HATO: "I love to go all in, to lose myself in the music"

Redaction
Jun 23
5 min read

HATO is a DJ, producer, and content creator who burst onto the scene as a raver, turning every party into an unforgettable experience. Originally from Curaçao and now based in the Netherlands, he blends house, bass, and drum & bass with island-inspired flavors to create a fresh, accessible sound that resonates worldwide. During the pandemic, he expanded his reach across social platforms, becoming one of Europe’s most influential music creators. HATO isn’t just about making music—he’s about creating shared experiences with his audience. With his new release "Risk It All", HATO is ready to make a global impact on the electronic music scene. HATO perfectly embodies the new generation of artists who break down genre and cultural boundaries, bringing a burst of energy and innovation to the dance music world.

"Risk It All" is a bold fusion of breakbeat, jungle, UK rave, and drum & bass. What drew you to this high-energy sound, and what message were you hoping to convey through the track?

As a music lover, I’ve always had a pretty broad taste everything from blues to hardstyle to classical. If something hits me emotionally, it hits me. I don’t really care what genre it is. That open mindset is also reflected in my YouTube show, where I feature all kinds of genres. I love being a kind of central hub where different music communities can come together.

What’s even cooler is when I get comments from people saying they started exploring genres they never used to listen to, just because they discovered them through my videos. Their musical palette expanded just like mine has over the years. I guess that’s also why I see myself as a bit more multi-dimensional. I love blending different influences in a way that hopefully brings something fresh to the table. I think both Himalaya and now "Risk It All" really embody that.

As for the high energy that’s just a part of who I am. I love to go all in, to lose myself in the music. Does that mean every track I drop will have that same kind of energy? Probably not. I’m aiming to create a range of vibes that, when put together in a live show, take the audience on a real musical journey. From mosh pits and stage dives to tearful, arms-around-your-rave-mates singalong moments haha, the whole spectrum.

Artists like Fred Again and Travis Scott do this really well, I think. I’ll be doing it in my own way though with maybe, probably, just a little extra focus on the turn up! That said, just to be clear I don’t necessarily plan to make all those genres myself, or include them all in my DJ sets. It’s more about the inspiration and energy I draw from them than trying to cover every single style.

You teamed up with London-based artist Javàn for this release. How did the collaboration come about, and what was the creative process like working together across borders?

I first came across Javàn’s music kind of via via, and the moment I heard his voice I was like: get me in the studio with this guy NOW. And last year, that actually happened we linked up and made a few tracks together. The vibe was just really natural, so we stayed in touch.

When I started working on "Risk It All", I instantly knew he had to be on it. This one was a bit trickier though, because most of the process happened online. He’d send over demo vocals and stems, then we’d go back and forth with tweaks and changes. But in the end, we flew him out to Amsterdam to record the final version together and that just made everything click.

So yeah, it was definitely a process, but we made it work and I’m super happy with how it turned out. Honestly, I could easily make a whole EP with him. He’s insanely good so fast, and pretty much every melody that comes out of him hits me straight in the soul haha!

With roots in Curaçao and a Dutch upbringing how do these cultural influences shape your approach to music and your vision of rave culture?

At home, my parents mostly played latin and caribbean music that was basically ingrained in me from the jump, haha. But growing up in the Netherlands, I eventually got introduced to hip-hop. First through local rap groups like THC, and later through international artists. I still remember the first time I heard "Get Rich or Die Tryin’"... man, chills. I still get nostalgic when I think about it.

Those were two very different musical worlds Latin rhythms on one side, hip-hop beats on the other. But I think that contrast is what kickstarted my broad musical taste. It opened me up to all kinds of sounds early on, and that definitely influences how I approach music now and even how I see rave culture. For me, it’s all about mixing worlds and creating something that feels honest but also fresh.

With over 4 million followers on TikTok and a strong global presence, how important is the digital world in shaping your identity as an artist? Has social media become part of your creative process?

Yeah, content is more important than ever in music honestly, probably even more important than the music itself these days. And that goes for almost any brand right now. That said, I try not to let that pressure steer my creative direction. Of course, you can go the route of making something just because it’ll blow up on social media but I don’t know, I’m more excited by the idea of bringing something that feels new. At least to me it does. Others might disagree, and that’s totally fine. It’s definitely a harder route sometimes, but I’m making stuff now where I genuinely think: “Yeah man… this slaps.”

That doesn’t mean I’m putting pressure on myself to reinvent the wheel every time. If I end up dropping a straight-up DnB track someday, I’m not gonna lose sleep over it or feel like I’ve betrayed some vision haha. But right now, I’m enjoying the challenge of pushing the boundaries a bit.

And yeah, social media is part of my creative process in a way. Like in my YouTube show I’m always digging for new music I can play in my sets, and naturally I come across tracks that inspire me or give me ideas. So it’s all connected, but I still try to keep the core of what I do rooted in the music I really want to make.

"Risk It All" marks just the beginning, with your debut EP on the horizon. What can fans expect from your upcoming project, and what does 'risking it all' mean to you in today’s music landscape?

"Himalaya" and "Risk It All" really is just the beginning. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what’s coming next it’s honestly been hard keeping it to myself! The next one is already lined up for just over a month from now, so yeah… you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon haha.