Tiësto is a certified superstar! His schedule in recent weeks has made that clear as day, given that he’s been walking red carpets alongside A-listers while gearing up for another triumphant performance at the Petrovaradin Fortress, set for Thursday, July 10, on the Main Stage.
The Dutchman Tijs has been on the scene for over twenty years, and he’s not just considered a representative but one of the founding fathers of what we now call electronic dance music, or EDM. While his roots lie in the once-innovative trance sound, of which he was a true pioneer, he also played a key role in bringing the genre into the global mainstream in the early 2000s, performing at massive festivals and releasing albums that helped define the sound of that era. He recognized the right moment to evolve and successfully adapted, changing his sound and collaborating with pop stars – from John Legend at the height of his career to Tate McRae before her big breakthrough.
After two decades on the global stage, it seems he’s now reaching a new peak. Not only did his 2023 album “Drive” produce hits with billions of streams, but he recently landed on the soundtrack for what is likely the most expensive film ever produced by Apple! He had already worked with them before as they recognized his influence early on and, ever since launching Apple Music, have found ways to align with him before other brands. So, it came as no surprise when he was asked to create a track that would be just as adrenaline-pumping as Brad Pitt and Formula 1 cars. What makes things even more exciting is that Tiësto actually appears in the movie, having performed on a structure built above the F1 grid as well as on the winners’ podium as part of the film’s marketing campaign.
All of this serves to show us his rightful place in an ever-evolving entertainment world. Performers are no longer just background music; they’re central figures in cultural narratives. Today, Tiësto is creating songs that live within stories, fuel visual media, and extend their cultural impact far beyond the stage. His new single for the aforementioned soundtrack, featuring rising rapper Sexyy Red, fits perfectly into this moment of transformation. “OMG!” fuses raw hip-hop energy with a late-night rave atmosphere, showcasing how dance music continues to expand, both across genres and across media platforms.
The Tiësto Remixes playlist on Spotify is the perfect soundtrack for packing your bags for EXIT this year. It includes his reworks of anthems that have already echoed across Petrovaradin, like Tom Odell’s Another Love, and others we’ve heard so many times on the radio. He’s remixed tracks by Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding, Britney Spears, Kygo, P!nk, French Montana, and, more recently, Teddy Swims, while even the legendary band U2 couldn’t resist asking him to remix one of their songs. Tiësto also collaborates with other producers who create music for large crowds, so the playlist features peers like Avicii, Paul Oakenfold, Sander Van Doorn, Alok, Zerb, James Hype, Acraze, and Sigala.
The fact that Tiësto is heading to EXIT with his foot firmly on the gas is underscored by his latest collaboration with the in-demand and locally beloved duo Mathame. Their track “Everlight” especially thrilled fans who remember the Dutchman’s trance beginnings. It’s melodic and atmospheric, not reinventing the wheel, but deepening and amplifying what his audience has already embraced. There’s a good chance we’ll be among the first in the world to hear it live in just a few days!
As popular as EDM is, we haven’t had that many true superstars of the genre. But, as EDMNOMAD, puts it, things may be changing: “Tiësto’s cameo may be short, but its symbolism is loud. In a year when DJs are claiming red carpets, scoring feature films, and dropping soundtracks with pop stars, the message is clear: electronic music is no longer peripheral to Hollywood—it’s part of its pulse.”
Repeatedly crowned as the world’s best DJ, Tiësto has never stopped performing. He holds a residency at Palm Beach in Las Vegas and does multiple nights in a row at Brooklyn Mirage. He’s a regular on the biggest global stages – Ultra, Tomorrowland, EDC, as well as in Las Vegas, where he continues his longstanding residency. He’s earned a career of this scale by delivering sets that are almost always thoughtfully tailored to the location and audience, with a dynamic tempo that holds the attention even of those who don’t usually listen to electronic music. Tiësto doesn’t dwell in dark, introspective zones – his sets are hedonistic, euphoric, and full of light energy.
He’s known for energetic and technically flawless DJ sets. His performances combine spectacular production with accessible, hit-driven tracklists, which is why he manages to bring together such a broad spectrum of fans – from die-hard clubbers to casual listeners who recognize his music from the radio or TikTok. He fuses festival energy with a club-like atmosphere by frequently playing his own hits as well as fresh remixes and mashups of global pop and house tracks. His sets are precisely timed and structured to lead the crowd through peaks and drops, often hitting the sweet spot for both hardcore fans and curious newcomers.
This blend of timely innovation, adaptability, a signature sound, and a strong personal brand, alongside consistent praise from industry peers for being professional, focused, and dedicated, has earned him the respect of audiences, critics, and fellow stars alike.
Some will come to his shows because they’re loyal members of the “old guard,” while others will be there because his sound is part of their day-to-day – on TikTok, in shopping malls, on the radio. But all of them will be swept up by the same wave of euphoria that only a packed festival crowd can create. So let go of your ego, look out for the people around you as you would your friends, shout every chorus you know, and let your body move to every beat even if you’ve never heard it. Some might think Tiësto is playing it safe, but it’s precisely this ability to read the moment and its boundaries that keeps him relevant in 2025, and likely well beyond.
Author: Vojkan Bećir
