Radical Redemption: “Recording this album was extremely emotional”

Last January, Radical Redemption released a brand new album after fans had waited four years for a new album to drop. No Retaliation emerged as a statement, a loud voice born from the difficult times he had experienced in the years before. Now, a few months later, Joey looks back on the release of his most personal album yet.

With No Retaliation, Joey shares his personal journey through the experiences of recent years. Those were tough years for him, from the loss of his father to legal disputes with his label, being forced out of his home, and being scrapped from line-ups at events… "No matter how tough things were, I'm grateful for this album's release. It wouldn't exist without these experiences," Joey shares. He finds it heartwarming that many fans connect with the stories told in the album. "It adds an extra depth to the tracks."

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Joey felt like he had to rebuild his career completely to get himself back on the big stages. "The release of this album was the final chapter in this journey. I remember waking up on release day. I checked my phone and was truly overwhelmed by the reactions. I must have received around 4000 DMs on Instagram alone. Fans not only expressed their joy with the album but also shared that they understood my personal story. They felt the emotion in the album." The release day of No Retaliation was a day of relief for the DJ from Denekamp. "I've had a few album release days before, but this one really stood out."

Radical Redemption: “People truly feel the depth of the tracks when they listen to No Retaliation"

Every Radical Redemption fan knows that incorporating personal elements into his tracks is not entirely new for Joey. "In my previous albums, there were instances where I aimed to share something personal, especially on the albums from 2019 onward. However, No Retaliation stands out as the first album where it explicitly narrates what I, as Joey, and thus as Radical Redemption, have lived through. As a result, certain tracks have taken on a deeper meaning. They have more depth. People truly feel that when they listen to the album."

"There's a common notion that hardstyle is simplistic, straightforward music.” Joey himself doesn’t agree with that. “I never did. My fans really pay attention to the story being told in the track. They are open to the personal journey. Hardstyle is often dismissed as mindless, but a track can have the same impact as music from Beyoncé or Taylor Swift.”

When questioned about the track that holds the most significance for Joey, his response is surprising. "The storytelling audios, where I discuss my recent experiences, have actually become the framework of the album. Recording these tracks was incredibly emotional for me. Speaking these words is like pouring out your soul. Tracks like No Retaliation and Won't Bow Down are beautiful tracks with a lot of emotion, but their true depth is revealed through the storytelling audio. You understand why a track is titled a certain way, why it evokes a certain emotion. The tracks and the storytelling audio work together to make you feel what the music is about."

Joey continues exploring a new sound with his album, setting himself apart from fellow producers. "While many producers chase trends, I approach it differently. I live by the mantra, 'The first horse that looks back is the first horse to fall.' I could easily look back at what everyone in the scene is doing, but I prefer to define my own path and select the sound that fits with me." He firmly believes in his unique sound and is constantly evolving it. "No Retaliation truly reflects what Radical Redemption stands for. It's about seeking out a fresh sound in a scene where many artists sound alike."

Radical Redemption's album No Retaliation is available for download via Hardstyle.com. To finalize the project, he plans to unveil two more albums this year: The Collabs and The Orchestra Of Eternity. The next album is scheduled for autumn 2024, while the concluding part is targeted for early 2025.

Images via Radical Redemption