A “hoax” is a deception, prank, or trick. For Belgian artist and producer Tibo, “Hoax” is the name he chose to deejay and produce electronic dance music, in all its forms.
Photo Credit: Hoax (BE) – Official
He fell in love with EDM at a very early age, and he has released records on many prestigious labels to date. The Hoax sound is infused with disco, groove, and techno vibes, keeping the listener aware that most of the time… what you see is not what you get, you need to dig deeper.
EG caught up with Hoax (BE) to learn more about the release of his new remix for NERVO, his journey so far, and more.
EG: Hi Tibo! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you based right now?
Hoax (BE): Hello! It is a pleasure to be here with you. I am currently typing this from Ibiza. I have just arrived and I will spend most of my summer based over here.
EG: Sounds great. First of all, congratulations on the drop of your new remix for Nervo’s ‘Giving It All’! What has the initial reception been like?
Hoax (BE): So far it has been well received. The remix has been played many times by NERVO on their radio show and live shows, already in November and December of last year, and I am very happy that the remix is out for everyone to listen to! I have also played it in my gigs and the reaction has been great.
EG: So, what was it about ‘Giving It All’ that caught your attention? What was it that you thought you could bring to the table with your own remix? What can your fans expect to find on this one?
Hoax (BE): I really loved the original song as I think the vocals are fantastic. I wanted to bring an energetic version with a big drop and I made the remix so that it is a track that can be played in front of a big audience. And I wanted of course to make sure that my listeners can recognize specific sounds that are typical of my productions.
EG: This has been quite a phenomenal way to kickstart the year in terms of releases…Is there anything else you can anticipate on that front?
Hoax (BE): I have another remix out very soon on June 1st for a song by Max Vangeli from his new album that is being released this May.
“I really loved the original song as I think the vocals are fantastic. I wanted to bring an energetic version with a big drop and I made the remix so that it is a track that can be played in front of a big audience”
EG: Speaking about productions…you are self-taught through YouTube videos, right? Have you ever had any courses or classes? What would you say are some of the advantages of being self-taught?
Hoax (BE): Yes it is correct, I have been learning everything by watching countless YouTube videos online. I think when you are very passionate about something, you can always find a way to learn. And right now with technology, everyone has access to virtually everything.
EG: Can you talk to us about your recent self-released edits series? How did you choose which artists you wanted to rework?
Hoax (BE): When I play, I always like to make sure my sets are unique, so I have always been creating edits with current instrumental releases adding some well-known pop vocals from songs I have always loved.
Most of these edits were only used when I had a gig, but since the reaction has been really good, then I decided to release them on Soundcloud. This is also a way to expand my fan base and make sure more people are aware of my sound.
EG: And how did you first come in contact with electronic dance music? Was there a show or record that pushed you down the rabbit hole?
Hoax (BE): Being from Belgium, I have always been aware of Tomorrowland, so I fell in love with dance music watching YouTube videos about the famous festival when I was 13.
EG: Can you tell us something about yourself that only a few people know about?
Hoax (BE): I hate veggies! To the point that when I order a burger, I don’t want even a leaf of lettuce or a slice of tomato. However, I still take my vitamins because I like soups and I eat very healthily in general.
“Right now with technology, everyone has access to virtually everything”
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you checked out any good movies, series, books, or albums you’d recommend?
Hoax (BE): In parallel with music, I also play soccer on a semi-professional level. So I take my fitness very seriously. I think the gym and soccer training are very important parts of my life, and I think it is a great balance between the sports and the music life.
As for series, I love ‘The Office’ – it is a great one to clear your head and since the storyline is quite simple, I can also check my texts every now and then without missing out too much on the story.
EG: What’s next for Hoax? What particular milestones are you looking forward to in 2023? Where can your fans catch you next?
Hoax (BE): Finally, this year I will be able to release all the music I have been working on. There are many songs with great singers and I am really looking forward to everyone checking out my music, it is different from the old releases I have done and I am very excited.
As for the live shows, I will be playing in Ibiza, also in Belgium for a few festivals, and in London in June.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Tibo! We wish you all the best for the future.
Hoax (BE): Thank you very much for having me! Have a great summer 🙂
Hoax (BE)’s remix for NERVO’s ‘Giving It All’ is out now. Purchase your copy here.
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