Do you enjoy a dose of live hardstyle? In that case, it doesn’t get much better than Holland’s Donkey Rollers. The result of a team effort in the studio between the already well experienced DJ Zany (AKA Raoul van Grinsven), The Pitcher (AKA Michel Pollen) and Cenoginerz, they decided to join forces and one of the world’s greatest hardstyle acts was born. Wherever they go, people will stomp.

DJ Zany is the one who represents the production trio on the live stage, where he’s joined tech-trance DJ/producer Jowan as well as MC DV8 to get everyone hyped up on the mic. They’ll soon be back in Australia again, but this time it’s not for just any old party. Donkey Rollers will be here for the Australian debut of Q Dance, who will be rocking Australia ravers for the very first time this Easter long weekend. ITM investigates prior to the Q Dance invasion.

What was the motivation behind this group being formed?

Zany and Jowan already worked together for several years in the same vinyl store, Freaky Records in Eindhoven. When Zany started to work as a full-time producer/DJ, Jowan switched his job and started to work for Freaky Music, the record company, as A&R Manager for Fusion and Superplastik. Donkey Rollers was born in the studio in 2002 from the cooperation between Raoul (Zany) and Michel Pollen, after their first releases there was an urgent request of a live act. Michel didn’t want to go on stage, so Raoul asked Jowan to perform with him. To make the team complete they asked DV8 to back up the beats vocally.

As individuals we’ve been active long before that time. Raoul started DJing after seeing his brother playing different kinds of house music. He also gave it a try and Zany was born. Jowan is playing music since he was six years old. Organ, keyboards and piano. At the age of 13 he started to play at local parties and at the age of 17 he discovered how to play with vinyls and started mixing. Peter played guitar and sung in several rockbands since he was 14 years old. In 2002 he switched to hardstyle, becoming of the most succesfull MCs in that genre.

When did the Donkey Rollers first come to be known on the international dance scene?

Motherfuck was the first Donkey Rollers release. This track still is an early hardstyle classic. So from the moment hardstyle became internationally known, so did the Donkey Rollers.

Who decided on the name of the group and can you explain where it came from?

Michel en Raoul came up with the name, putting their love for rollercoasters and the game Donkey Kong together in the single name – Donkey Rollers. In American slang a ‘donkey roll’ means a big penis. This is merely a funny coincidence.

You’ve played the biggest dance parties across the world. Has there ever been any embarrasing moments whilst playing your sets?

We’re not easily embarrassed. But you won’t catch us breakdancing after drinking a bottle of vodka anymore. That was a onetime deal…. For sure.

What equipment is used during your live sets?

The live-act is always with some of our studio equipment: laptop, keyboard, filters

During a live set is everyone assigned to control one element or do you all just get into it and help each other out?

Zany and Jowan mix the tracks and add in special effects. DV8 makes sure the crowd remains hyped up. But you can easily find Zany screaming through a mic as well. When the donkey train is rolling, there’s no stopping it.

I took a look at your discography and the songs you have produced together are all based around the harder edged dance sounds. Did you guys ever experiment with any other dance genres?

Individually: yes. As Donkey Rollers: no.

When not D’jing to an audience or producing in the studio, what do you guys get up to in your spare time?

Peter rocks out with his band, plays poker and feeds ducks. Jowan loves to ride his snowboard Raoul games a lot.

What can we expect from your set at Q Dance in March?

Evil beats and terrifying noises, surrounded by melodies to the bone!

Name one record that will definitely be played at QDance?

Silver Bullet

Get yourself a bit of Donkey Rollers style mayhem this Easter Long Weekend…

Thu Mar 20 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Fri Mar 21 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne
Sat Mar 22 – The Arena, Brisbane

And check out this clip form the opening of the Donkey Rollers set at Transmission in Sydney last year…