DJ The Prophet returns to the stage with exclusive show concept

After a three-year hiatus in his career, due to the announcement of his retirement and his farewell show at Defqon.1 2023, the Godfather of Hardstyle is back

Great news for hardstyle fans and for the hard dance scene: DJ The Prophet is back. Dov J. Elkabas, known as the Godfather of Hardstyle, founder of Scantraxx, and a key figure in the hardstyle and hardcore legacy, will be back on the stage with an exclusive show concept this year.

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To talk about this news, we have to look back at the summer of 2023, when Dov decided to step back from the stage. After a lot of emotional shows all over the world, he received his farewell at the RED Stage of Defqon.1, where his family and friends accompanied him, which was his last performance to date at the closing spot on Sunday, which would also be the closing show for a 35-year-long career of hardstyle and hardcore.

“One thing I’ve learned is that, even when you do make plans, life tends to take its own direction.”

DJ The Prophet made a comeback in Australia earlier this year, as he performed an exclusive classics set at HTiD, organized by HSU Events. “When HSU/HTID Australia kept asking whether I would like to perform again, this triggered something special. And I’ll be honest: that’s when it started to itch”, Dov admitted to us. “But at the same time, it raised a lot of questions: do I really want this again? Do I want the pressure, the spotlight, the attention, the travel, the hotel rooms, the time away from home, and the studio?”

“I know it might seem a bit contradictory, like: ‘he just quit, and now after three years he’s already back?’, but the truth is that none of this was planned”, he said. “I wanted a life that is not 24/7 about DJ The Prophet - no constant pressure of shows, no chasing the best set of the night, no daily focus on the next release, no endless edits for performances, and no social media”, he claimed.

“Now I have some balance back in my life, and that balance makes the difference.”

Why did DJ The Prophet decide to come back just now? We have taken advantage of this interview to ask him about this. “After almost 3 years, something fundamental has changed: first, I had a double neck hernia I had to recover from”, he answered, “then, some real heavy family-related things happened, and I’ve been working on different styles of music outside of hardstyle and hardcore (and no, not hard techno). And my life is no longer centered around DJ The Prophet 24/7. So I really think that the break of being a DJ came at the exact right moment in my life”, he added.

When asked about what he missed the most about being on stage, Dov’s answer was very clear: “It’s the energy, the connection with the crowd, the direct feedback when my music drops… that synergy is something special”, he said. “The real reward is the reaction, and once distorted kicks are in your system, there’s no way back”.

After several years without performing, DJ The Prophet ensures he has changed a lot as an artist. “For the first time, I could look at everything from a distance, almost like a helicopter view over my own life”, he admitted. “That brought clarity and created space in my thinking. After more than 35 years of doing the same thing, that shift was necessary”. The scene has also changed a lot in the past years. “Change and evolution are essential. I’ve always welcomed that, it’s a sign that what we are doing still matters”, DJ The Prophet told us.

Expect an exclusive show concept instead of a full comeback

One thing about this return is clear: Dov will not have a long, unreadable schedule full of shows all over the world every weekend. He wants to keep it exclusive and healthy. That’s why he will launch a brand new live concept, for which we have asked him for more information. “The set will reflect everything I have created until 2023”, he answered. “It’s a journey through my own catalog. I’m not playing new music unless I genuinely feel the need to create again, and that’s not planned right now. I’m not stepping back into the pressure of constantly having to release new music”.

Nevertheless, DJ The Prophet hasn't given many hints about this project yet. “Each show is built around the ‘Distorted Construct’ concept, with next-level, tailored visuals to create a complete experience”, he claimed. “It’s an exclusive approach: I choose where I play, and I’ll only accept a few bookings each month. Availability will be very limited. My shows will take people through time, from the early years up to 2023. But no set will be the same. Each one will adapt to the line-up and the energy of the event.”

Keep an eye on DJ The Prophet’s channels and let’s follow his steps now that he will be back on the stage. Good luck, Dov, it’s great to see you back!