From a teenager blasting Pop-Punk to a global artist shaping a new kind of dance music, STVW has turned his early influences into a movement that feels personal and alive. The German producer’s project, PUNK RAVE, ties together the feeling of emo with the pulse of electronic beats. In an exclusive interview with EDM Addicts, STVW reflects on the moments that built his journey, from bedroom beginnings to worldwide recognition.

Early Days and Punk Roots

STVW’s love for music started early. “I’ve always had a super strong connection to music since I was a kid. No matter what I was doing, I always needed MTV or the radio running in the background – and honestly, that’s still the case today (just with Spotify now, haha),” he said.

His teenage years were shaped by Pop-Punk and Emo bands that still mean everything to him.

“I grew up listening to Pop-Punk and Emo bands like blink-182, Sum 41, Simple Plan, My Chemical Romance, Green Day etc.. The whole punk-rock/emo scene was more than just music for me as a teenager – it was a lifestyle, and it’s still part of my identity today. I just loved how this music brings people together and I found so many friends back then just because of our mutual interest in Emo & Pop-Punk and lyrical identification we all had in common.”

From Big Room to a Breakthrough

Before PUNK RAVE existed, STVW was making big room tracks inspired by the early 2010s festival wave.

“Yes exactly, around 2010 I got really interested in EDM and how this music was made. So I started playing around with Ableton and tried to make my own songs. I loved it so much that every free minute I had was spent on my laptop, making songs, doing remixes, just trying to level up my skills,” he explained.

At the time, he looked up to artists like W&W, Hardwell, and Blasterjaxx. “I always aimed for a sound like W&W, Hardwell or Blasterjaxx which was really popular at the time, but I quickly realized you don’t really stand out if you just sound like every other DJ/producer. You need your own vibe.”

The shift came when he stopped trying to fit in and started reconnecting with what mattered most. “After overthinking it for ages, one day it just clicked – why not mix my first love, pop-punk/emo, with my new love for EDM? At that point, I hadn’t really heard anything like it, so I figured, why not try? It took a lot of failed attempts, but eventually I had this creative breakthrough and wrote the first ‘PUNK RAVE’ songs where I felt like: this is ME, this is authentic and unique.”

When Passion Meets Persistence

Taking that step wasn’t easy. “Of course, labels didn’t get it at first. A&Rs were like, ‘No big DJ will ever play this, it’s too niche.’ But I was convinced there had to be people out there who loved this combination of genres just like I did. So again, I kept at it,” he said.

Then came the moment that proved his instincts were right. “Then I made this track combining pop-punk with happy hardcore. I sent the first demo to Timmy Trumpet, who’d been supporting my stuff more and more at the time – and he hit me back saying he wanted to release it together. That was a huge confirmation that I was onto something.”

Viral Moments and Teenage Heroes

When his Welcome To My Life remix hit the internet, everything changed. “I remember I posted my remix for ‘Welcome To My Life’ by Simple Plan and after a week the video started to go viral. I just saw the views going up every minute until we reached a million and then 2 million and it was just crazy to watch,” STVW said.

Then came the moment he never expected. “A couple days later Simple Plan’s drummer Chuck Comeau commented ‘THIS IS FIRE!’ and I saw Simple Plan sharing the video in their Story on Instagram. That was the first time I got the attention of one of my ‘teenage heroes’ which felt absolutely unreal! Also personally this was a very touching moment because Simple Plan was actually my first ever concert I went to and I´ve been a huge fan since their first record came out.”

Another viral moment followed soon after. “Around that same time the collaboration with Timmy Trumpet happened, Reels and TikTok started blowing up, so I began posting more videos. After a while, I dropped my remix of Sum 41’s ‘Still Waiting,’ and a few days later it had a couple million views and tons of positive reactions. I told my team: ‘See? I found the people who vibe with this music!’ That’s when the whole PUNK RAVE branding came together quickly, and from there I went all in.”

That track meant more to him than just online numbers. “The song in particular has always been one of my favorites and I just thought the high BPM and the whole vibe would fit perfectly as a PUNK RAVE song.”

Thailand and the Live Connection

STVW’s connection with Asia has grown stronger with every visit. “It´s always so special to play in Asia, especially in Thailand! They definitely know how to party and everybody is just so kind! There is definitely a core fanbase that shares the same love for Emo & Pop-Punk music that I do, so it´s always super nice to see those fans show up and go absolutely nuts!”

Bringing PUNK RAVE Live to Life

With PUNK RAVE Live, STVW has transformed his sets into something closer to a concert. “Absolutely! I hope we can bring the PUNK RAVE Live show to Thailand soon! It´s definitely more challenging logistically travelling with the whole crew and a lot of gear overseas compared to a ‘normal’ DJ set but I think it would be an amazing experience also for the crowd to see the PUNK RAVE Live show!”

The concept came naturally. “When I first had the idea of combining the two genres in my songs, I thought it would be so cool to also make the live shows completely different from all the other DJs out there. So I always wanted to bring this ‘band concept’ into my shows at some point — to stand out not just musically, but also with the live performance. Nobody else is really doing that in the electronic scene, and it just makes sense to present my music this way.”

The process began simply. “Since the first shows I played I immediately brought my guitar to the DJ sets to get a feeling for how people like it and also to show the promoters that I´m doing something different. After a while I had built a team around me and we also had more resources and knowledge to actually make the band concept happen, so I immediately went for it! It also gives us way more freedom with the kinds of events we can play now. As a regular DJ, it’d be pretty tough to get booked at a rock festival, for example, but with the PUNK RAVE LIVE show, we can totally make it happen so pure rock fans might also enjoy the show!”

Finding Balance and Creative Freedom

“It´s definitely not always easy to balance the creative work in the studio with the touring. That´s something I feel challenging sometimes, especially with our first own PUNK RAVE concert tour that started in October. It´s so much more work than playing a booking at a club or festival that sometimes there is so little time to work on new music (but I absolutely love it).”

He is now focused on creating with artists he’s admired for years. “I´m also super excited about a couple upcoming songs that I´m working on with some of my favorite bands right now! I´m really at a point where I don´t listen to anybody else but myself when it comes to the musical direction, and that´s when I feel the most creative. I just do whatever I want and you basically have no boundaries in terms of styles or what direction a song has to go. So I´m super excited to keep riding that creative wave and release a lot of new original music in 2026.”

A Dream Show in Thailand

“What I absolutely love about Thailand is that life is happening outside and on the streets. I would probably just get a road blocked, set up all our gear on a roof of some building and everybody who walks by is welcome to join this big house party!”

STVW’s story is one of commitment and creativity, built from years of persistence and the music that shaped him. From his early Pop-Punk roots to stages around the world, PUNK RAVE has become a home for everyone who still feels that same spark.

Follow STVW and the PUNK RAVE journey with EDM Addicts!