Both of the Thivaios brothers made their first forays into DJ sets and making their own music in their teenage years, playing small clubs in and around their hometown of Willebroek. However, it wasn’t until after they’d both made a name for themselves in their own rights that they actually began to collaborate frequently enough to make a joint moniker necessary. Dmitri travelled across Europe through the noughties, becoming a resident DJ at Ibiza club Space in 2003 and eventually settling in Zante, Greece, where he frequently played top clubs including Resident and The End. Michael, meanwhile, had been making waves in his native Belgium. Their first collaborative project saw Dmitiri produce Michael’s remix of ‘Work That Body’, bringing them to the attention of DJ Axwell, who commissioned a further remix for his label.
They quickly rose to become hosts, for the first time, of the Tomorrowland Festival in 2010. The event, in Belgium, is the biggest electronic music festival in the world. Unsurprisingly, the attention that afforded them has seen them go from strength to strength since, working with the likes of Afrojack and Nervo and closing the festival again, in 2014, with help from Diplo and Steve Aoki.
Robin Schulz started making music in 2007, at the age of 20. At an early age, Schulz developed a love for electronic music beginning to mix and create sets in his adolescence. He was initially inspired by the likes of Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth, MANDY and Booka Shade, incorporating tracks by these artists into his mixes. Between 2007-2009, Schulz became involved with the local party series, known as “Electro Snippets,” helping to develop his own ideas. His initial creations were minimalist affairs, although as his experience developed, he moved towards a deep house/tech house sound. Other influences include Todd Terry, Armand Van Helden, Roger Sanchez and Tiesto.
In creating his music, Schulz often uses FL Studio and his Edirol PCR-300 MIDI keyboard, produced using Ableton Live 8. In 2013, he remixed the track, “Waves,” by Dutch hip hop artist Mr Pobs, which went on to be a huge hit. It reached the top spot of the German, Austrian, Norway, Swedish, Swiss and UK charts, as well as reaching the top ten in seven other countries. It was certified Gold and Platinum in several countries.
He returned in 2014 with another successful remix, of Lilly Wood & The Prick’s track, “Prayer in C,” from their 2010 album, “Invincible Friends.” “Prayer in C” topped the charts in several European countries and was a massive dance-floor hit, reaching number one in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, as well as several others. His debut album, “Prayer,” was released in September 2014, reaching the top ten in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and in the US Dance Chart.
While list made by music magazines probably shouldn’t be taken quite as seriously as the creators might like them to be, they do stand for a lot. So when DJ Magazine put Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike at 6th place on their 100 Greatest DJ’s in the world list in 2013, that means that the Belgian/Greek duo are at or very near the top of their game. When their game consists of playing EDM music, quite possibly the most relevant form of popular music in the world right now, that’s even more impressive but the best part is that even to someone with very little interest in that genre, they can still put on an absolutely insane live show. One need only look at the duo’s set at this year’s Tomorrowland Festival, where the show they put on to just under two hundred thousand raving Belgians was of a scale to put the likes of Muse to shame with ease. This is the norm to Vegas and Mike. There’s no crowd in the world too discerning or reserved for them, one could rock up thinking that there wasn’t a dancing bone in their body but the sheer force of their propulsive beats and synth hooks to die for could start a party in a morgue. So buy a ticket, check your inhibitions by the door, and don’t bother collecting them at the end of the night cos it’ll only be a matter of time until you’ll want to experience it all over again!
This guys house music is deeeeeep. He fits right in with the popular house cadets that have taken over the charts.
And live he is like no other. I'm not slating MK because he has done extremely well to get to where he now is, on every Kiss playlist going...Whereas Robin Schulz really puts 110% into his live work. He keeps the crowd going for a full hour thirty set which is a difficult task. Whats better is that he is playing live on News years eve...I mean NYE! That's crazy! He is working on New years eve in the later hours and the early hours of New Years Day no doubt. That right there is dedication and proves that he loves to perform live, it's the best perk of the job.
If you can get tickets to see him on NYE then bravo my friends, you are in for the best New years of your lives. If not then try your hardest to see him live anywhere else. Listen to his Live @ Mayday 2014 mix on youtube when your getting ready to go out and everyone will be in the best party mood.