Biography
Biography
From Spijkenisse to the studio
Nick Leonardus van de Wall was born in Spijkenisse, South Holland, on 9 September 1987, to a Dutch mother and a Surinamese father. He learned piano from the age of five and, by his own later account, was producing tracks at home from the age of eleven, spending long daily sessions learning the craft that would define his working life. After leaving school he studied graphic design at the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam for a year before committing fully to music.
He started DJing in local pubs and clubs at fourteen, taking additional work designing websites for fellow musicians. 'In Your Face' arrived in 2007 as the first recording released under the Afrojack name, and that same year he founded Wall Recordings, the label he has continued to operate as the home for his own releases and for emerging producers. Early on he described his method as self-made: going out, promoting his music, listening to criticism and practising until it worked.
Breakthrough years, 2010-2011
In July 2010 Afrojack recorded a debut Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1, a two-hour set that introduced him to the programme's worldwide dance audience. Around the same time, 'Take Over Control', his collaboration with Eva Simons, became his first genuine international single, charting in ten countries. He entered DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs later that year at No. 19, the poll's highest new entry of 2010.
The following year escalated quickly. Afrojack co-wrote and produced Pitbull's 'Give Me Everything' with Ne-Yo and Nayer, a single that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 2011, and he appeared among the credited producers on Chris Brown's 'Look At Me Now'. In February 2011 the Recording Academy had already awarded him, alongside David Guetta, Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for 'Revolver (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix)'. By the end of the year DJ Mag placed him at No. 7.
Festival years and Forget the World
Through 2012 and 2013 Afrojack was a regular headliner at the largest electronic dance music festivals, including Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival and Coachella, and he remained inside DJ Mag's top ten for 2012 and 2013. His singles from the period, among them 'The Spark' featuring Spree Wilson, kept a pop-radio footprint alongside the club work.
His debut album, Forget the World, was released on 19 May 2014, gathering collaborations that ran from 'Ten Feet Tall' featuring Wrabel to 'The Spark'. The album remains his only full-length studio release to date, and subsequent projects have favoured singles, EPs and remixes over another long-form statement.
Pop crossovers and later collaborations
Afrojack has repeatedly worked at the junction of electronic and pop music. He featured on David Guetta's 'Hey Mama' in 2015 alongside Nicki Minaj and Bebe Rexha, a top-ten Hot 100 entry, and he has described working with Guetta as a recurring partnership rather than a one-off. The two returned in 2017 with 'Another Life' featuring Ester Dean, and their pairing 'Hero' received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Recording at the 2022 ceremony.
In March 2022 the collaborators released 'Trampoline', featuring Missy Elliott, BIA and Doechii, with Afrojack saying in a statement that he was honoured Guetta asked him to help with the beat. On the live stage, he performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam after the 2020 edition, in which he had been scheduled to appear alongside Glennis Grace, was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wall Recordings, aliases and LDH Europe
Wall Recordings, founded in 2007, has moved through several distribution arrangements over the years, operating at times as a Spinnin' Records sub-label, later through an Armada Music partnership, and at other times independently, while continuing to release Afrojack material and records by younger producers.
Afrojack has also pursued parallel creative identities. In July 2017 he issued the NLW EP under the alias NLW, earmarking that name for more underground-leaning productions, and he has since explored a further club-focused alias, Kapuchon, discussed in a Billboard interview in early 2026. Business-side, CNBC reported in 2018 that he is chief executive of LDH Europe, where he has said he looks for artists who are ready to learn and believe in their own dreams.
The 2020s
In September 2022 Afrojack announced the Jack to the Future US tour, a fifteen-date run beginning in late October in San Antonio and moving through Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, New York, Portland, Miami, Sunnyvale and Los Angeles, with an EDC Orlando appearance in between and support from artists including Cesqeaux, Black V Neck and Chico Rose.
Afrojack remains active as a touring DJ and recording artist. DJ Mag ranked him No. 8 in its Top 100 DJs of 2025, a placing that recognised what the magazine described as a return to roots in his sets, and his official website is presently promoting a run of CONTROL shows alongside recent releases. He continues to lead Wall Recordings and to collaborate across the mainstream and underground ends of dance music.
Selected moments
Career highlights
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Debut single and Wall Recordings founded
Afrojack issued 'In Your Face', his first release under the Afrojack name, and founded his own label, Wall Recordings, which he still runs.
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BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix debut
A first Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1, first broadcast in July 2010, introduced his sound to the programme's global dance audience.
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Grammy Award for the 'Revolver' remix
The Recording Academy honoured Afrojack and David Guetta with Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for 'Revolver (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix)'.
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'Give Me Everything' hits No. 1
Pitbull's single with Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, co-written and produced by Afrojack, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in July 2011.
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Debut album Forget the World
Forget the World, Afrojack's first studio album, arrived on 19 May 2014, expanding his catalogue beyond singles, features and remixes.
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Launch of the NLW alias
The NLW EP appeared in July 2017, introducing an alias Afrojack uses for more underground-leaning club productions.
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Eurovision performance in Rotterdam
After the 2020 contest was cancelled, Afrojack performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the host city for the delayed edition.
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'Trampoline' with Guetta and Missy Elliott
Afrojack and David Guetta released 'Trampoline' in March 2022, featuring Missy Elliott, BIA and Doechii on the vocal lineup.
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'Jack to the Future' US tour announced
A fifteen-date US tour was announced for autumn 2022, with stops including Las Vegas, New York, Miami and Los Angeles plus EDC Orlando.
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No. 8 in DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs
DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs of 2025 placed Afrojack at No. 8, extending his long run among the poll's highest-ranked acts.
Recognition
Grammy Awards
Afrojack's Recording Academy record, as listed by the Grammy organisation, stands at one win from four career nominations. The victory came at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards for his work remixing David Guetta's 'Revolver', with later nods covering remix production, rap songwriting credits and dance/electronic performance.
- Grammy Awards won
- 1
- Grammy Award nominations
- 4
| Year | Award | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Grammy Award | Best Remixed Recording, Non-ClassicalWinner | Revolver (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix) |
| 2012 | Grammy Award | Best Remixed Recording, Non-ClassicalNominee | Collide (Afrojack Remix) |
| 2012 | Grammy Award | Best Rap SongNominee | Look At Me Now |
| 2022 | Grammy Award | Best Dance/Electronic RecordingNominee | Hero |