Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Van’t Hoff

Van’t Hoff is a Portuguese DJ and music producer currently based in Switzerland, blending Afro House, Melodic House, tribal rhythms, and cinematic electronic atmospheres into an emotional and immersive musical universe.

Inspired by Portuguese roots, travel, nostalgia, and modern festival culture, his project combines deep grooves, powerful percussion, emotional melodies, and storytelling-driven sound design. His artistic vision aims to create a bridge between underground electronic music and emotionally charged cinematic experiences.

From early experiences in rock garage bands and university DJ booths to the development of original productions, Van’t Hoff continues to shape a distinctive identity where tradition, technology, emotion, and festival energy coexist naturally.

Projects such as the EP “Origens” reflect a personal journey influenced by identity, migration, saudade, and the search for connection through music.

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

One of my earliest memories connected to music comes from growing up surrounded by Portuguese culture, traditional celebrations, and emotional melodies. Music was always present during family gatherings, village festivals, and everyday moments. Those emotions and memories still inspire me deeply today.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

It started during secondary school through music classes, where I was an excellent student. Later, that passion naturally evolved into playing in garage rock bands and eventually DJing in university bars. That was the moment I truly discovered the impact music could have on people and started developing my own musical identity.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

My current project is deeply connected to identity, roots, emotions, and modern electronic music culture. I wanted to blend Afro House, Melodic House, tribal influences, and cinematic atmospheres with Portuguese emotion and storytelling. Projects like my EP “Origens” represent both where I come from and where I want to go artistically.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

I would describe it as emotional and cinematic Afro/Melodic House. It combines deep grooves, tribal percussion, emotional melodies, festival energy, and atmospheric storytelling inspired by Portugal, travel, memories, and human emotions.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Serato DJ Pro is essential for my work as a DJ and for preparing my sets. I also use Music Maker/Band for composition and musical structuring, OBS for recording and creating audiovisual content, and platforms like Suno Studio to explore new creative ideas and sound textures.

I enjoy combining traditional DJ and production tools with new creative technologies, always with the goal of creating a more emotional, cinematic, and modern experience — both musically and visually.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

Right now I’m very inspired by artists who push emotional electronic music forward while maintaining a strong personal identity. I listen to a lot of Afro House, Melodic House, and cinematic electronic music with powerful emotional storytelling.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

Living between Portugal and Switzerland has had a huge influence on me. Themes like distance, saudade, ambition, roots, migration, identity, and personal growth naturally find their way into my music. I try to transform personal experiences into something universal people can emotionally connect with.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I hope listeners feel emotion, freedom, nostalgia, energy, and inspiration. I want people to mentally travel when they hear my music — whether to a sunset moment, a festival crowd, or a personal memory.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Music has taught me that consistency and authenticity are more important than trends. Building something meaningful takes time, patience, and confidence in your own artistic identity.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

A dream would definitely be performing at Tomorrowland. The atmosphere, production, and emotional connection between music and visuals are very close to the artistic world I love creating.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to collaborate with artists capable of blending emotion and powerful energy within electronic music. Artists connected to cinematic electronic universes, Afro House, or emotionally driven melodic music would be an incredible creative match.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

You can follow my journey on Spotify, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and all major streaming platforms under DJ Van’t Hoff.

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

My goal is to continue growing internationally, perform on bigger stages, further develop my artistic identity, and create a stronger connection between music, visuals, storytelling, and live experience.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope people discover honesty and passion behind the project. Beyond the music itself, I want listeners to feel that every release carries emotion, identity, and a genuine artistic vision.