Tiesto
Mar 30, 2021
Tijs Michiel Verwest is real name of Dutch DJ/producer Tiesto, often referred to as the Godfather Of EDM by many Dance music professionals.
He developed a passion for music at a young age and began DJing school parties while a teenager. After years of gigging in Netherlands at different residencies, he began releasing music using various alieses.
A breakthrough moment happened in the late '90s when, he collaborated with Ferry Corsten, another Dutch DJ, forming the Trance-based duo Gouryella. Their first release "Gouryella" became a Top 15 UK hit. Other releases would follow while Tiesto continued his club residencies throughout Europe.
Tiesto's U.S. introduction was the the mix album, Summerbreeze, which featured his remix of Canadian duo Delerium's song "Silence," which became an Top 5 hit on the Dance Chart. In 2002, he toured the U.S. with Moby's Area2 Tour. He would eventually remix two of Moby's tracks, including "We Are All Made Of Stars," which was a Top 15 hit on the Dance Chart.
Tiesto became the first DJ to perform solo concert in a stadium when he performed for 25,000 people at the GelreDome in Netherlands.
In 2004, Tiesto was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. That year, he became the first DJ to play live on stage at an Olympic Games, playing a 90 minute set during the opening ceremony in Athens.
Tiesto's music has been featured in the video games DJ Hero and DJ Hero 2. From 2012-17 Sirius XM featured Tiesto's Club Life Radio as one of the platform's dance channels, with the artist himself curating the programming.
In 2015 he won a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for the John Legend hit, "All Of Me."
"The Business" was released in September 2020 and features vocals from James Bell. A remix, titled "The Business Part II" was released in January 2021, featuring a guest appearance from Ty Dolla $ign.