Oliver Heldens returns to the Essential Mix as HI-LO

by: Will McCarthy Jul 15, 2017

To be tapped for an Essential Mix at any age is a highly prestigious honor – indeed, there remain many veteran DJs who still have yet to step behind BBC Radio 1’s hallowed decks. It’s fair to say that Oliver Heldens has just achieved a historic feat in the program’s history this weekend, providing his second Essential Mix at the age of 22. In 2014, as he was pioneering the then-burgeoning future house genre, the prodigious Dutch producer debuted on the series at just 19.

For his sophomore contribution to the program, Heldens dons his HI-LO alias, the project through which he purveys music of a more deep house, electro, and techno-influenced character than his standard fare. As his alter-ego, the Heldeep label-head delivers a mix that explores a variety of energizing club music from eclectic roots. Recognizable vocals from Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic” and Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” play as important a role in the overall set as the selections from contemporary techno mainstays such as Mark Reeve and Pig&Dan.

Throughout the broadcast, Heldens also pays homage to some of dance music’s most esteemed veterans, including classics from Mr. Oizo, Orlando Voorn, and Richie Hawtin. Amid his eclectic set, the artist further features a number of songs from both of his projects’ catalogues, perhaps most notably with his Sander van Doorn collaboration, “WTF” (a modernized take on Fatboy Slim and Benny Benassi’s beloved “What The Fuck”).

Listen to the HI-LO Essential Mix here.

Tracklist:

Hi‐Lo – Renegade Mastah
Hannah Wants & Chris Lorenzo – Rhymes
Solid Groove – This Is Sick
Beastie Boys – Intergalactic
Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat
Hi‐Lo – Wappy Flirt
Chez Damier – Can U Feel It (HI-LO Remix)
Justin Timberlake – SexyBack
Hi‐Lo & Chocolate Puma – Steam Train
Robbie Rivera & David Tort – Get Together
Hi‐Lo & Sander van Doorn – WTF
Mark Reeve – Run Back
Basement Jaxx – Where’s Your Head At
Enrico Sagiuliano – Eating Bloody S***
Sander van Doorn – The Bass
Laurent Garnier – Crispy Bacon
Hi‐Lo – Ooh La La
Sidney Charles – Warehouse Anthem
Sidney Charles – I Need You
Format:B – Chunky
Joachim Garraud – The Sound Of Disco
Oliver Heldens vs Naughty Boy
Gecko x La La La
Oliver Heldens – Ibiza 77
Scott Grooves & Daft Punk – Mothership Reconnection (Tristan Garner Monster Edit)
Inner City – Good Life (Tom Ven Remix)
Slam – Lifetimes (feat. Tyrone Palmer)
Pig&Dan – Growler
Unknown – Unknown
Hi‐Lo & Alok – Alien Technology
Sander van Doorn – Riff
Traffic Signs – The Big Fake (Moksi Switch-Up)
Crookers – Bowser
The Good Men – Give It Up (Chocolate Puma 2011 Edit)
Orlando Voorn – In The Jungle (Chocolate Puma Miami Cut)
Moby vs Junior Jack – Go (HI-LO Remix) x Stupidisco
Billy Kenny & Aaron Jackson – Right Here
Hi‐Lo – Renegade Mastah
Richie Hawtin & Jackmaster – Bang The Box (Slam Remix)
Clouds vs Ron Carroll – Chained To A Dead Camel x Walking Down The Street
Armin van Buuren vs Human Resource – Dominator (Tom Staar Remix)
Dizzee Rascal & Armand van Helden – Bonkers