How to make Melodic Techno

Robbert Vellekoop, better known by his artist name Kriss Reeve, first gained interest in DJing after observing a local disk jockey at his local elementary school in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Hooked by the rush of entertaining and engaging with crowds, young Reeve began exploring the craft by making mixtapes in his bedroom and uploading them to Soundcloud and social media boards. Reeve’s talents soon garnered him attention from the local dance scene and radio stations, and he became known for his monthly live mixes and performances.

After solidifying his name as a local performer, Reeve turned his talents to remixing and producing records for other acts. His passion for developing complex ideas into melodic hits secured him his first record deal at just 16 years old, a Dance-Tunes top 100, and airtime on national radio stations like 538 and SlamFM. He was later accepted into the Herman Brood Academy in the Netherlands where he continued his musical studies.

By 2018, Reeve made the pivotal decision to release music under his own artist name. Driven by a desire to leverage full artistic freedom, he embarked on a mission to develop his sound into official releases and remixes. His first remix of English pop singer Dua Lipa instantly gained millions of views upon its release, and his first single got chosen by the Dutch Top 40 as the #1 release of that week. Subsequent tracks were supported by the likes of Tiesto, Nicky Romero, Don Diablo, Hardwell, R3hab, Blasterjaxx, Mike williams, Bassjackers and Lost Frequencies.

Kriss Reeve’s signature sound is best described as a mix between Tech House and Bass House with Future House elements. To achieve this style, he fluidly blends tech house grooves with a palette of underground house sounds while also engaging listeners with memorable vocals. For him, “it combines something recognizable with something new and fresh.”

The diversity of styles in Reeve’s music is further reflected in his live shows, where he enjoys keeping the crowd on their feet with surprising drops and catchy vocals. You can often find Reeve singing along to the music and interacting with his fans on stage. He has also performed in countries such as Panama, Spain, France and Greece, and festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultrasonic Festival.

When he’s not behind the decks or at the studio, you can usually find Reeve drinking his daily dose of ice tea or polishing his skills on the basketball court. He also enjoys finding creative inspiration for tracks, interacting with his fans on social media, and planning his next international performance.