W&W is a Dutch electronic music duo consisting of Willem van Hanegem Jr. and Ward van der Harst. Known for their high-energy fusion of trance, big-room house, and festival anthems, W&W has become one of the most influential names in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene. With support from Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, Tiësto, and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, they have dominated mainstages at Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and EDC with their signature high-impact sound.
Early Years & Formation (2007–2011)
Willem van Hanegem and Ward van der Harst, both from the Netherlands, started as pure trance producers. After meeting in 2007, they quickly gained attention with their debut release, “Mustang,” which was supported by Armin van Buuren and Tiesto.
Their early music had a progressive and uplifting trance style, leading them to release tracks on Armada Music and get featured on A State of Trance (ASOT).
Notable early tracks:
- “Mustang” (2007) – Their breakout trance hit.
- “Mainstage” (2009) – A high-energy track that inspired their later brand, Mainstage Music.
- “Shotgun” (2011) – A transition into a more festival-oriented sound.
Rise to Festival Dominance (2012–2016)
By 2012, W&W evolved their sound, blending trance melodies with the high-energy, explosive drops of big-room house. This shift made them one of the most requested acts for major festivals.
Key festival anthems:
- “Lift Off” (2012) – Marked their transition into a big-room trance/hybrid sound.
- “The Code” (2013) – with Ummet Ozcan – A festival banger that dominated Ultra & Tomorrowland.
- “Bigfoot” (2014) – One of their biggest festival hits, widely played by top DJs.
- “Rocket” (2014) – with Blasterjaxx – A fusion of hard-hitting drops and trance influences.
- “Arcade” (2016) – with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike – A Tomorrowland anthem.
W&W’s style was heavily influenced by both trance and big-room house, making them versatile performers at both ASOT and major EDM festivals.
Recent Years & Return to Trance (2017–Present)
While W&W became known for festival anthems, they never completely left their trance roots. In 2017, they launched NWYR (pronounced “New Year”), a trance alias focused on bringing back uplifting, tech-trance, and progressive sounds.
Key NWYR Releases:
- “Voltage” (2017) – Their first trance release under NWYR.
- “Ends of Time” (2021) – A blend of classic trance melodies and modern production.
Meanwhile, as W&W, they continued producing high-energy festival hits, collaborating with Timmy Trumpet, Hardwell, and Armin van Buuren.
Recent W&W Festival Hits:
- “Chakra” (2017) – with Vini Vici – A psytrance-influenced banger.
- “Rave Love” (2020) – A festival favorite.
- “Skydance” (2023) – A modern big-room-meets-trance anthem.
Whether producing melodic trance under NWYR or delivering massive festival drops as W&W, they continue to push boundaries and unite trance and big-room sounds.