Makes Draaimolen

In this electrifying episode of House and Soul Vocalists Living Today, we whirl into the kaleidoscopic universe of Draaimolen Festival—the Tilburg-based beacon of electronic innovation that's blending boundary-pushing beats with soul-stirring artistry since 2013. Hosted by Elena Voss, we sit down with visionary founder Milo Van Buijtene to uncover what truly makes Draaimolen spin: its unyielding commitment to independence, symbiotic fusion of music, visual arts, and nature, and a lineup that pulses with everything from deep house reveries to neo-soul infused techno sets. As the festival confronts an uncertain horizon beyond 2025 without a new venue, hear raw reflections from heavyweights like Blawan and Pariah on how Draaimolen's eclectic ethos—championing underground vocalists, live acts, and immersive installations—continues to redefine club culture and foster social reflection in an ever-evolving scene. Tune in for archival festival footage, intimate artist spotlights, and a curated mix of soulful anthems from past editions that capture the raw, windswept energy of the MOB-Complex grounds—from singeli footwork to dubstep-laced house grooves that leave you breathless. In a world craving authentic vibes, Draaimolen reminds us why these spaces matter. Catch the 2025 edition before it's too late—September 5 & 6—and join the conversation: What's your favorite festival memory? Share below. New episodes drop every other Friday on all major platforms.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Last Thursday evening, the night before the gates opened for
this year's Drymolin. I was wandering through the bustling production
area with founder and programmer Milo van Butena. A figure
with quafft hair walked towards us, spread their arms wide
and shouted over the thrum of sound checks. It's mister Drymolin,

(00:20):
thank you for letting us do this. It was Narses
with Morphina, their partner in music and in life. Together
they were preparing to debut a new project, lingua Erotica.
Its exchange summed up what the Dutch festival excels at,
creating fertile ground for artists to experiment, grow and test boundaries.

(00:42):
The lingua Erotica show wouldn't have happened without Van Biden's push.
In twenty twenty four, their agent had sent him two
tracks all their material. At the time, I was listening
and it was like boom, let's go, he recalled. He
saw the potential for a full mainstage show to se
fite their agent, initially saying they weren't ready. Over the

(01:03):
next year he worked closely with the pair to bring
it to life. It's just one act, he told me,
but we give it so much time and energy, and
now it's a world premiere. And so the Red Silk
Clad duo performed live for the first time, marrying sleazy
Eighties tinged synth pop with crooning love songs. Immersive dancers

(01:27):
choreographed by Boston Gallagher weaved through the crowd, illuminated by
hundreds of blinder lights flashing down from the Strobe Stages
open air structure. The performance felt like a microcosm of Drymolin,
a festival built on trust, collaboration, and risk taking. In
a time when the festival landscape has never been more saturated,

(01:51):
electronic music culture needs specialist events and teams like Drymolins
more than ever. At this year's edition, Polychrome Audio co
founder Herve played Saturday's closing set at the Forest Rave stage.
The name is Act. The dance floor is nestled among
the trees and tucked away in the corner of the site.

(02:13):
Any seasoned festivalgoer will tell you there's something about dancing
in the woods, but at night. With Draymollan's production, the
result is spectacular. Hervey opted for cosmic house and techno
with spangling, since every so often the forest was flooded
with huge fans of lasers that splayed out like cobwebs

(02:35):
and sparkled like a million diamonds in the leaves. Just
before the end, after the music had carried on for
thirty minutes longer than expected, Drymulin is good to its punters.
He dropped Don Jaguar's Jaguar E type mix to a
completely enchanted crowd. This deep connection to place has shaped

(02:56):
Drymulin's identity since twenty nineteen, when it moved to Mob Complex,
a former military complex in the woods north of Tilburg.
After launching in twenty fourteen at Artificial beach venue water Jump,
the festival moved four times in a quest to find
the perfect location. The synergy in twenty nineteen was immediate. Indeed,

(03:20):
in my review of that edition, i wrote, if this
year is anything to go by, let's hope they found
a permanent home in Mob Complex. The new site meant
that Drymulin could lean into a feature enjoyed by many
of the best electronic festivals, the opportunity to commune in nature.

(03:42):
An aerial view of the site reveals dense woodland crisscrossed
by pads and dusty clearings impeccably suited to dance floors.
In many ways, it's perfect. You might assume that having
thousands of ravers descend on a forest for the weekend,
plus all the can instruction disturbance would wreak havoc on

(04:02):
an environment like mob complex, But the team conduct ecological
reports on the area each year, both before and after
the festival, and the opposite is true. In fact, Drymolen
has improved the local biodiversity.