Nicky Romero on E-Zoo's PSA, Ghostwriting, and Life Before Fame

It's barely been three years since Nicky Romero burst onto the scene, and in that time he's rocketed to house music prominence as both a respected producer and DJ. The Dutchman seems to have such an innate talent for music that it seems he was born into the role. That's not the case. "When it all started I was actually working in a bar trying to juggle working with learning how to DJ and produce," he tells THUMP. "I really first started to get noticed after I released my track "Toulouse" and it all happened really fast."

Romero's a rarity on main stages these days in that he progressed from producer to DJ and not the other way around. He explains, "It's important to be versatile as it gives you more opportunities in your career. For me DJing was really important as it gave me a chance to play my own music in public and get my tracks heard. One thing I love is getting to play a new tune I've just finished in one of my sets and seeing first hand how the crowd reacts. Without DJing I wouldn't be able to do that."

This weekend, he'll rock the mainstage of Electric Zoo in New York. It's a city for which he holds fond memories. "I think the first time I played in New York was in 2011. I was really excited," he says. "It sounds cliché but I remember thinking how tall everything was and that everywhere you go you find yourself having to look up. I would say it's definitly one of my favorite places to play."

This year, Electric Zoo's rave-safety PSA has been stirring up controversy. We were intrigued to hear the DJs take on it: "I think it's good that they released the video – it's an important reminder for people to stay safe and be responsible," Nicky says. "Anything that an event or festival does to promote a safe environment can only be a good thing."

There's a common rumor that Nicky got started in the industry by writing tracks for other people (who shall remain unmentioned), and Romero's been an outspoken critic on the issue recently. "There are a lot of people out there who would much rather just throw money at a producer and say 'I want my song to sound like this' rather than putting the time and effort into learning the skill and doing it themselves. It's all about talent, which at the end of the day isn't something you can't buy. For me, making the music is the best part of my job anyway, so why would you rather have someone else do it for you?"

Spoken like a true musician. In keeping with these, Nicky launched Protocol Records, an imprint he uses to shine a light on emerging artists. He explains, "There are so many amazing artists out there who are maybe struggling to get their records signed or heard and I wanted to build a brand that could support these burgeoning talents. I think it's important to help develop these young talents as they are the future of the music scene."

Check out Nicky's new track "Feet on the Ground":

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