Willem from W&W announces break from touring due to mental health issues

After years of commanding festival stages and delivering thunderous drops to crowds around the world, one half of electronic powerhouse W&W is pressing pause.

Over the weekend, Dutch producer Willem van Hanegem revealed he is stepping away from touring to focus on his mental health, opening up to fans about the exhaustion that has quietly built up behind the scenes of his high-energy career.

In a heartfelt message, van Hanegem explained that the relentless rhythm of travel, performances, and life on the road had begun to take a serious toll, ultimately forcing him to reflect on what he needed most right now: rest and recovery.

For more than a decade, W&W has been a staple of the global EDM festival circuit, known for explosive big-room anthems and trance-inspired productions that regularly ignite massive crowds. But while the music and performances have always come first, van Hanegem admitted that stepping back was the healthiest decision he could make at this moment.

His longtime musical partner, Ward van der Harst, will continue performing the duo’s scheduled tour dates solo under the W&W name while van Hanegem takes time to recharge. Fans attending recent shows, including appearances at Dreamstate in California and Time Nightclub, have already seen van der Harst holding down the stage alone.

Despite the change, the message from both artists was filled with gratitude. Van Hanegem thanked supporters for their patience and understanding, emphasizing that this is not a goodbye but rather a necessary reset.

For now, the lights, lasers, and festival crowds will continue just with a slightly different dynamic on stage. And if van Hanegem has his way, this break will simply be a temporary intermission before he returns to the booth alongside his longtime collaborator.

Featured image credit: Wandwmusic/Instagram

About The Author

Ashley Palya

I’ve been writing, covering events, and doing interviews with Exron for nearly four years, but have been an EDM-lover for over a decade. The music community and industry has a special place in my heart and I love exploring the depths. EDC Las Vegas is my favorite festival and this year will be my sixth time attending. Some other recent festivals I’ve been are Ultra, Elements, Lost Lands, Electric Forest, and Arc. I’ve been getting more into experimental bass, but techno and house will always have my heart. <3

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