Hard Destiny about his debut EP: ONE

After the biggest year of his career so far, Hard Destiny is ready to take the next step. On March 26, Mel van Lankveld - better known as Hard Destiny - releases his debut EP, ONE. “I’ve developed a much clearer vision of what I want my act to stand for, and I’ve finally been able to capture that in my music.”

Since starting his career in 2022, Mel has quickly risen through the ranks, having spots on some of the biggest festival lineups, including REBiRTH Festival, Decibel outdoor, and Intents Festival. This year, he even made his debut at Reverze. Known for tracks like Up All Night with Revelation and his remix of Aversion’s Global Revolution, he’s now taking things to the next level with his first EP release.

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"The EP wasn’t built around a concept from the start," Hard Destiny explains. Instead, it’s a collection of tracks that came together naturally over time. "Each track was created with an experimental approach, but they all share a certain energy and direction. They just felt like they belonged together. That’s how I landed on the name ONE - a reflection of unity and identity. By weaving the number '1' into each track title, I wanted to subtly reinforce that concept."

“I want listeners to dive into the layers and feel each track for what it is, without distractions."

He's taken a minimalist approach to the artwork, focusing on removing elements rather than adding them. "ONE. is meant to be experienced through the sounds and details within each track - raw and experimental. I want listeners to dive into the layers and feel each track for what it is, without distractions. It’s more about understanding the story through the music itself rather than reading it from the artwork."

Looking back at his career so far, he feels like every step felt like a progress, "and I’m really grateful for everything I’ve experienced - especially during last year’s festival season. It hasn’t been the longest journey yet, but definitely an intense one, and I look back on it with pride. Every show, every release has helped shape where I’m at now, and I’m excited about what’s still to come."

With summer approaching, fans can watch Hard Destiny live all over the festival season. "I feel like I’ve gained a much clearer sense of what I want my act to represent - and I’ve been able to translate that into my new music. I could say, expect more music, better and harder, but honestly, it really feels that way to me. I’m super excited to bring that energy to the stage this year, and I’m grateful to be performing at events like REBiRTH Festival, Intents Festival, and Decibel outdoor. Can’t wait to show what I’ve been working on."

Hard Destiny's EP One is available for download via Hardstyle.com and out now on all streaming platforms. For more releases, shows, and information, make sure to follow Hard Destiny on Spotify, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok.

Images via Hard Destiny.