Doppelgang

For Doppelgang, it all started with a shared passion for vinyl records and electronic music. The duo, twin brothers from Friesland, spent their early days collecting music together, pouring their allowances into records and music magazines. Their journey took a pivotal turn when they moved to Amsterdam, a city where they found their tribe in the vibrant nightlife scene. Surrounded by expressive, like-minded individuals, they gained the confidence to share their vision of club music. Thus, Doppelgang was born.

“Ever since we can remember we have been collecting music together. We bought records and music magazines with our first allowances and we have been building a collection ever since. When moving to Amsterdam from Friesland, we found our place and tribe in nightlife. By being surrounded by people who were really expressive, we both grew in confidence and felt it was time to share our vision on club music and Doppelgang was born. Together with a bunch of club kids and young music enthusiasts, we had our first ever show at Mysteryland”.

Their first gig at Mysteryland was nothing short of chaotic brilliance.

“We had 10 DJs in one hour as a sort of showcase,” they recall, laughing.

“It didn’t make much sense, but we had the time of our lives.”

From there, they cut their teeth in local bars, honing their craft on the spot or at friends’ places. It was a different era with fewer venues and parties for emerging DJs, so they decided to take Amsterdam by storm

Through hostings, their own parties, and eventually an agency, they left their mark on the city.

“There have been several places over the years that made a long lasting impression on both of us”. They share.

Playing in Sydney and Melbourne on their first international tour in 2020 was a surreal experience.

“It already felt pretty insane to get to travel there for our work as DJs, on our first ever international tour back in2020 right before the pandemic.. We got the full experience by playing several gigs in clubs and at festivals. It was great to experience nightlife on the other side of the world and easily connect with so many people. The people are something else”.

The tour culminated in a sunny Sunday morning during Mardi Gras at an after-hours club down the highway in Sydney. A beautiful drag queen was DJing, and when she played Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,’ the crowd, including Doppelgang, went wild.

This experience underscored the universality of club culture—no matter where you are, music connects us all.

Traveling the world isn’t always smooth sailing. One memorable challenge occurred in Prague during Pride. They found themselves locked out of their apartment, which was situated inside the club they had just played at. Dressed only in biker shorts on a hot summer night, they had nowhere to go.

“We reached out to everyone we knew, but no one could help,” they recall.

"It was mid August and a really hot summer night turned into morning, so both of us were only wearing a pair of biker shorts and that was it. So standing there, locked outside of the club, with just a pair of shorts on and nowhere to go, was a bit of a situation."

Fortunately, a kind DJ who had played before them offered his place for the night, turning a potential disaster into a memorable adventure.

Lago Lago Festival holds a special place in Doppelgang’s hearts. From the organization to the crowd, everything felt perfect. Closing the gorgeous Luna stage on an early Saturday morning with 3000 people felt intimate and together, creating an unforgettable experience.

For Doppelgang, it’s all about bringing the same attitude to festivals as they do to clubs, crafting sets that are both party-ready and intimate.

Creating a unique set for each venue or festival is a crucial part of their process. Festivals often call for shorter, high-energy sets, while more intimate club shows allow them to showcase the full Doppelgang potential.

“Festival gigs call for shorter sets that are more pumping, drenched in party-ready tracks. It feels like the things we experienced and learned during the club season prior to festival summer, will come out as an explosion on the fields outdoors. Preparing such shows is also fun because you get to select your favorite party tracks that are suitable for bigger audiences. But approaching and preparing sets for more intimate shows in clubs and on smaller stages, with a longer time slot, feels like the best way to show the full Doppelgang potential. These gigs consist of a lot of fun, cheekiness, a little side gag here and there, where house music is our core base which allows us to dive in other directions towards other genres”.

House music forms their core, but they love to explore other genres, making each set a unique journey for their audience. Being twin brothers gives Doppelgang a unique dynamic. Their different personalities and tastes in music complement each other perfectly. Playing back-to-back, they prepare their shows independently, creating a selection based on their personal collections. During their sets, they seamlessly jump in on each other’s tracks and cues, a natural act developed over years of playing together.

“We barely talk to each other while playing our shows,” they say.

Something that highlights their intuitive connection.

“We both have different personalities and this is something that reflects in working as a dj duo. We are each other’s counterparts and have a distinctive sound and slightly different taste in music, so playing a DJ set to us really works well playing in a B2B construction”.

Amsterdam’s electronic music community has played a massive role in Doppelgang’s growth. Moving to the city in 2010, they found the freedom to explore their identities. The people they met back then are still around, contributing to the city’s vibrant nightlife. Hosting their own parties, they invited these individuals to share their art, creating inclusive and unforgettable experiences. As DJs, party organizers, and festival programmers, Amsterdam has offered them countless opportunities.

Above all, their bond as twin brothers and best friends has been the cornerstone of their journey.

“It’s a true blessing to experience everything we do together,” they share.

In an industry that can be tough, having each other to lean on is a real privilege. They bring their own ideas and flavors to the table, constantly challenging each other to improve Doppelgang and themselves. It’s a partnership always in motion, driven by love, respect, and a shared passion for music.

“First and foremost we’re best friends besides being twin brothers and business partners. It feels like a true blessing being able to experience everything we do, together. At the end of the day, we always have each ther. When one of us is feeling overwhelmed during work or needs a minute to settle there’s always that person around you who doesn’t need a lot of words to understand what’s needed in that moment. That’s a real privilege when you’re working and navigating in an industry that can be rather hard at times. Also, we both bring our own ideas and flavors to the Doppelgang table, this causes us to challenge each other to make not only Doppelgang better but both of us as a person. It’s always in motion”.