Having developed a passion for electronic music from an early age, Joost van der Vleuten aka Namatjira has now firmly etched his place in the history of progressive house. With a career spanning the better part of two decades, the Dutch artist has earned the praise of world class DJs such as Guy J, Hernan Cattaneo, John Digweed, Nick Warren and Sasha, while showcasing his music on renowned record labels, most notably Anjunadeep, Armada, Purified, Songuara and Sudbeat. Joost's unique take on progressive and organic house has also seen him remix some of electronic music's biggest stars in Armin Van Buuren and Guy J. Now furthering what has already been a storied career, Namatjira adds Musique de Lune to his resume with a four-track showcase 'Und So Weiter'.
Progressive Astronaut caught up with Namatjira to learn more about the release of 'Und So Weiter', growing up in the Netherlands, DJing and much more. Enjoy!
Hi Joost, thanks for talking to us today. How has the start of the year been for you?
2025 stared of music wise pretty great. The last EP of 2024 on Gadi Mitrani’s label Love and Above did well. New music saw it’s light on Phagamast, Katchuli and Kiksuya and at the end of February my EP on Botanica came ot. So you can say I started of 2025 in a high gear.
Now let’s look at tracks, what is a track or tracks which came out last year that impressed you the most and why?
There are a lot of tracks that impress me. But it’s hard to name specific one. I really like what producers as Fejká, Flowers on Monday, Nohan, Talee and a couple of more are doing. Really fresh approach on the music scene.
What is a song/track you’ve never stopped listening to since childhood? And why has it stuck with you this long?
Think I mentioned it before but, I guess there are a couple, but one of them is definitely “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. When this one comes on the radio summer has started.
How did growing up in the Netherlands affect your music taste and direction into becoming a producer?
In the early nighties when I started to listen more and more music, I was into hiphop like De la Soul, Ice Cube and Queen Latifah. But also the more electronic music like Enigma, Mike Oldfield, Moby etc.
The funny thing happened when a “crossover” came up between those two. Hiphop meets Electronic, this acts SNAP!, C+C Music Factory, and more definitely got my attention.
Later when I had my first “job” at a local radio station they were talking about this program called Cubase where you could make danceable remixes of everything. I remember hearing this remix of Whitney Houseton with a credible dance beat, It sounded amazing. I though, would I ever be able to do this too? Cubase at that time was not affordable for me.
Who from the Netherlands inspired you the most early on and why were they inspirational for you?
My mom was always playing a lot of vinyl and that helped me listening to all different sorts of genres. She played The Beatles, The Kinks but also Dutch folk like BZN and Corry Konings.
Nowadays I still have this bright musical interest. I can listen all sorts of musical genres. My son (14) is into Tyler The Creator and I totally understand why.
For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you?
Good question; starting of as a producer in 2004, Trance was booming and I wanted to sound like Armin van Buuren and Ferry Corsten. I listened to their tracks over and over to understand what they were doing and how to do this too.
It’s not that I tried to copy them, but as a huge fan I wanted them to play my music, so I had to try sound a bit like them.
Later on when I met Eelke Kleijn, he was doing deeper stuff under his own name which got my interest too. I started listening to Global Underground dj’s like Hernán Cattáneo, Sasha, Danny Howells and Sander Kleinenberg. Those dj’s I guess were the start of what became the Namatjira project.
You started out as a trance producer I believe, what alias were you using at that time? And what is it about progressive and organic house that has made it your focus for nearly two decades now?
In those days I had several projects, ‘Van der Vleuten’ that was really what you expect trance is about. ‘Joost van der Vleuten’ that was trance with a little wink to progressive. ‘Seven Senses’ and Latigidi’ are the more deeper trancy projects. Progressive-Trance so to say. In 2006 ‘Namatjira’ started. In the beginning this was a side project of music which didn’t fit these other guises and I wasn’t sure if they were good enough to let people know they were made by me. When Chloe Harris’ remix got played by one of my heroes, Sasha I thought more serious about the project.
In 2012 when I released on Erik (Sonic Union) Pettersson‘s label Lowbit, I decided to put every other project besides Namatjira on hold. The first EP with vocals of Royal Sapien was played by progressive dj’s but also trance dj’s. I now knew this sound was what I loved to make most. Over the years my sound evolved into a more organic/melodic/progressive sound.
As mentioned, you’ve been releasing music as Namatjira for almost two decades at this point, when you look back on your releases, what would be some pivotal ones to the success you’ve achieved today? If you had to single out a release or two which really helped your propel career what would they be?
The remix I did for Armin van Buuren, is still today my most sold and streamed track I did. This remix generated a lot of new musical things.
The thing I did what’s most close to my hearth and in the end helped me too, was the remix of Guy J’s ‘Been Here Before’ which I did as an ode to the late Jerry van Schie.
You’ve accomplished a lot across your career with releases via Anjunadeep, Purified, The Soundgarden and UV highlighting your discography. What goals do you have going forward? Or a better question might be do you think about the future?
When I started making music I always dreamed of people dancing on the music I’ve made. I can say I accomplished that.
My second big dream back then, was entering the dj booth at my heroes, like Nick Warren, Hernán Cattáneo or Armin van Buuren and introducing myself and they would know me from my music. This happened too.
Now the goals are staying close to myself and see where the music brings me.
You have a new EP ‘Und So Weiter’ out now via Musique de Lune, tell us a bit about the release and what sort of vibe you were going for across the four tracks.
I think the ep reflects what my music is currently about. It’s a blend between the more organic progressive and melodic progressive house.
Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on your ‘Und So Weiter’ EP?
When I started making music, (2001) I tried several DAW’s, Fruity Loops (FL Studio), Cubase and eventually Propellerhead Reason (Reason Studios).
The guys around me always laughed when I told them I was working in Reason. I tried switching to a more well-known DAW like Ableton, but in the end I got back to Reason since I know this DAW inside out. In the end it’s not about what you cook with, but how you cook.
In this specific EP, I think I just had bought U-he’s Diva and used it a lot.
The EP is dedicated to the late Luke Santos, a beloved artist from your home country. Tell us a bit about your relationship with him, how you guys met and how you became such good friends.
I think it was 2015 when Hernán contacted me and introduced me to this guy who was a familiar dj from Argentina called Luke Santos. Luke and his friend Marc de Koning signed, I think their first EP on Stellar Fountain and were looking for a remix. I knew when I would do this and worked fast it could be played by Hernán at ADE in Amsterdam. This remix for ‘Numinous’ was exactly ready in time and got played in Club Panama the 17th of October.
After this we stayed in touch and met each other at several gigs and in the Recycle Lounge Gallery Club, Luke was always in front of the dj so it was hard to mis him. During the covid period we lost contact, and I didn’t see him for a long time. But when I was in Amsterdam, June last year at Kaap, Luke was there too and we renewed our contact. We talked about his 2.0 project, about his life, his health and of course about music. I remember sending him a couple of new tracks and he was immediately enthusiast and told me he let his friends (Marcelo Vasami and Jordan Robinson) listen to them and they were into the music too. Jordy contacted me if he could sign an EP and this is where we are now.
When Luke passed away last year I was shocked. I called Jordy who was in Amsterdam and one of the first this I said is that I wanted this EP to be an ode to Luke. Luke got me in contact with him and Musique de Lune and I’m so grateful for that, I wanted to do something back.
I think the last contact I had with Luke says it all…
With this being your Musique de Lune debut, please tell us why the label was a good home for the ‘Und So Weiter’ collection.
I think the story about how I landed at Music de Lune describes why this EP belongs there.
Current Top five tracks?
I have a spotify playlist which contains the music I’m currently into a lot. Since I’m not a dj this doesn’t mean I don’t have favourite tracks.
Currently there is music of Passenger10, Taleman, PROFF, Ariel R. and Ruben Karapetyan in it.
If you are not producing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?
Probable on the coach in my living room, doing nothing.
If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists? (Do not include yourself)
Good one! My friend Steven is the booker of their festival Hidden Garden in Eindhoven and we always discuss about these things.
It’s looks like nowadays it’s less important who is playing at a festival. People come there to have a good time with friends, have a few drinks and when the music is good they are happy. People are buying tickets for a festival before the line-up is mentioned.
Of course, you have purist’s that check line-ups of festivals and buy tickets cause of their favourite dj’s are playing there.
But if you asked me to make a line-up anyways, I love to see
Sander Kleinenberg b2b Eelke Kleijn.
Miss Melera b2b Nick Warren
Hernán Cattáneo b2b Danny Howells
Patrice Baumel b2b John Digweed
These aren’t your average b2b sets, but cause of the diversity I think they each can take each other to a higher ground, what for me the essential is of a b2b set.
If you were not a Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something not music related)
Since music is not my profession, I still would be work as a male nurse in a hospital.
What’s something people do not know about you?
For more than two years now I’m suffering from mental problems, diagnosed with a depression. It’s a difficult and hard time, but the music keeps me going. When I started to be more open about this, I’ve learned a lot of fellow musicians suffer from mental problems. I think it’s good to be open about it. The awareness grows and that’s a good thing.
My advice to others is, be open about your mental issue’s this will help you in getting everything together again. Talk about it, seek for help!
What can we look forward to from you across the rest of 2025? Any releases you are looking forward to?
There’s music on it’s way on Melodic Therapy, Where The Shadow Ends, 90Watts and more. I’m looking forward to every new release.
'Und So Weiter' is available now via Musique de Lune: https://tinyurl.com/5n7ncava
