One of the Sunshine City's bright spots, he's a champion of undiscovered cuts, carrying the torch for revitalizing eclectic dance floors at home and beyond. Touching on threads of true-school Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Balearic dance music with the discernment of an insider's knowledge while bending the rules from the advantage of an outsider's perspective, his style is distinctive, yet difficult to pin. He's a DJ that truly shines behind the decks, leaving listeners soaking up rays that linger on long after his sets. These radiant qualities make Van der Bleek a force to be reckoned with. After a career spanning a decade and a half, his free-wheeling spirit is evident through the repertoire he’s developed under his belt: including DJing an official afterparty for Nile Rodgers & CHIC, getting dapped by Flavor Flav in the DJ booth in Detroit, his track getting charted by Mark Farina on Juno despite having never released any music, receiving a co-sign for the fictitious award of “winner of the late night tiny patio party” from indie rock band Broken Social Scene, holding the unofficial record for the longest set at Suwanne Hulaween (6 hours), being the first DJ to play the Clearwater Jazz Holiday in its 45 years of existence, soundtracking a dreadlock cutting ceremony at Love Burn, and many other moments accumulated over the years — only possible or acquired from a true immersion and deep dive into the culture. His sets have served as a catalyst for dance floors before legendary figures like François K, Tony Humphries, Timmy Regisford, King Britt, Mark Farina, Roy Davis Jr., Mike Huckaby, Charles Webster, and more — an expansive list of dance music luminaries — as well as opening for Thievery Corporation on his city’s biggest stage. He’s performed at some of the South East’s premiere festivals and gatherings such as Suwannee Hulaween, Okeechobee Music Festival, The Atlanta Weekender, and The Love Burn, in addition to annual official Movement Festival pre-parties and Memorial Day Weekend afterparties in Detroit and notable venues across the country like Flash, Spot Lite, Dante’s HiFi, The Electric Pickle, and Bar Smith. Through his travels, he’s shared his free-spirited selections with Mexico City, Cartagena, NYC, Denver, and other destinations. He’s also reached listeners world-wide over the airwaves with mixes for Deeper Shades of House, Razor-N-Tape, Charivari, and other platforms. Wherever Van der Bleek lands, he’s always gotten his hands dirty doing the work to build community, bolster the culture, and bring to light missing musical links. His celebrated Open House Conspiracy residency has kept the fires burning for various strands of underground dance music across Florida. With more adventures on the horizon, it’s easy to believe there’s still even brighter days ahead, but his mission always remains rooted in a pure and simple ethos: to discover, collect, and share as much good music as possible with the people. EPK: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S4Rb_yCNZGknhMzi-kJxSln-8_GkB3y9
2020 Best of the Bay ‘Best Internet Radio Show’ / ‘Best Club DJ’ Runner Up
2019 Best of the Bay ‘Best Club DJ’ / ‘Best Concert in the Last 12 Months’
