MikeR Interview: Management Consultant To Progressive House Anthems

MikeR interview on how he transitioned from management consulting to performing across Europe. Learn about his style, turning point, and more. MikeR is a DJ and Producer focused on Progressive House and Melodic Techno with emotion and forward motion. His music is designed to lift people up while staying firmly locked to the dance floor, turning real-life moments into melody. Having played venues across Europe, MikeR’s sound balances melodic intensity with driving energy. Hi MikeR! How are you doing today? I’m doing very well, thank you. There’s a lot happening at the moment, so it’s an exciting time overall. To start off, what is your earliest memory of music, and how did that lead you to the electronic scene? My earliest musical memories go back to the 80s, when I was a kid. Some of the first records I ever bought were by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, including their hit “Joan of Arc,” as well as Depeche Mode’s “Everything Counts” and New Order’s “Blue Monday,” a track I still play in remixed form in my sets today. That early exposure to Electronic sounds laid the foundation for discovering House, Techno, and Trance in the late 80s and early 90s. Was there a specific moment when you realized music was your true calling? Yes, that moment came in 2017 when I watched Armin van Buuren’s Tomorrowland set. I loved the opening with “I Live for that Energy,” which instantly took me back to my clubbing, party, and DJing days as a student. Shortly after, Armin released an online masterclass on Electronic music production. I watched it, bought a new laptop, a DAW, and plugins, and got completely hooked. I started producing and picked up DJing again so I could share my own music. One defining moment was a gig I played in Barcelona in late 2018. The crowd was fully engaged, hands in the air, and the intro track to my set, “Digital Era,” which I had produced only days before in late night sessions, set the tone perfectly. That was when I realised that music was more than a hobby for me. Initially, I produced and DJed alongside a full-time career as a senior partner in a management consulting firm, but over time I devoted more of my free time to music because of the energy it gave me. How did your upbringing or the city you grew up in influence the rhythm and vibe of your music? I grew up in Cologne and studied in Aachen, close to the borders of the Netherlands and Belgium. During that time in the late 80s and early 90s, House, Techno, and Trance were emerging, and I was clubbing in places like Warehouse Cologne or Königsburg in Krefeld. I was especially drawn to early Trance tracks with mystical melodies and airy vocals, such as “The Age of Love” (Jam & Spoon Remix), “Love Stimulation” by Humate in the Paul van Dyk Remix, and “For an Angel.” Those influences still shape my melodic approach today and led me to DJ at student parties in the early 90s. How do you balance staying true to your style while experimenting with evolving trends in electronic music? I would describe my style as uplifting, melodic, and energetic music that puts people in a good mood. That’s the core I try to bring into every track. My focus is mainstage Progressive House, but I enjoy blending in Trance elements, as in my recent track “All Good Things.” I’m also inspired by elements of modern melodic techno and have explored that sound in tracks like “Blue Zone” and “Head in the Sky,” always through a melodic and uplifting lens. I’ve even experimented with Afro House for warm up sets, although my main artistic direction remains clearly Progressive House. How do you know when a track is finally finished? Is it a feeling or a technical checklist? While I do have standard production routines, I don’t follow a strict technical checklist. It’s very much a feeling. Does the track make me vibe? Does it create emotion and energy on the dance floor? I listen to it on different systems, from studio monitors to club systems, headphones, and the car. I check loudness levels and compare it with reference tracks, but ultimately, it’s about how the track feels. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from a fellow producer? Make sure your drums and bassline are strong for a dance track, because that’s what ultimately moves the crowd. Sometimes it even helps to start with the groove rather than the melody. That advice was very valuable for me, as I naturally tend to focus heavily on melodies and vocals. Are there any dream collaborations you’re hoping to make happen in the next couple of years? In Progressive House, I’d love to collaborate with emerging artists like Matt Pridgyn or Amel. Working with established acts such as DubVision, Third Party, or Martin Garrix would be a dream. On the vocal side, collaborating with artists like Sarah de Warren or Jex would be amazing. Looking back at your journey so far, what has been the most significant turning point for your career? Attending ADE for the first time in 2025 was a major turning point. It mad