We’re only in the initial stages of November, but I can safely say that this month is one of the most exciting in the hard dance calendar! We’re blessed with some incredible events including Euphoria, Superbash, Bassleader, Loudness and of course, the mother of them all, Qlimax. Music-wise, now that the days are darker, colder and gloomier than ever and producers have been seeking solace behind studio doors, unleashing their inner creativity during these chilly winter months. The best thing about winter is that some of the greatest tunes are released during this period and it’s a time where artists really experiment with their sound and set goals for the following seasons.

Saying this, one particular artist has stood out to us, not only over the past month, but throughout this entire year. Despite what some fans say, this particular artist has undying ‘dedication’ towards the hardstyle scene and has been doing some amazing things locally and also on an international scale. Ladies and gentlemen, we introduce to you our ‘artist of the month’ for November: Coone!

Seeing as it’s conveniently a Thursday, we’re going to tangent into a little ‘throwback’ adventure through Coone’s initial years in the hard dance scene to his prominent status in today’s scene.

Koen Bauweraerts, or better known as Belgium’s #1 hard dance artist Coone made his first mark on the scene as a baby-faced Jumpstyle producer back in the early 2000’s. His playful and unique sound was ultimately what set him aside from many other producers, subsequently leading him to establish his name and also launch his world renowned imprint, Dirty Workz. The label itself has become one of the biggest in hard dance, is home to some of the most respected artists and has also become notorious for helping new talents take the next step in their career.

In 2008, Coone took the next leap in his career by releasing his very first album “My Dirty Workz,” an album that not only showcased his label to the world, but a body of work that cemented his name in hard dance for many years to come. Crossing over between jumpstyle and hardstyle, this stellar album included evergreen tracks such as “Words From The Gang” and “Unite.” After the success of his initial album Coone’s sound started undergoing some changes as he shifted his focus to hardstyle, which was a change that would soon mark some of his biggest accomplishments.

Huge releases followed such as “Starf*ckers,” and “The Undefeated,” followed by a game-changing concept that would result in one of the most successful albums. The aim was to produce a whole album in 30 days which seems absurdly impossible, right? Not for Coone, who managed to complete the album which included killer collaborations “Travelling” with Scope DJ, “D.W.X” with Da Tweekaz, “The Words” featuring Psyko Punkz and “Audio Attack” with Zatox. Although Coone had just finished an entire album, there was no stopping him as he continued smashing out brilliant tracks such as “Nustyle Crap” with Technoboy, “Free Again” with Scope DJ, “Beat On My Drum” and “Music Is Art,” a timeless hit that has become one of hardstyle’s biggest anthems.

If two albums weren’t enough, in 2013 he dropped his third album “Global Dedication,” which can best be described as a showcase of the finest melodic hardstyle. With a well thought-out concept and a faultless collection of music, this albums sole mission was to unite hardstyle lovers and also attract new listeners to the genre through the more accessible tracks. Generating a tremendously positive response, the album sparked worldwide tours as well as the conception of the “Global Dedication” podcast which launched in 2015. Serving as a platform to new talent, classic hits and other tunes that Coone’s digging at the moment, “Global Dedication” has quickly become the go-to for hard dance fans craving their monthly dose of hardstyle.

Releasing three albums, a plethora of hit singles and also having the honour to spread his sound to all corners of the globe, Coone became a front-man of hard dance; representing our scene internally and externally which resulted in producers from other genres taking a special interest in him. As the hardstyle scene began shifting and previous pioneers became ‘traitors,’ Coone became a name that sparked a lot of debate. So in 2015, Coone decided that it was time to set the record straight and assure his fans once and for all that he wasn’t going anywhere and will remain loyal to 150BPM with his chart-topper “Love For The Game.” The track itself is one of the most powerful, message oriented tracks of today and production-wise, it’s unique and portrays what real hardstyle should sound like.

For over a decade, Coone has successfully piloted hard dance music, earning a renowned status as a respected producer and performer. We’d like to congratulate him for all of his achievements over the years and we hope that there’s many more to come! And remember, lovers gonna love, haters gonna hate…