BIO

Belgian 4T4 (né Kristof Michiels) was born a music passionate and has witnessed the evolution of electronic dance music from the front row; his carreer encompasses more than 3 decades thanks to a very early start. Although a real international breakthrough has stayed out so far, he’s one of the most revered and respected staples in Belgian DJ-culture. He has enjoyed huge national succes as dj and producer (sometimes even rapper) of rap group ’t Hof Van Commerce and as a party-dj, and is known as a bridgebuilder between a large variation of styles and cultures. His skills are renowned. He’s also enjoyed some global underground recognition, mainly due to releases on well-respected connoisseur labels such as Bearfunk, but no matter which of the many alter ego’s he’s been working under, his main talent and aim have always been to cater to a wider and unbiassed audience in a tasteful manner, always aiming to please and entertain. He is a true vibemaster.

Besides playing with Laurent Garnier and DJ Shadow multiple times, he’s also played with Derrick May, Felix Da Housecat, Carl Craig, Etiienne De Crécy, Cassius a.m.o. His music can / could be heard in sets by Monsieur Garnier, Horse Meat Disco, DJ Harvey, Claptone to name but a few, and legends such as Nicky Siano (from Studio 54!) and DJ Sneak follow his Soundcloud page.

Some more random facts:

  • He started as a new beat / house dj in underground Hasselt club ‘t Kelderke in the late 80’s.

  • Born in ‘73

  • Played Rock Werchter’s main stage 4 times

  • Played Pukkelpop 10+ times

  • Is also a skilled moviemaker, specialised in a style he calls “montagism”

  • Does most of his artwork himself

  • Made a documentary about 50 years of Belgian dj’s called “Platendraaiers” (“Record Players”) for national tv, which reached an audience of 500.000+

  • It spawned an official “Monopoly Discotheken” edition

  • Considers dividing music up into styles as complete nonsense

  • Was part of the same scene that includes Mo & Benoelie / The Glimmers / Rheinzand, The Magician, Soulwax / 2manydj’s, The Subs,…

In all his years as a working dj, he’s witnessed the rise and fall of trends like swingbeat, new beat, hip house, rave, jungle, crossover, acid jazz, trip hop, big beat, ragga, (modern) r&b, 2-step, deep house, electro house, minimal, nu disco, dubstep, edm, trap a.m.o., always adapting and weeding out the cream of the crop, incorporating them into the blend without losing his own identity: an unrivalled timeless party feeling. You can’t beat that with a stick.

Just for fun, here’s a long list of the records he reckons he’s played the most in total:

  • Connected (Stereo MC’s)

  • Blind (Hercules & Love Affair)

  • Big Fun (Inner City)

  • City Life [Carl Craig's Caya Dub] (Terry Brookes & Aaron Soul)

  • Shake Your Rump (Beastie Boys)

  • Love Can’t Turn Around (Farley Jackmaster Funk)

  • Feel So Close (Calvin Harris)

  • Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (Indeep)

  • Cowgirl (Underworld)

  • Jaguar [Mayday Mix] (DJ Rolando)

  • Once In a Lifetime (Talking Heads)

  • The Real Jazz [Dahlback Mix] (Thomas Krome)

  • Forever More (Moloko)

  • Original Nuttah (Shy FX & UK Apache)

  • Leviathan (Arnaud Rebotini)

  • 99 Problems (Jay-Z)

  • Voodoo Ray (A Guy Called Gerald)

  • Blue Monday (New Order)

  • Pjanoo (Eric Prydz)

  • Can You Dig It? (Mark The 909 King)

  • Can You Feel It? (Mr. Fingers)

  • Happy House (The Juan Maclean)

  • Galvanize (The Chemical Brothers)

  • Kosmetisk (Magnus International)

  • This Brutal House (Nitro Deluxe)

  • Bassline (Reese)

  • You Should Be Dancing (Bee Gees)

  • Dare [DFA Remix] (Gorillaz)

  • Polyphonic Destruction (Kosmic Messenger)

  • Fool’s Gold (The Stone Roses)

  • Simon Says (Pharoahe Monch)

  • The Reward Is Cheese (Deadmau5)

  • Shades Of Jae (Moodymann)

  • Sunshine (Tomaz & Filterheadz)

  • The Drop Deal (Bazz)

  • California Love (2Pac)

  • Do It Any Way You Wanna (People’s Choice)

  • Daft Punk Is Playing At My House (LCD Soundsystem)

  • Ride Like The Wind (East Side Beat)

  • Jungle Boogie (Kool & The Gang)

  • Photon [Carl Cox Remix] (Deetron)

  • White Horse (Laid Back)

  • Theme From S’Express (S’Express)

  • Lips They Move (Ultrasonic 7)

  • +1000