Dimitri Vegas has become a name synonymous with dance music, and that’s especially true when it’s alongside his brother, Michael Thivaios.
As one of the leading DJ/producer duos on EDM scene, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike have not only built an extensive discography and co-founded the hitmaking Smash The House label, but they’ve headlined some of the biggest music festivals around the world. As a duo, they made their debut 15 years ago at Belgium’s world-famous Tomorrowland in 2009 – and the rest is history.
Now, Dimitri Vegas is taking a short break from the duo and making some artistic waves on his own. His new single, “Good For You,” out now through the House of House imprint, is a feel-good collaboration with Chapter & Verse and the Grammy Award-winning duo Goodboys.
On the decision to release as a solo artist, Dimitri Vegas reveals that he looks at it as two sides of the same coin, where both are equally electrifying. What he is eager to explore as a solo artist is the ability to “dive deep into our personal creative ocean, while our festival-inspired sound adds extra layer of dynamism when we’re together.”
Upon our sit-down with Dimitri Vegas, he fills us in on his exploration of dance music, stand-out career moments, DJ set-up and studio preferences, his early memories as a DJ/producer, the success of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and what the future holds for his solo endeavors.
DJ LIFE: How and when did you first begin exploring electronic music? Were you classically trained?
Dimitri Vegas: I was never classically trained, but I connected with a wide range of music from a super early age… so, everything from pop and disco to early hip hop and then later dance music. I was about 13-years old, and I was at a summer-camp/holiday thing in Belgium, and I met some kids who were into DJing at that point. I saw them playing with vinyls for the first time, and I was like, “That’s cool – I want to do that!” From there, I started DJing and collecting vinyl in my teens and then left home early to pursue working in several European holiday resorts, DJing, before landing in Ibiza. My brother Mike later joined me out there. After I got home a few years later, we built up our studio and it all kind of snowballed from there.
DJ LIFE: When did you first know that you wanted to pursue a full-time career in music?
Dimitri Vegas: From about 12-years old onwards, I think I always knew I wanted to be involved in music in some capacity. But I guess it wasn’t until I landed my first proper gig DJing in Europe as a holiday rep that it really hit me: I could do this full-time. As years went on and eventually my brother Mike and I teamed up, the drive just grew stronger.
DJ LIFE: Can you share one of your earliest or standout memories from a DJ set or live show?
Dimitri Vegas: There’s been so many, but, of course, it’s hard to beat the experience of playing Tomorrowland [in Boom, Belgium]. Making our debut for the festival back in 2009 and our first mainstage play in 2010 are moments I will never forget. The festival has evolved so much since those early days. But even back then, the magic of Tomorrowland was palpable. I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous and excited at the same in my entire life. What an incredible feeling it was.
DJ LIFE: What’s your current DJ set-up? What was your first DJ gear?
Dimitri Vegas: Right now, we use a Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 and DJM-900 setup. My first set-up? A far cry from what I’m using now. It was a pair of battered, belt-drive turntables, and a cheap mixer that was more duct tape than tech. But hey, it was the start of something epic, right?
DJ LIFE: When it comes to music production and your studio, what’s your preferred studio set-up – programs, plug-ins, etc.?
Dimitri Vegas: My go-to is Apple Logic Pro and Sony ACID Pro. As for plug-ins – [LennarDigital] Sylenth1, [Native Instruments] Massive, reFX Nexus and [Reveal Sound] Spire are my trusted VSTs. I prefer to work with samples, so my workflow in ACID is super-fast, since I’ve been using that for over 20 years.
DJ LIFE: Your new single, “Good For You” with Chapter & Verse and Goodboys, is out now. How did this song come together and what can you share with us about it?
Dimitri Vegas: We wanted to blend a throwback vibe with a fresh twist, and once we had that topline, we knew we had fire. The single is simply the result of pure chemistry and a shared passion for that feel-good, festival-crushing sound that summer is all about.
DJ LIFE: It’s still early in 2024 – what’s on the horizon for you this year?
Dimitri Vegas: This year’s about pushing the envelope, exploring new soundscapes, and bringing people together after a crazy couple of years. There’ll be full progress on the album, and also a big solo-surprise for Tomorrowland. I am super-excited with what is in the planning for 2024!
DJ LIFE: What are some of the biggest differences between working as a solo artist rather than as Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike?
Dimitri Vegas: Going solo lets us dive deep into our personal creative ocean, while our festival-inspired sound adds extra layer of dynamism when we’re together. It’s two sides of the same coin, and both are equally electrifying.
DJ LIFE: Can you offer any insight to up-and-coming DJs and producers?
Dimitri Vegas: Stay relentless. The path is never straight, but the twists and turns are where you find your sound. Network, craft your skill, and, honestly, just throw yourself into every opportunity and never give up. Persistence is key and the No. 1 skill in my opinion.
DJ LIFE: Is there any advice you wished you had gotten when you were first starting out that might have helped you in the long run?
Dimitri Vegas: I do regret not taking music classes as a kid. Of course, back then a DJ wasn’t a producer per se, and it was more about the records you played than the songs you made. But today especially, it would have been a huge extra asset to have had that musical training.
DJ LIFE: Where do you see yourself or hope to be five years from now?
Dimitri Vegas: Hmm… five years from now? Well, I’ll still be the guy making the crowd go wild, maybe with some new tech, new sounds, but the same old passion. Who knows? Hopefully, even with my own blockbuster movie under my belt.