The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) 2024 is a non-stop celebration of music, culture, and creativity, and this year, Nexus Radio’s Josh caught up with electronic music producer Huminal to chat about his experiences, inspirations, and all things ADE. It was a conversation filled with laughs, insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of an artist in the heart of one of the biggest music festivals in the world.
Huminal is no stranger to ADE. Having attended his first event back in 2011, he’s seen it grow into the global epicenter of electronic music it is today. For him, the key to surviving the week’s packed schedule is starting strong. “You’ve got to keep the energy up early,” he explained. By the time the weekend hits, things can get wild!
Talking about the evolution of the music scene at ADE, Huminal noted how melodic techno has become a crowd favorite. “It’s like the pop music of electronic,” he said with a grin. While it’s not the genre he completely identifies with, he appreciates its ability to bring people together and open new doors for artists.
This year’s ADE has been a busy one for Huminal. Not only did he perform at three events, sharing his latest tracks with fans, but he also found time to attend as a fan himself. “I wish I could be in two places at once,” he joked, expressing his desire to catch more of the other amazing artists performing throughout the festival.
When Josh asked if his family had ever attended one of his shows, Huminal laughed and admitted that while they're proud of him, they're not exactly regulars in the electronic scene. "Maybe one day," he said. "It would be cool for them to see what it's all about."
Being Dutch, Huminal is all about sharing the best his country has to offer, and food is definitely on the list. “Stroopwafels and cheese are a must-try,” he insisted. Josh brought up ‘stofvlees,’ a traditional Dutch stew, which Huminal agreed was great—before he became a vegetarian, that is.
He also gave a shoutout to the Netherlands’ summer festival scene, where thousands of events bring the country to life each year. Whether you’re a local or visiting for the first time, there’s no better way to experience Dutch culture than dancing under the summer sun.
2024 has been a huge year for Huminal, with plenty of EPs and singles keeping him busy. He takes a track-by-track approach to his music, enjoying the process of perfecting one song at a time.
In a rapid-fire round of questions, Huminal shared some fun facts: his childhood celebrity crush was Jessica Alba, and his advice to young producers is to “get your workflow together.” Those breakthrough moments of creativity, he explained, are all about having the right tools and processes in place to capture ideas as they come.
Huminal often finds inspiration in travel. A recent trip to Norway left him awestruck by the stunning landscapes, which he said sparked ideas for new music.
"It's so different from the Netherlands," he said. "The contrast really inspired me."
On a lighter note, he confessed to binge-watching Starting Five on Netflix, a nod to his younger dreams of becoming an NBA player.
