Don Pepijn Schipper (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈdɔnpəˈpɛinˈsxɪpər]; born 27 February 1980), better known by his stage name Don Diablo, is a Dutch DJ, digital artist, record producer, musician and songwriter of electronic dance music. He is one of the pioneers of the future house genre and was ranked sixth in the Top 100 DJs – 2020 list by DJ Mag.[1] He was also ranked number one Producer of the Year for 2018 by 1001Tracklists.[2] In 2016, he was ranked the number one Future House Artist of the Year on Beatport.[3]
In 2016, he founded his own record label, HEXAGON.
Career
1995–2005: early years
Diablo played in clubs all over the world and at various festivals including Glastonbury, Lowlands, Creamfields & Ministry Of Sound.[citation needed]
Between 1995 and 2005 Diablo produced for other acts and bands and released his own music under different aliases including "Dave Mitchell", "The Raven", "Batteries Not Included", "Dahlio Bond" & "Skip Donner".
In 2004, he launched his separate music project called Divided. The project had two hits "The Music, the People" credited to Divided featuring Diablo in 2004, followed by "Easy Lover" in 2005, credited to Diablo presents Divided, a dance remake of the joint hit of Philip Bailey and Phil Collins in 1985, Divided remake coming after twenty years of the release of the original.
2006–2009: Life Is a Festival
In 2006, Diablo was signed and A&R'ed the UK top 3 chart hit "Exceeder" by Mason. The record was originally signed to Middle of the Road, a record label set up by Diablo and Amsterdam-based club promoter Roy Avni (Electro Nation). In 2008, Diablo released his debut album "Life Is a Festival".
In 2009, Diablo released "Hooligans", a collaboration with English singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer Example.
2010–2013
In 2010, a collaboration with Dragonette resulted in the single "Animale" that charted in the Dutch Singles Chart as well as the Belgian Ultratip chart. The music video was also nominated for a TMF Award in the Netherlands.
His song "Starlight (Could You Be Mine)" was debuted during the last Swedish House Mafia concert, after Axwell signed it to his label.[4] The song became a Beatport Top 5 hit, and later several of his other releases reached the Beatport Top 10.[5]
In 2013, Pete Tong debuted six of Don's releases on his BBC Radio 1 show. He had a residency at Las Vegas' night club "Light", played the Departures Ibiza closing party alongside Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso, and toured the UK. He also had sold-out solo tours in Asia and the United States in this period.
2014–2016
In 2014, Diablo premiered his new visual concept "The Hexagon" with Los Angeles-based visual company "VSquared Labs".
In October 2014, Diablo made his debut on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list at No. 82.[6] In October 2015, Diablo was awarded with DJ Magazine's "highest climber of the year" prize, jumping 52 places to No. 30 on the Top 100 DJs list for 2015.[7]
Diablo launched his Hexagon record label. The first release, a remix of Alex Adair's "You Make Me Feel Better" held the no. 1 position on Beatport for almost seven weeks and the label was awarded "Best New Label of The Year".[8]
In 2015 his HEXAGON radio show was aired in over 35 countries and holds a top 10 position in the iTunes podcast section every week.
Diablo has directed most of his own music videos. In 2013 Warner Brothers asked Don to create the worldwide theme song for the much acclaimed Batman: Arkham Origins game.
In 2015 Diablo collaborated with fellow Dutch DJ Tiësto on the track "Chemicals" featuring vocals from Danish singer and producer Thomas Troelsen.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, Diablo went on Tour Across Europe, this sold out across multiple venues including his first headline show in London.
2017: Past.Present.Future
In 2017, Don Diablo released Past.Present.Future, a compilation of previously released tracks, including hits "On My Mind," "Cutting Shapes," and his collaboration with Tiësto "Chemicals" featuring Thomas Troelsen.[9]
Diablo won DJ Mag's 2017 Highest Future House award and was ranked #11 overall in the DJ Mag Top 100 Poll.[10]
A packed global tour schedule saw him play the mainstages of Tomorrowland, EDC, Creamfields, Mysteryland, Lollapalooza, and Ultra Music Festival whilst selling out his Headline Artist shows in the UK, US & European markets.
In November 2017, Diablo released "Take Her Place" with electronic trio Arizona.
2018–present: Future and Forever
On 19 January, Diablo released the seventh single from Future, "People Say", with actor/songwriter, Paije Richardson.
On 8 February, he embarked on his sold out Future North American Tour, making stops at Los Angeles' Fonda Theatre and New York's Terminal 5, among others.[11]
His second studio album, Future, was released via his label Hexagon on 9 February 2018.[12][13]
On 13 March, he released the eighth single to Future entitled "Head Up" with singer James Newman. On 23 March, he released the ninth single to FUTURE entitled "Believe", available on the deluxe edition (released same day) with actor/singer-songwriter Ansel Elgort.[14] On 25 April he released the tenth single to FUTURE entitled "Give Me Love" with singer Calum Scott.[15]
On 15 October 2018, he ranked #1 as the world's most DJ-supported producer,[2] according to 1001Tracklists, a website logging DJ support from festival recordings, radio shows, and DJ mixes.
In 2018, Diablo released his first remix compilation "Reconstructions".[16] In 2021 he released "Reconstructions 2".[17] The compilations include remixes he did for: Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Panic! At The Disco, Ellie Goulding, Mark Ronson, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay and others.
On 18 September 2020, he launched Camp Kubrick with Denzel Chain, an 80s style inspired duo releasing the single "Johnny's Online".[18]
On 20 March 2021, "Genesis by Don Diablo"[19] was sold on NFT marketplace "SuperRare".
On 9 April 2021, Diablo broke the primary sales record at SuperRare with his feature length NFT project "Destination Hexagonia".[20]
On 11 June 2021, Diablo announced his partnership with environmental charity organization "Justdiggit"[21] in collaboration with the United Nations (not to be confused with the dance music act Uniting Nations). Their Stream-To-Regreen campaign kicked off with a collaboration between Don Diablo and Ty Dolla $ign.
In June 2021, Diablo was included in the Natively Digital Auction by Sotheby's Auction House with his work "INFINITΞ FUTURΞ".[24] His second work auctioned by Sotheby's, titled "HEXHIBIT III"[25] was auctioned on 7 December 2021. The work was publicly premiered on the Museumplein in Amsterdam and then exhibited at the MOCO Museum, also in Amsterdam.
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
^Re-released in 2007 (digitally on 8 February 2011) through Gusto Records without crediting The Beatkidz
^Single includes B-side track "Sudderen (Dubbel Dik)" (with Kubus featuring Extince), which has not charted nor is included in the album
^Two of the tracks from the single/EP, the A-side track "Streets of Fire" (with Grand Jackson) and the bonus track "The Truth is No Good to Me", appear on the compilation album
^Rework of the 2006 song of the same name; released along with 2 remix packages
^"Silence" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but did enter the Ultratip chart.
^"Save a Little Love" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but did enter the Ultratip chart.
^"Don't Let Go" did not enter the Walloon Ultratop 50, but did enter the Ultratip chart.
^"You Can't Change Me" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but did enter the Ultratip chart.
^"Don't Let Go" did not enter the Walloon Ultratop 50, but did enter the Ultratip chart.
^"Don't Let Go" did not enter the Walloon Ultratop 50, but did enter the Ultratip chart.
Soundtracks and theme songs
2008 "Life is a Festival" (Radeloos Soundtrack)
2012: "Cell" (Soundtrack Bellicher: Cel)
2013: "Edge of the Earth" (Theme from The New Wilderness)
