Last year, DJ Mag named Dutch house producer/DJ Dyro one of the top 100 DJs of 2014 (he was No. 27). He started out creating driving bass lines in his bedroom; in 2012, Dada Life named him an artist to watch, and since then, he’s been dropping the electro-charged bass before large crowds around the world. he’s headlined at LIV in Miami, Ministry of Sound in London, had a residency at The Light in Las Vegas and Space in Ibiza, and performed at EDC Las Vegas and Ultra. (He performs at EDC NY over Memorial Day weekend.) He also launched his record label Wolv to release his own music and promote up-and-coming artists; in between doing all that, Dyro’s also made a name for himself collaborating with his buddies Dannic and Hardwell (their three-way B2B2B sets have been huge hits with fans) and building an audience on his YouTube series “Dyro’s Diaries.”

Hometown: The Netherlands

Current residence: I still call it home!

Where is your name from?

Dyro is an anagram of my real name, Jordy.

What’s your first memory of EDM?

I’ve been aware of electronic music since a very young age – it must be in my blood, I’m Dutch! But once I started taking my production stance seriously and to the next level in my late teens, that was when I really started getting noticed.

Do you have a musical background?

I’ve always had an interest in music as a fan and I’m completely self-taught in my production. I first downloaded FL Studio and then experimented a lot to see what works – I think experimentation is very important as an artist, seeing what works and finding your signature sound.

What do you think is better, DJing or producing?

They both have their positives and negatives! Hearing huge artists I’ve admired since I was younger playing my productions at some of the world’s biggest festivals will always feel surreal to me but playing in front of a live crowd who are so up for it? There is nothing better!

What's your favorite city in the world to play in?

How can I choose?! Ibiza is one of my favourite places to return to in the summer, the energy is just unparalleled.

Which is your least favorite?

I toured some of the more remote areas of the US with Bassjackers on our joint ‘X’ tour at the end of last year—I’d have to say pushing a broken down bus through the middle of rural America wasn’t a great highlight, but I can laugh at it now.

What do you do when you're not producing?

I like to check out new music—I’m really into the new Jack Ü album and there are some great remixes out there from names like Syn Cole and new talents like Conro that are blowing up my sets. I’m also a sucker for new sneakers, my obsession is getting a bit out of hand but I don’t think I’ll ever have too many!

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Daft Punk would be a dream collaboration!

Tell us a bit about your relationship with Dannic—you've done a few B2B sets together. What makes those kind of sets appealing?

We’re really good friends underneath everything else and we hold a mutual respect for what each other is doing. It’s great that our paths cross when touring and at the bigger events, (EDC, Ultra, etc.), it gives us the platform to experiment and bring those kind of B2B treats out for the fans.

Why did you start your new label Wolv?

I wanted an output that was truly my own. From deciding who releases on the label over to the artwork, WOLV is 100 percent mine.

Why did you choose to call your label by that name?

It’s funny actually, I misspelled WOLF with a ‘V’ and got the name ‘WOLV’.

Who are you listening to now?

I’m really inspired by the WOLVpack as I like to call them, the collection of producers I’m bringing forward through my imprint, names like Loopers, Sam O’Neall, Conro and then familiar favourites like Headhunterz and masters of the genre such as Fedde Le Grand—all my inspirations.

What's an integral part of your set list?

Testing new WOLV releases at the moment and I’m always adding in live mash-ups and edits, it keeps the crowds on their toes.

Describe your deejaying/musical style to someone who has never heard you before.

Energetically dark and party-starting.