CLAESSENS opens up about his major career pivot [Interview]

Making a major career shift can be a worrying, risky process. For CLAESSENS, it was just the jolt he needed to reinvigorate his passion and discover a new outlet and audience.

• Many producers evolve and change genres throughout their careers. Why did you feel the need for a name change with your shift to hard techno?

It’s not about hard techno per se. Maybe it’s because I grew up as a drummer, but over the last few years, I was inspired by ever harder, more energetic styles. I love genres like hardstyle, old school hardcore and what is now called hard techno, but the name change isn’t about styles. I started feeling “Tony Junior” almost literally stood for being a kid, being a little immature and not knowing what I wanted. I have a much better idea of what I really want to do now and CLAESSENS represents that evolution from being a kid to being more mature.

• Did the name change drive any other external changes in how you approach your career and market yourself?

No, it’s the other way around! I changed the way I work, just letting my vibe take me where it felt good musically without thinking about the consequences. I wanted to focus more on substance and less on marketing. CLAESSENS symbolizes that change.

• Are you finding a shift in opportunity and audience through this evolution?

Yes of course. I have to try and take my existing audience with me on this creative trip. And I have to convince a lot of the people in the harder scenes that I am for real. I am pretty sure my bookings and streams will take a nose-dive. But I don’t care! I love what I am doing and that’s enough for me right now.

• Has your production workflow changed to incorporate this new sound?

Yes. Because I am focused  more on what feels good instead of trying to score the next hit, I spend much more time in the studio, I noticed I am more hands-on when I collab and it feels better to work on originals, like “Vergiss Die Zeit” with Tiara Black, than on easy remakes or covers.

• Was there any specific moment, experience, or artist that helped to inspire this change?

No, I guess the best way to describe it is that it is the culmination of a bunch of developments in my life since the end of COVID.

• What potential collaborators or live shows are you most excited about engaging with via this new direction?

Simply stated: Making music with great talents, disregarding who they are and playing dope sets, disregarding how big the shows are. That said, I have some great music on the way, one track with Stoltenhof and a new vocalist June Stutterheim, a collab with Oguz on Verknipt and a few shows I really look forward to

• Genre popularity often shifts within this industry. If you ever opted to evolve your sound again, do you think you would go through the full artist name change again or just let the Claessens project evolve naturally?

Like I said, CLAESSENS is not about a genre change, but about a new phase in my life. 

• Does this mean Tony Junior is officially in the review for you, or will that project potentially serve as an outlet for ideas outside of the hard techno genre?

Tony Junior is dead! 

• From a live perspective, how has performing hard techno changed your sets?

Apart from the fact that certain tracks don’t fit anymore, nothing really changed. I love performing and with the hard sh%$t I play, I feel amazing on stage!

• Are there any specific goals or achievements that you are aiming for soon with this evolution?

No, I just wanna go with the flow 

• What advice would you give to other artists looking to shift dramatically via sound and even a name change?

Making the decision is hard, but actually changing your socials, playlists etc is even harder. My team and I spent months on getting things changed and some of it still isn’t done.

• What fears and concerns did you have going into the evolution into Claessens?

I loved what I did over the years. So many people supported me, and I am so grateful to everybody coming to my shows, to the labels I worked with, the promoters and so on. I don’t want all these people to think that I am negative about that past! My only concern is that I hope these folks stay with me on my journey.

• When you made the change to Claessens, was there a specific moment or experience that helped confirm in your mind that you made the right choice?

When Bryan, my best mate and wingman, smiled when I told him about the decision!

CLAESSENS new single with Tiara Black, Vergiss Die Zeit, is out now!