KEVU is a name that has maintained a strong presence in the electronic music scene for more than a decade, following a steady rise from early club shows into regular international touring. Over the years, his schedule has taken him across Europe and Asia, with shows in Thailand at venues such as Space Plus in Bangkok and festival appearances including 808 Festival. Alongside touring, his discography includes releases on major labels such as Revealed Recordings, as well as collaborations with artists including Maddix, W&W, and Blasterjaxx. EDM Addicts had the pleasure of sitting down with KEVU to look back on those years, discussing his touring life, key collaborations, and how his approach to releasing music has developed over time.

The Ultra Miami 2013 Set That Influenced KEVU

For KEVU, everything traces back to 2013 after watching Hardwell at Ultra Music Festival, the moment that first pushed him to start KEVU. As he explains, “I started learning how to DJ and produce music after watching Hardwell’s set at Ultra Miami in 2013. At that time, big room was at its peak, and I had never heard that kind of sound before. I completely fell in love with it and wanted to learn how to DJ myself.”
That experience quickly shifted his mindset beyond simply playing music. As he puts it, “I also understood very early that if I wanted to grow as a DJ, I needed to produce my own music and release my own tracks.” What began as a hobby gradually became a full commitment, eventually leading him to quit his job and focus entirely on improving, driven by what he describes as the passion he felt for that sound in 2013 and his desire to express himself through music and make people happy with it.

Looking back now, he admits, “I never imagined it would grow into what it is today, but everything developed naturally step by step.”

How KEVU Evolved Into an International Touring Artist

One of the records that marked a clear stage in KEVU’s touring years was “Bang,” his collaboration with Maddix. The track came out of a long-standing friendship, which he describes plainly: “Maddix, or Paulo, is a good friend of mine and has been for many years. I remember we shared a small room together in Miami because we couldn’t afford separate places.” They were meeting in different countries for shows at the time, and by 2017 the record was already finished when they played together at a North Festival in Chiang Mai. Its exposure widened further when Hardwell played it at Ultra Miami 2017, confirming that it worked beyond one setting.

As KEVU explains, “When we created ‘Bang,’ we wanted to make something that would work both in clubs and at festivals. It really combined my sound and Maddix’s sound at that time.” Years later, he still receives videos of the track being played, adding that “it shows that the track still has energy and life years later, and I’m very proud of it. It’s a song that will always be nostalgic for me and I really appreciate all the fan love on it.”

More than twelve years after he first started DJing, KEVU views continuation as something that requires adjustment to the way music is consumed today. He began DJing in 2013 and launched the project in 2014, and he openly recognises that the environment has shifted since then. “What keeps me excited is the challenge of adapting to new times and new ways of consuming music.”

He points specifically to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, explaining that “today, the industry is very focused on TikTok, Instagram Reels and social media hype, so it’s a different challenge compared to when I started.” Despite those changes, he notes that he still plays shows with the same excitement and nerves he felt in the beginning, and that music now carries personal responsibility as well, since it allows him to support his family and give them a better life. Even after a decade on the road, he admits he continues thinking about new songs and ideas late at night, something he sees as proof that he is still doing what he loves.

From 808 Festival to EDM Addicts Shows: KEVU’s Experience in Thailand

Thailand first became part of KEVU’s touring journey in 2020 when he travelled to Bangkok to perform at 808 Festival, entering the country under strict quarantine rules after more than six months in lockdown in Portugal. The return to a live stage carried weight beyond a normal booking. As he recalls, “My most special show in Thailand was definitely 808 Festival in 2020. At that time, the whole world was basically stopped because of COVID. There were no parties anywhere, and everyone was locked at home. To play that festival, we had to quarantine in a hotel for 15 days… So arriving at 808 Festival and seeing around 10,000 people in front of me felt completely surreal.”

It was also his first time playing for Rave Culture in Thailand, sharing a lineup with Sub Zero Project, Ben Nicky, Sandro Silva, Morten, W&W and Vini Vici. Even with an early set while the crowd was still building, the moment stayed with him. “I still remember taking a photo with all of them and thinking, ‘What is a guy from a small town like mine doing here?’ It really felt like a dream.” He also recalls online backlash from people who did not understand the context, explaining that Thailand had zero cases at the time and strict quarantine rules.

Thailand did not remain a one-off festival stop. After spending several months living in the country last year, he chose to return again, noting that “the electronic music industry spends a lot of time in Bangkok, so it’s an important place to be business-wise.” Beyond the industry presence, he also speaks about everyday life here, saying “the people are very friendly, the food is great, and the weather is amazing. I respect Thai culture a lot and I really enjoy the energy of the people.”

Through continued collaborations with EDM Addicts, that presence translated into headline club performances, including a 2022 show at Spaceplus where expectations were low before he went on stage. As he remembers, “People told me before that it was a club where the crowd usually doesn’t move much. But when I played, the reaction was crazy. The owner of the club told me it was one of the best shows he had ever seen there.”

How Life in Portugal Differs From Thailand

Life in Portugal is very different from Thailand for KEVU, both musically and personally. In Portugal, “we might have around 10 to 15 active clubs, and only a few that regularly play EDM.” Most of his shows there happen during the summer, when festivals and local town parties are more common. Even if people are not deeply into electronic music, he explains that a commercial big room set can still work well if you know how to read the crowd.

Outside of music, Portugal is quieter, especially in winter. He lives in a small town of about 60,000 people, which gives him time for family and studio work. Thailand operates differently. “In Thailand, there are many clubs and parties all year round, and the nightlife scene is very active.” Bangkok keeps a steady calendar of events, and he notes that Thai crowds enjoy energetic, non-vocal tracks with strong drops, similar to what works back home.

The biggest difference, he says, is simple. His family is in Portugal. Thailand is more intense and focused on touring. But in both places, he points out that people are friendly and the overall vibe is positive.

The Dream of Playing Benfica’s Stadium One Day

Football follows KEVU everywhere, no matter what country he’s playing in. “Benfica has always been a huge part of my life. It’s a passion I got from my father and something that will never change.” Even on tour, he makes time for every match, using a paid app so he can watch from anywhere in the world.

Sometimes that means watching in silence at 3 a.m. in Thailand when Benfica faced Madrid. “I had to watch it very quietly so I wouldn’t wake anyone up when Trubin scored.” He even recalls playing a festival in India while Benfica were up against Porto, checking the score on his phone while DJing.

For all the festivals and club stages he has played, there is still one that matters most to him. His dream is to perform at the Benfica stadium during the championship celebrations, when nearly a million people fill the streets. He was invited twice before but already had shows booked, something he admits was painful. For him, that moment would mean more than Tomorrowland. If it ever happens, he says he could stop his career the next day and feel completely fulfilled.

Looking Ahead: Collaborations, New Music and What Comes Next

Over the years, KEVU has worked with artists he admired from the beginning. “I’ve been very lucky to collaborate with artists I admired from the beginning, like W&W and Blasterjaxx. They were two of my biggest idols when I started.” He also points to working with Timmy Trumpet through an official remix and unreleased material, describing it as another special moment in his journey.

There is still one collaboration he hopes will happen. Hardwell, the artist who inspired him in 2013, remains at the top of that list. “Even though he has played many of my tracks and I released many songs on Revealed, we never made an official collaboration together yet, and I hope that will happen in the future.”

Looking beyond electronic music, he says he would also like to work with artists such as Cardi B or Rihanna, believing their voices and personalities could translate strongly into an electronic setting.

For now, the focus stays on what’s ahead. “I have a lot of new music coming, more releases on Revealed, collaborations with BEAUZ, and I’m close to reaching one million monthly listeners on Spotify again.” He also hopes to continue building more shows in Thailand with EDM Addicts in the future.

More than a decade after watching Hardwell at Ultra Miami, KEVU is still chasing the same feeling that pushed him to start. The stages are bigger now, the schedule stretches across continents, and the releases continue, but the reason behind it remains the same. As long as there are new ideas to produce and new crowds to play, the project moves on.

If you’ve followed him over the years, which release or live set has stuck with you the most?