Meet the artist: Starlet

11 June 2026
SAY HELLO TO STARLET

Many in our local community already know Starlet as the funky ’90s vinyl-only DJ. But now we have the honor of introducing him to you as a producer with his debut release on MEUK Records.

We regularly ran into each other at vinyl markets, where we chatted endlessly about ’90s house and techno. And when we heard he had productions in that style ready, we naturally jumped at the chance. We were incredibly surprised that he managed to capture both the funky and serious sides of techno within that groove – the two extremes of the spectrum within which MEUK loves to operate.

Besides being fans of his sound, we especially appreciate his hands-on, gear-driven approach. Rather than committing to a single genre or fixed sound, his workflow is instinctive and jam-based. This results in tracks that feel raw, energetic, and unforced, where classic influences meet a fresh perspective.

In this interview, we delve deeper into all of this, from how it all began musically to how it led to his upcoming release on MEUK Records.

When did music become a creative outlet for you?

Somewhere around 2020, I ended up at my homie Michael Kuiperss’ place. He had two turntables and a load of old-school house records that belonged to his parents back in the day. Seeing and hearing that motivated me to get my own DJ gear.

Eventually, my interest grew and I started making things in Ableton, which led to a massive gear addiction. Since then, I’ve learned a lot, met a lot of awesome people, and it really feels like this is only the beginning.

How has your sound evolved since you started?

I started with old-school house, which evolved into 90-95 techno and gabber. I was a big fan of the Parkzicht sound. From there it grew into early 2000s techno.

That first techno phase was a lot of dark, “angry” techno, and at some point, I felt like I was missing the soul of house music. When I discovered the 2000s techno sound with tribal elements, warm chords, and lovely vocals, I was immediately sold.

What does the concept, genre, or scene of techno mean to you?

For me, techno as a music style is all about energy. It’s like a train that keeps you moving. There are also so many different styles within techno that it always has something people can connect with.

Furthermore, it’s about diversity. That includes everything: the music, the scene, and DJ sets. It still amazes me how something like the 909 is used so much, yet still sounds fresh and exciting in every track it appears in.

You and your friends also run a used vinyl record store called “Bonk Records.” Can you tell us a bit more about that?

Yes! One day we came across a big record collection for sale and decided to buy it together, splitting it three ways. We picked up all the records, I think around 1200 in total, and honestly didn’t even know what to do with them. There were just too many to spin!

So we started Bonk Records. It’s a small garage box that we turned into a store, open by appointment, tucked away in our hometown of Katwijk. It’s a little haven for true electronic music lovers.

We run it ourselves as DJs and collectors, and for us it’s important not just to sell records, but to share the music. If you want, we’ll even handpick a few for you personally. The main motivation is passion, not so much the selling.

Let’s get back to your own music. How would you describe your sound?

I don’t think I really have a single “sound,” or that it can be labeled as one genre. It can be all kinds of genres and all kinds of sounds combined. Even though I’m heavily inspired by old-school sounds, there’s always something fresh to be found. I’m always jamming on gear or in the box, and if it hits, it hits.

How do your ideas usually take shape in your studio?

Most of the time, I get inspired by other tracks or DJ sets, and suddenly I get a burst of inspiration. That’s when I jump into the studio, turn on all my gear, and start jamming.

Once everything is running, I record into Ableton and work from there. I mainly use Ableton to record and do some final mixing. Recently, I got my hands on an MPC sampler, so now it’s time to dive deeper into that as well, again very much focused on an old-school approach.

Any lessons you’d like to pass on to starting artists?

Just start messing around! Every moment you spend working on something, you’re learning something.

The great thing about music is that it can’t be wrong. Somewhere, someone will always love it.

Why did MEUK Records feel like the right place for your debut release?

I really like how the label presents itself and how it sets its own sound. We met at a couple of vinyl markets and always share our love for music, as well as our taste!

MEUK offered me a great opportunity for this release, and I feel honored to be part of it.

Last but not least, what does The Funk EP say about your sound right now?

I think this EP showcases two sides of me: the more serious side and the funky side. The Funk and Pump lean more toward the funky side, while Breaker and Radunin could be considered more serious.

I know I love both sides, and I’m very curious to hear what other people think.

The Funk EP
The Funk EP [MEUK019]
TRACKLIST

1. The Funk
2. Radunin
3. Breaker
4. Pump

Release date: 23 Juni 2026
LISTEN TO THE EP
FOLLOW Starlet

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