Exron Exclusive Interview: Sander van Doorn

Sander van Doorn has remained a vital tastemaker in the world of electronic dance music since his debut on the scene in 2004. With dozens of smash hits and collaborations, the Dutch legend has continued to build a noteworthy career and captivate hearts around the globe.

The multi-award winning artist’s list of achievements is monumental in his nearly two decade-long career. Sander van Doorn founded his imprint DOORN Records in 2007 to give a platform for new emerging talent in the scene and his own releases. More recently, Sander revealed his darker side with techno-leaning alias, Purple Haze, with releases on Armind and Anjunabeats.

The iconic producer has amassed billions of streams across platforms under both of his monikers as he continues to engage new fans year after year. His notable collaborations include “Gold Skies” with Martin Garrix and DVBBS, “Into The Light” with DubVision, Mako, and Mariana Bell, as well as multiple collabs with Oliver Heldens and Firebeatz.

Throughout his venerated career, Sander van Doorn has remained a leader in the industry, showcasing his musical versatility with each passing year. We had the chance to chat with him ahead of his performance in New York City at Brooklyn Monarch, which was hosted by  Crust Nation. Catch up with all things Sander van Doorn below!

Exron Music: Welcome back to New York! What do you love about playing in the city that never sleeps?

Sander van Doorn: The energy in New York is unmatched! Every time I’ve been here to play I’ve had such a great time connecting with the crowd and exploring everything that New York has to offer. The city that never sleeps is definitely unlike any other place in the world, and I absolutely love it.

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Exron Music: You recently released a new single “Raindrops” that has signature trance sensibilities. What was it like working with Selva, Macon, and Chacel on this track?

Sander van Doorn: It was a really great experience. Working alongside each of them was unique since we all have our own individual sounds and styles, so being able to hear the completed track in its entirety was amazing – I definitely recommend checking it out as it’s out now via Spinnin’!

Exron Music: You just revealed you will be back to play Tomorrowland this year! What do you find to be unique about the festival?

Sander van Doorn: The international aspect of Tomorrowland is my favorite part of the festival. I love how people from all over the world come together as one to dance to their favorite electronic dance music artists, and I also really enjoy how great it is since everyone in the industry comes together to be there.

Exron Music: What prompted you to create your Purple Haze alias? What has been the most rewarding part about working on this project as opposed to just being Sander Van Doorn?

Sander van Doorn: For a long time I wasn’t playing trance as Sander van Doorn and really wanted to get back into that. While still releasing more mainstream records, under Purple Haze I have more freedom in the studio to craft what I want, whether it be techno, tech-house, or even trance. It’s been very exciting for me so far, with some of my first releases, ‘Hymn 2.0’ and ‘Bliksem’ serving as standout highlights.

Exron Music: Congrats on the birth of your son! How has the transition been adding a new member to the family?

Sander van Doorn: We couldn’t be more happier with the birth of our son! Being a dad of a girl and a boy is the best feeling in the world.

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Exron Music: Now that you’re halfway through your North American tour, how do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of live music?

Sander van Doorn: I feel like it’s changed certain aspects of it which has been difficult to overcome, however it’s been nice being able to be back on tour, seeing fans, playing my music, and visiting new places. A year ago, this wouldn’t have been possible so I’m very grateful!

Exron Music: You’ve released a plethora of music in your day, are there any particular releases of yours that you feel have resonated with fans the most over the years?

Sander van Doorn: I’d say one of my first tracks, ‘Riff’, is worth mentioning here, as it still holds up and works great in my sets today. Another to note is ‘Gold Skies’, this has gone on to reach a lot of listeners, and is a really great track.

Exron Music: Any upcoming plans you can share with us at this time? What does the rest of the year hold for you?

Sander van Doorn: Lots of unreleased new music is in the works! I’m planning to play at a bunch of music festivals within the next year as well so stay tuned.

Featured photo by Martin Cabrera