W&W – a Dutch trance duo comprising two young producers, Willem van Hanegem and Wardt van der Harst, also known as Re-Ward. Their project's name is derived from the initial letters of their first names.
Even before they crossed paths, Wardt was already marked for a promising musical future. His early works, "Ensure" and "Expose," caught the attention of none other than Tiesto himself and were released on his Black Hole Recordings in 2007. These tracks became instant hits, and Tiesto invited Wardt to send him all his new music for a trial run on his radio show, Club Life. This collaboration continued, with new Re-Ward tracks being released on Black Hole and its sub-labels. Under his real name, Wardt also released music on Doorn Records in 2008 and appeared on Armin's (Armin van Buuren) compilations in 2010. His music resonated with club-goers worldwide, and he performed in renowned clubbing destinations around the globe.
Willem's solo career was equally successful, with several well-received releases, including three on Armada Captivating Sounds.
The future members of W&W crossed paths for the first time at Trance Energy in 2007. Their initial joint project, the track "Mustang," was a unique parody of the anthems from Trance Energy 2006 and 2007, Marcel Woods' "Advanced" and Joop's "The Future."
Exactly one year after their first meeting, they heard their track from Sander van Doorn at Trance Energy 2008. The track received excellent feedback from the dancefloor, and they woke up famous the next morning. "Mustang" instantly joined the rotation of Armin van Buuren's radio show, A State of Trance, and the playlists of trance music heavyweights like Tiesto and Markus Schulz. It's no surprise that this track marked W&W's first release (on Armada in 2008).
The young duo forged a strong partnership with Armin van Buuren. They were signed to Armada, became one of the label's main hopes, and were some of the most promising newcomers on the dance scene. Between 2008 and 2010, W&W released around 20 successful tracks, with most of them on Armada and Captivating Sounds. Their standout hits included "The Plan," "Mainstage," "Dome," "Alpha," "D.N.A" (with a remix by Sean Tyas), "Synergy" (a collaboration with Ummet Ozcan), and "Arena," which was included in Armin Only's DVD.
With each new release, W&W, recognized by Armin van Buuren as the best up-and-coming production duo, continued to gain momentum and earn recognition from trance enthusiasts and top DJs worldwide, including Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz, Sander Van Doorn, and Judge Jules. Notably, their remixes were as outstanding as their solo tracks. They reimagined Armin's "Rain," Little Boots' "Remedy," and tracks by Sander van Doorn, Svenson & Gielen, Aly & Fila, Leon Bolier, Sied van Riel, and many others.
This widespread acclaim, achieved in such a short time, led to invitations to the world's most famous raves, festivals, and clubs. W&W played at Trance Energy, ID&T Tomorrowland, the Polish Sunrise Festival, and celebrated the jubilee editions of A State of Trance 400 and 450, along with appearances at Amnesia in Ibiza. It was at these grand raves that W&W honed their signature style. Their sets pulsate with powerful doses of progressive and tech trance, tailor-made for colossal dance floors. This sound became the hallmark of W&W. Even the titles of their tracks, "Mainstage" and "Arena," left no room for ambiguity.
In addition to their musical journey, the duo created their radio show, aptly named "Mainstage." This show quickly gained a loyal listenership and started airing on Afterhours.FM, one of the world's leading dance radio stations, twice a month. In their show, aired every second and fourth Monday from 19:00 to 20:00 (Kyiv time), they showcase the latest music from W&W and numerous promising newcomers. In January 2010, the Mainstage format underwent some changes upon moving to Afterhours. They introduced new elements, including musical contests, introductions to new names, and interviews.
Currently, the Dutch duo, who achieved remarkable heights within just four years of their career, is wrapping up their debut album.
"W&W are true rising stars of trance. If I were asked to place a bet on them, I would undoubtedly do so."
