners refocused, hiring young, hungry producers who channeled the euphoria of electro and progressive house to transform the genres into sounds of their own. Transformative Revealed anthems by Dyro, Paris Blohm, Thomas Newson and many others continued to decimate all the festival's main stages.
A thousand releases later, there is perhaps no one better for Hardwell to savor the milestone with than KAAZE, a ride-or-die Revealed that now has a staggering 102 releases on the label. This means that the Swedish producer is responsible for approximately one tenth of the label's total catalogue.
The powerful song that opened the floodgates of the next era of Revealed? “Move,” a Hardwell and Kaaze lead track that turns back the clock to the label’s golden era.
We sat down with Hardwell to talk about his historic record label and discuss what the future holds.
EDM.com: Revealed has been a powerhouse in shaping the sound of EDM since its inception in 2010. Looking back on your incredible journey, are there any specific releases that stand out as a defining moment for the label?
Hardwell: It's a great question, but also a difficult one because, as you can imagine, the label has had many. So, 2012 was a colossal leap for the label because that year not only began with the release of “Spaceman,” but also closed with “Apollo,” both of which became their own entities. Together they brought so much attention to the label that everything took off with Revealed from then on.
EDM.com: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced leading such an influential label for so long?
Hardwell: Don't get carried away by focusing solely on established acts. Running a label is a challenging task for any person or team. Everyone wants big wins (it's part of the game) and in some ways it's a safer bet to turn to established acts for big wins.
But I started Revealed to be a home for my music, as well as a platform for new talent. As a label, we of course sign and work with established artists, but we are also very motivated to champion new talent.
EDM.com: “Move” seems like a perfect anthem for this milestone. What made this song the right choice to commemorate such a momentous occasion?
Hardwell: KAAZE has been part of the label for many years and is a very inspiring figure within our family. It's a pleasure to watch him rise through the ranks of the industry and grow.
We've always had good chemistry when it comes to music and “Move” is the perfect example of that. The moment we nailed that melody, we both felt like this song was going to be something special. The timing of the 1000th release and the completion of “Move” felt like the perfect synergy for KAAZE to join me in celebrating this milestone moment.
KAAZE/Instagram
EDM.com: Did you feel any extra pressure to deliver something truly special for this landmark release?
Hardwell: Of course. I try not to, but I can't help but put pressure on myself when it comes to things like this. It is unavoidable. But I want these moments to be special because they are a marker on the timeline.
EDM.com: EDM has evolved significantly since Revealed's humble beginnings. How does “Move” bridge the gap between the past, the present of the genre and the future of dance music?
Hardwell: Well, there are big room elements of course, but the track is much more aimed at our current core sound with hard-hitting kicks and bass elements, leaning into that techno sound space. They are high energy things.
The bridge between all of this is a drive to keep pushing boundaries, to make music that makes fans want to “move.” It's called dance music for a reason and hopefully this song embodies that.
EDM.com: This milestone comes ahead of their long-awaited headliner at Ultra Europe next month. Can you tell us about the differences between performing at that festival and Ultra Miami, where you are considered a legend?
Hardwell: Ha thanks. I have always felt a great connection with the Ultra audience over the years. Of course, the Miami festival has played its part in some really key moments in my career, so it's a unique place to play.
But having said that, Ultra Europe has also given me a platform to spread my music to fans on this side of the world. Both festivals have their own unique energy and vibe, with very individual stages, but I would say the passion of the fans never changes.
What is it about the Ultra brand that makes it so special?
Hardwell: Ultra is one of the festivals where it all started for me; It is a place with a lot of history and memories. Myself and many other artists have a deep connection to the festival because it has been a platform to help us break out, share new music and, above all, connect with a crowd of like-minded music-loving fans.
EDM.com: Revealed has become more than just a label; It is a brand and a movement. What are your hopes for the future impact of the label?
Hardwell: Continue supporting new talent and releasing music we truly believe in. Additionally, the vision is to further engage our community.
Our core is a record label, but through our events, academy, pop-ups and other social gatherings, we want to be able to bring everyone together as a community. We are constantly looking for ways to do this, both online and offline. That's why I hope to implement new projects and concepts in the future with this in mind.
EDM.com: What are you most excited about about the next 1000 releases on Revealed?
Hardwell: The possibilities that lie ahead of us. The talent that will emerge and the exciting new music that will be released. When I look back, we've evolved a lot as a label over these last 1,000 releases. It excites me with a great deal of wonder at what the future holds.
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