Jay-Z signs Sander van Doorn to Roc Nation

With a roster that hinges on names like Rita Ora, J. Cole and even 11-year-old pop star Willow Smith, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation isn’t the first place you’d associate with big-room Dutch house and trance. All that’s about to change, though, as Stereosonic-bound scene hero Sander van Doorn dropped some surprise news to Vibe.com in an interview at Amsterdam Dance Event. “My biggest friend at the moment is actually Jay-Z,” the DJ told Vibe, looking like he can’t quite believe it himself. “I just got signed to his label, Roc Nation. So he’s my new best friend.” We’ll have to wait to find out just what’s coming from that friendship.

Roc Nation came about in 2008 as a collaboration between Jay-Z and touring giant Live Nation. Another high-profile dance act in the Roc Nation empire is Chase & Status, who have said they politely turned down working with high-profile associates like Rihanna for their No More Idols album. Other sign-ups to the Roc Nation ‘family’ include UK gun Switch and Stargate, the Norwegian production team that works behind the scenes on pop blockbuster after pop blockbuster.

Sander van Doorn’s last album was 2011’s Eleve11, which impressed our reviewer: “Steering well clear of dropping a collection of disparate club bombs (like he might have been a little guilty of in the past), Doorn has crafted a tight and polished affair with Eleve11. Though in some respects it might sideline the fans that prefer him exclusively in peaktime trance mode, it’ll be a joy for anyone who’s embraced the full range of his musical personality.”

The Dutchman told Vibe at ADE that his recent career has been a whirlwind. “I just did a collaboration together with Mark Knight, and another with a dance group I can’t say too much about yet. My schedule is absolutely ridiculous right now.”