With over fifteen years behind the decks, Amsterdam-based DJ and Agrio Tracks label boss Tjade has carved out a vital space for uptempo house, hard house, prog, and early trance.
Photo credit: Tjade – Official
Known for his high-energy performances across global stages like Ministry of Sound, Glamorama, Awakenings, and Lowlands, Tjade has steadily earned a reputation as both a tastemaker and mentor, actively shaping the next wave of talent through his Agrio Tracks imprint and club nights.
Now, after a year of spotlighting emerging names, Tjade makes his own label debut with the double-tracker ‘Luv U / Hipon Shaker’. The release finds him reasserting his artistic identity, balancing break-driven, trance-tinged floor material with deeper musical explorations.
In this conversation, Tjade opens up about launching Agrio Tracks, returning to production, and the struggles artists face in the age of social media.
EG: Hi, Tjade! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been?
Tjade: Busy, but in the good way! It’s taken some proper hard work to launch my own music label while simultaneously touring every weekend, making music, booking artists for my events, and being a good (boy)friend & father. I’m happy I’ve got more help on board with the label and events now, and I finally have some more time to focus on my own music again. But hey, I’ll never full-on complain that I’m busy with my passion every day.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your new double-tracker, ‘Luv U / Hipon Shaker’! You must be stoked to have this one out. What are some of your thoughts regarding this release? What has the initial reception been like so far?
Tjade: Thank you very much! It’s been a while since I did my own EP, so it really feels like I’m properly back in it now on the producer level. I’ve felt like a DJ and label manager for a while there, but I can confidently call myself an artist again now. It’s been great getting these out, especially since it’s my first release on my own label. It was fun playing the role of both label head and label artist at the same time and experiencing it from both sides.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘Luv U / Hipon Shaker’?
Tjade: So from the start, I knew that these weren’t obvious (radio) hits, but I felt that they are a bit more musically interesting than my previous work. They still work really well on the dance floor or on your earpods, but I’m not expecting excessive airplay or huge DJ rotation as I’ve had with previous releases. I’m okay with that because the tunes are resonating with people who are looking for a little bit more depth. It’s been really helpful finishing these tracks and releasing them to see myself as the full package again. As I said, I can confidently call myself an artist again now, while that feeling might’ve been gone for a bit.
EG: And ‘Luv U / Hipon Shaker’ is out via your Agrio Tracks, signaling your debut on the label. It’s a rather curious anomaly for most artists owning their own imprints…Was this something that was premeditated for you?
Tjade: So earlier in my career, I’ve found it really hard to get going and start releasing music on platforms that actually have the attention of major artists, radio channels, journalists, bookers, promoters, etc.
The idea behind the label is that I now have my feet firmly planted in the scene, and I can live off music full time. I have the opportunity to return the favor to young artists seeking their breakthrough. I have the platform to play their music to thousands of people every weekend, I have the ear of their favorite artists, and I have the money to invest in them. I wanted to do something my younger artist self would be proud of and would consider helpful in that stage of their career. This is why we release music by new artists, guide them through the process, and often also combine it with one or multiple shows at our Agrio Club nights.
“I can confidently call myself an artist again now”
EG: By the way, you are a co-curator for KopjeK. Can you explain to our readers what the KopjeK parties are all about?
Tjade: The KopjeK parties started as an underground phenomenon in the student city of Groningen more than 15 years ago. It’s something you wanted to be at, and if you weren’t there, you had the biggest case of FOMO the days after. I found my way into the parties about 13 years ago and just asked the promoters if they needed help.
EG: And what does your job entail as co-curator?
Tjade: I went from blowing up balloons and lifting barriers to head of program (curator) within about 5 years. I’m happy I still get to book the artists that come play all these years later, because that means I get to give talented artists the opportunity to do the thing they love most: performing for a wild crowd.
EG: Discussing a broader picture…what do you see as the biggest challenge for artists in the near future?
Tjade: The main struggle I see is that so many artists would just like to DJ or just like to DJ and make music. Our talents lie with creating music and entertaining people with it. But nowadays it is almost mandatory to have a nice or interesting presence on social media. I barely manage to make it work online, but it tires the hell out of me. It’s just sad to think some really great artists will never make it because they don’t have enough energy or the natural talent to be interesting on social media. It shouldn’t be a thing, but I’m afraid it already is.
EG: Given your expertise, what advice would you give them?
Tjade: Stick to what you’re good at. Put as many hours in as you can. Don’t take shortcuts. Be patient. Be prepared to sacrifice things that are important. Ask for help. Don’t compare yourself to others, because comparison truly is the thief of joy. If you were made for this and you keep believing in yourself, you’ll make it in the end. However long that might be.
“I wanted to do something my younger artist self would be proud of”
EG: Looking forward, what can we expect from Tjade? Where can your fans catch you next? What are your next scheduled shows?
Tjade: So I’m really looking forward to releasing more music from this point onward. I have an EP coming up at the end of summer on Dart’s ‘Rapid Trax’ and then next year I’ll hopefully release lots of collabs I’ve finished with artists like Kyle Starkey, Inafekt, Sam Alfred, Kara Okay, and Entasia. Additionally, I’ve been in the studio with my side project, TLM Airlines, so I’m also expecting releases there!
Show-wise, I’m almost fully booked for the year, and I’m so so happy with what’s coming. We are also planning to return to Australia for a tour, something I’m really looking forward to. Next year, we’ll try to expand into the rest of Europe a little more and are also planning a full TLM airlines tour. Enough to look forward to!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Tjade! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
Tjade: Thank you for having me!
Tjade’s ‘Luv U / Hipon Shaker’ is out now on Agrio Tracks. Stream and download here.
Follow Tjade: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
