5 Iconic HI-LO Tracks That Define His Techno Evolution

HI-LO is the darker, techno-focused project of Dutch DJ and producer Oliver Heldens. Launched anonymously in 2015, the alias gave Heldens a space to explore heavier, more bass-driven music outside the melodic house sound associated with his own name. HI-LO—formed by reversing “Oli H”—was introduced through “Crank It Up” before Heldens revealed himself alongside the launch of Heldeep Records and the release of “Renegade Mastah.”

Over time, HI-LO developed from bass-heavy house into a leading name in peak-time techno. Releases such as “Zeus” on mau5trap and “Kronos” on Octopus Recordings marked a major turning point for the project, combining spacious atmospheres, driving percussion, raw synth work, and the production scale needed for both warehouse rooms and festival stages. In 2020, HI-LO was named 1001Tracklists’ No. 1 most-supported producer across all genres and went on to rank among Beatport’s leading techno artists.

His catalog includes major releases on Drumcode and Filth on Acid, with records such as “Wanna Go Bang,” “Crescendo,” “Open Your Mind,” “Hypnos,” “Rabbit Hole,” “Mercury,” and “Samsara.” Along the way, HI-LO has worked with Green Velvet, Armin van Buuren, Eli Brown, Reinier Zonneveld, Space 92, Layton Giordani, Alan Fitzpatrick, Maddix, ZHU, Kasablanca, and DJ Deeon. His music has received support from Adam Beyer, Charlotte de Witte, Carl Cox, Amelie Lens, Tale Of Us, and Solomun, helping connect his work with audiences across multiple corners of techno.

In 2023, Heldens launched HILOMATIK, a label built around the sound and direction of the HI-LO project. The imprint has provided a home for his solo records and high-profile collaborations while allowing him to move between driving techno, trance-influenced melodies, hypnotic builds, and harder peak-time material without being restricted to one style.

As a performer, HI-LO has appeared at Ultra’s RESISTANCE, CRSSD, Factory 93, The Warehouse Project, Seismic Dance Event, and major clubs and festivals around the world. His extended sets reveal the project at its fullest, giving Heldens time to move through deeper selections, gradual tension, forceful techno, and large-scale closing records. What began as a hidden outlet for another side of his music has grown into one of the most recognized projects in modern techno.

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