Für die deutsche Version bitte hier klicken.
In an era where TikTok dominates much of the harder techno scene, the rules have changed. Quick clicks, follower counts, storytelling, quantity over quality, and short tracks shape the music industry. Yet, there are still artists who refuse to be swayed by market trends—those who prioritize art and creative freedom above all. One of them is Raxeller, an independent producer and DJ in the field of industrial hardtechno who’s rapidly gaining momentum without playing the usual game.
Raxeller’s sound merges industrial techno with hardtechno. Cinematic elements meet dystopian themes. Raw sonic textures stir up visceral emotions—not for the faint of heart, but perfect for fans of hard, gritty music. After all, this isn’t pop. Yet Raxeller’s music is growing in popularity despite the Dutch artist from Alkmaar largely steering clear of social media trends. And maybe that’s exactly what many die-hard techno fans, who didn’t discover the scene through TikTok, are longing for: creative techno music that follows musical integrity, not metrics. Music that exists as free art, not bound by algorithms. Music that doesn’t chase after likes—but feels real. A mindset that’s becoming increasingly rare.
But not for Raxeller. A true music lover, he began producing his own tracks back in 2010. Over the years, his music steadily gained traction online. At that time, he still worked a regular job. But during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, things took off: promoters started to take notice, major releases followed, and in 2022, he began his DJ career. Unlike many overnight sensations, Raxeller didn’t explode out of nowhere. His path was forged over twelve years—years others try to fast-forward through with artificial hype. Quality over quantity. Skill over shortcuts. Longevity over flash-in-the-pan moments. Authenticity over performance.
Raxeller has since played at major festivals and world-renowned clubs. Among his most important shows: headlining Free Your Mind, Rotterdam Rave, and Verknipt in the Netherlands; TeleTech in Germany; Duro and Blackworks in Spain; Katlan in Hungary; HardBeats in Slovenia; and DOOM in Colombia. His music clearly resonates globally. He has also performed at iconic venues like Bootshaus in Cologne and Fabrik in Madrid—now as a full-time artist. His guiding principle for live shows: The music should be the focus—not the performer.
He also played at Gotec Club in Karlsruhe, which was voted #2 Best National Club in our 2024 readers’ poll, right after Bootshaus:
Other recent performances include the independent HIVE Festival in Ferropolis, Germany, MRC at Bolgia Bergamo in Italy, and Free Your Mind Festival Weekender in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Watch Raxeller in action at one of his Verknipt shows:
A personal highlight: an All-Night-Long Set in September 2023 for Verknipt at Hemkade48 Zaandam, Netherlands. For Raxeller, this was the biggest milestone in his career so far. “Everything just clicked—the energy, the crowd, the atmosphere,” he says. “It felt like the start of something bigger.”
Another standout moment: in July 2024, Raxeller performed in front of 40,000 people at Verknipt ArenA, held at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff ArenA—a once-in-a-lifetime experience he’ll never forget.
Watch it here:
Raxeller’s music comes from emotion—from the heart. Perhaps that’s why his intense industrial-hardtechno fusion resonates with a generation still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic. It’s a soundscape for a contradictory, disillusioned, and uncertain world—one where resilience is key. Raxeller expresses this tension through sound.
Most of his tracks are self-released, yet still amassed millions of streams. His vault of unreleased music is massive – earning him the nickname “King of Unreleased.”
His emphasis on music over image is clear in his minimal social media presence. He avoids spotlighting himself, focusing instead on the sound. He tries to stay off social platforms as much as possible—but in 2025, that’s increasingly hard to do. He’s on Instagram, but you won’t find silly dance clips or gimmicky storytelling. Just a few glimpses of his shows—enough to get a sense of what’s happening, but beyond that, the music speaks for itself.
Raxeller simply doesn’t identify as a “social media personality.” He’s a true musician. In his view, social media distracts from the music—but that presents challenges in an industry where follower counts increasingly dictate bookings. In 2025, if you’re not part of the content circus, some promoters won’t take you seriously.
We sat down with Raxeller for an interview—but first, a quick look at his most recent releases:
Latest single: “Dealing with my Demons”:
“Drown in Madness”, released in February 2025:
One of last year’s highlights, “Immortal”:
Interview with Raxeller
Hello Raxeller, great to have you for a short interview. How would you describe your music yourself? What is its message or expressive power?
Thanks for having me. I’d say my music is raw and honest. It’s not built to follow trends, it’s just me translating emotion into sound. Sometimes dark, sometimes uplifting, but always real. I don’t try to preach, I just try to create something that people can feel. If it helps someone get out of their head for a while, or feel something they needed to feel, then it did its job.
Even though you have really taken off in recent years, your work as a producer actually began back in 2010. Tell us, how did it all start for you as a producer? What equipment and software did you use?
It started in my bedroom with the demo version of FL Studio, because we didn’t have much money at the time. Just a basic laptop and some tiny Logitech desktop speakers. No big studio, no fancy gear. Just passion and obsession. Later I switched to Ableton, still using it to this day. Back then it wasn’t about having the best setup, it was about figuring it out with what I had and putting everything I felt into sound.
Let’s fast forward a bit: How is the COVID-19 pandemic connected to your career and your fanbase?
That period actually changed a lot. Everything stopped, which gave me time to go deep. I made some of my most emotional stuff during that time. I also noticed more people really connecting to the music on a personal level. I got a lot of messages saying it helped them through hard times. That meant a lot. Since then, the connection with my listeners feels stronger and more real.
Back to the message behind your music. Unlike many other artists who produce hard techno or hardtechno, you deliberately avoid social media appearances and prefer to focus on the music itself. What’s your opinion on acts that became big through TikTok and market themselves there? What do you think of the Techno-TikTok hype in general?
I think TikTok created a strange dynamic in the scene. It’s become less about the music and more about the performance around it. The look, the branding, the viral moment. And yeah, some people do it well and stay true to themselves, but a lot of it feels like fast food. Quick dopamine hits with no depth.
Personally I stay away from it. I want the focus to be on the music, not a ten-second video that gets lost in a scroll. And honestly, I think this whole TikTok hype will fade over time. People are already getting tired of the constant noise and short attention span content. At some point, realness comes back around. People will crave substance again. Music with meaning, not just another trend or visual gimmick.
I just hope that underground artists who put blood, sweat and tears into their music will get seen one day. Not because they played the game, but because they stayed original.
Since your first DJ performances in 2022, you’ve already played at numerous international festivals. What stood out in particular, what were your personal highlights and why? Can you maybe highlight one specific experience?
Hard to choose, but one that really stood out was playing in Colombia. The energy there was
insane. The crowd was fully present, fully feeling it. No ego, just love for the music. That show reminded me exactly why I started doing this. It was pure connection from start to finish. Moments like that stay with you.
What can we expect from you next?
More music, and even more honest than before. I’m working on a few special projects, both solo and collabs, and there are some shows coming that mean a lot to me. I won’t say too much, but I’m building things on my own terms. No rush, no pressure. Just real energy.
Thanks so much for the interview!
Upcoming Raxeller Dates
July 26, 2025 – Free Your Mind Festival, Drafbaan, Groningen (Netherlands)
August 2, 2025 – Teletech Festival, BEC Warehouse, Manchester (UK)
September 13, 2025 – Verknipt | Raxeller ADL, Hemkade 48, Zaandam (Netherlands)
October 23, 2025 – Teletech x FYM ADE, AFAS Live, Amsterdam (Netherlands)