Rooler is Taking a Stand for Authenticity in Hardstyle

2 weeks ago 10

Before his Southern California takeover, we caught up with Rooler to discuss his career and the music industry, read some Reddit comments, and so much more!

Italian hardstyle is filled to the brim with legends of the scene. The genre takes the raw spirit of hardstyle and infuses it with the artistic and innovative spirit of Italy, helping birth iconic records. One artist in particular, however, has deviated from the normal boundaries of hardstyle, pushing it to the limit with a unique twist. This is none other than Rooler, who consistently innovates with every record while never forgetting his roots.

From starting out as a bedroom producer to performing at historic gatherings like Defqon.1 Weekend Festival to co-owning Aggressive Records with Sickmode, there’s no doubt that Rooler has solidified his spot at the top of the industry. He initially captured the hearts of fans with records like “Aggressive Acts,” “Survive The Street,” and “YES!“

Recently, Rooler has sent shockwaves through the scene with viral hits like “TOO COLD,” “MOVE 2 DA BEAT,” “CLUB BANGER,” and more. His infectious sounds have spread worldwide, prompting fans to demand that promoters bring him to the States.

In March of 2024, fans’ prayers were about to be answered as Rooler was scheduled to appear at Basscon Wasteland — or so they thought. Chalking it up to a lineup leak, Basscon was forced to announce that Rooler was not coming to America’s premiere hard dance festival.

This may have been for the best, however. Just a few months later, Rooler was scheduled to take over Southern California with two back-to-back shows in San Diego and Los Angeles.

I couldn’t miss the opportunity to witness Rooler’s long-awaited US debut, so I hopped in the car with my partner and made the eight-hour trek to Southern California for two epic performances. Rooler delivered his signature DJ sets that feel spontaneous but are undoubtedly his. Both nights were different, which I appreciated as a longtime fan. In addition, Rooler didn’t tailor his set for the US crowd as opposed to other artists who come and sacrifice their full creative expression to create accessibility for casual Stateside fans.

Before his SoCal takeover, we chatted with Rooler about his career, the music industry, and Aggressive Records, in addition to reading some Reddit comments. Press play for the full conversation on YouTube and stay tuned for Rooler’s latest solo release, “WELCOME 2 DA RECORDSHOP,” releasing on November 7!