With a career spanning over a decade and accolades coming out the wazoo, R3HAB has established himself as one of the most influential names in EDM. He’s Spotify’s Most Discovered Artist and one of the platform’s top 300 most-streamed artists globally, with releases that have achieved Gold or Platinum certification more than 80 times and amassed over 10 billion streams. Add to that official remixes for superstars like Rihanna, Drake and Calvin Harris, and it’s no wonder he’s ranked #18 on DJ Mag’s prestigious Top 100 DJs list.
But for R3HAB, it’s more than just numbers — it’s about connection, creativity and a global perspective shaped by his Moroccan-Dutch roots. As LA gears up for the new year, the hitmaker is bringing his electric sound to Avalon Hollywood this Saturday, Dec. 28, promising to deliver an evening of memories that will keep his fans dancing well into 2025. Ahead of the show, we caught up with the EDM maestro to talk creative process, where his work ethic comes from, and his love of strategy games.
Between an intense touring schedule and time spent in studio, how do you stay sane through it all?
Traveling is very often my studio and office time, so time management and a healthy routine are fundamental to my tour life. I keep my diet healthy, prioritize good sleep, and work out as much as possible. Having a reliable and well-organized team around me also helps!
How many times have you played a show in Los Angeles?
It’s been over a decade, I’ve lost count! I usually come back once or twice each year. I’m always happy to be here.
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Why do you like coming to LA and what are your favorite things to do when you come to town?
The easiest answer is the good weather! LA is a great city for winter shows. LA is ahead of the curve on health foods, so I always make a trip or two to a few grocery stores to find some new products. I also love the diversity of fans. People from all over the world live in and visit LA and so the vibe in the club is always electric.
When you’re remixing a song, what inspires you to take the sound in the direction you choose?
Remixing each song is different. I’ve done it so many times, but my approach remains the same. Adding my dance touch to a non-electronic record is a creative exploration, one that I base heavily on the original song, which is the key inspiration to the remix. My electronic sound is always evolving, I try to adapt new technologies, trends and sounds in every production I start working on, but whatever I do, I try to keep the soul of the original song alive.
When you’re pacing out your DJ sets, what kind of experience are you trying to create for your crowd — is there an emotional arc you’re trying to induce?
My sets are a journey, usually a high-energy one, so having the right balance in the selection and mixing is key not to overdo it. I try to time the emotional bridges well, adding an intrinsic touch to the experience, before pushing up the tempo again. Ultimately, my goal is to create special moments which will live in the crowd’s memories.
I saw this very cute pic of you as a kid — how are you influenced by your Moroccan Dutch roots?
Growing up as a child of an immigrant puts you between cultures and gives you a different perspective on what it means to be from either country. I grew up in the Netherlands but my mom made sure I stayed connected to Morocco. The Netherlands gave me my love of dance music, and Morocco opened my world, showing me that there’s so many other styles and influences out there. Nothing is static, I can bridge the cultures I come from, and I can pull from other cultures as well.
I read that you worked in your youth and teen years to support your family. I’m sure your family is very proud of you now.
Starting work early taught me a very valuable lesson and it’s one of the cornerstones which helps me appreciate the career I’ve built over the years. The work ethic I developed as a kid is a major part of how I got to where I am today. My mother made sure I had a backup plan if music didn’t take off. Thankfully, it did, but I’m still glad to have my business marketing degree.
Do they come to your performances?
Mom likes to come to shows when her favorite artists are performing. I brought her to SoundStorm in Riyadh a few weeks ago because there are so many artists that speak to her Moroccan heritage.
Your songs have been streamed billions of times and millions of hours — what’s it like being the soundtrack to people’s lives?
What’s beautiful about music is that everyone hears it differently and can resonate with different sounds, emotions and lyrics from my songs. I read the comments fans leave under my new releases and the key takeaway is that the records bring a positive vibe into people’s lives. That’s also the mission behind my newest single “Believe (Shooting Stars)” which I worked on with Mufasa, Hypeman and RANI — spreading good vibes around the world!
You play everywhere so you get a sense of what’s happening globally in live music. We had a few down years from the pandemic but we’ve been fully back for a few years now — what was the story of 2024 for live music?
Live music feels back to full pace around the world. There’s a lot of new festivals and club events opening up, but at the same time a number of festivals are still feeling the setback from the previous years. My mission is to contribute by making each of my shows special and attract bigger crowds to every event I perform.
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Where does the name R3HAB come from?
When you’re hyper-fixated on something, like how I went all-in on production, you need rehab to find your way back to balance. I can’t say I ever found the balance but I think it paid off 😉 Fun fact: the “3” comes from when I played StarCraft back then, my username was Mr. Outland3r.
In StarCraft, did you play as Terran, Zerg or Protoss, and why?
I always chose Zerg, because I could rush hydralisk or mutalisk and defend my base better. Overall, I had more opportunities for different strategies. I still love the strategy of games and will still play League of Legends when I have some free time.
What can we expect from R3HAB in 2025?
2024 has been inspiring in the studio and I can’t wait to share all the new music I’ve been working on. I often test new records at my shows, so if you’re in the crowd make sure to scream if you like it (haha). Some of these IDs have been captured by fans or played by my DJ friends already, it’s great to see the hype around them.
R3HAB will be performing at Avalon Hollywood on Saturday, Dec. 28. For tickets, visit avalonhollywood.com. Interview edited for length and clarity.
The cover of our Dec. 27, 2024 issue. (Cover photo: © CYB3RPVNK; Cover design: Jewel Baek)