Darude

Artist Image: Darude
Attribution
Image Credit: Vass Lauricella (Darude_16.12.20140255), Public domain

Biography

Ville Virtanen (born July 17, 1975), better known by his stage name Darude is a trance producer and DJ from Eura, Hinnerjoki, Finland. Debuting in 1995, he released the hit single "Sandstorm" in late 1999 and subsequent album Before the Storm. His music is characterized by its progressive/uplifting style. Virtanen started his career as an amateur musician while in technical school, making music using his PC's tracker software. As his interest in music production rapidly grew, he moved on to more serious production techniques. While at a classmate's party, Virtanen played the song "Rude Boy" (written by Swedish artist Leila K) four times. This earned him the nickname "Rude Boy," which gradually morphed into "Da Rude", which in turn inspired the name "Darude". Virtanen continued producing music, occasionally releasing demos to radio stations beginning in 1997, and offering his music for download on MP3.com. In 1999, he gave a demo for "Sandstorm" to his producer, JS16 (Jaakko Salovaara). Virtanen signed on with JS16's 16 Inch Records label, and shortly thereafter, "Sandstorm" was released as a single.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1999
Number of Albums 4
Record Label
Website www.darude.com
Wikipedia Darude on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did Toniville start making music?

1995

... DJ and record producer from Eura, Satakunta. He started making music in 1995 and released the platinumselling hit single Sandstorm in late 1999. It p...
What was the name of Toniville's hit single?

Sandstorm

...arted making music in 1995 and released the platinumselling hit single Sandstorm in late 1999. It peaked at number one on Finland's Official List and ...
In what year was Sandstorm released?

1999

...ic in 1995 and released the platinumselling hit single Sandstorm in late 1999 . It peaked at number one on Finland's Official List and number 6 on the ...
When was the single Sandstorm released?

late 1999

...music in 1995 and released the platinumselling hit single Sandstorm in late 1999 . It peaked at number one on Finland's Official List and number 6 on t...
What was the name of Darude's second studio album?

Rush

...ctronic Albums chart in the United States. Darude's second studio album, Rush , reached number 11 on the Billboard dance chart in 2003 and number 4 on ...
When did Rush reach number 11 on the Billboard dance chart?

2003

...nd studio album, Rush, reached number 11 on the Billboard dance chart in 2003 and number 4 on weekly album chart in Finland. Though it did not chart a...
What record label did he cofound in 2011?

EnMass Music

...s a soaring, undeniable hook. In 2011, he cofounded the record label EnMass Music , through which he has released a number of mix compilations related ...
When was Tomorrowland's tenth anniversary?

2014

...performing at festivals such as the tenth anniversary of Tomorrowland in 2014 and Future Music Festival in 2015, he released his most recent studio al...
What was the name of his most recent album?

Moments

...uture Music Festival in 2015, he released his most recent studio album, Moments , on August 14, 2015, followed by a tour of the United States and Canad...
In what year did Virtanen represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest?

2019

...in September 2015. He represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 , alongside singer Sebastian Rejman, with the song Look Away. Virtanen st...
Along with Sebastian Rejman, what song did the Finnish singer perform with?

Look Away

...on Song Contest 2019, alongside singer Sebastian Rejman, with the song Look Away . Virtanen started his career as a musician while studying at Turku Po...
Where was Virtianen studying when he started his music career?

Turku Polytechnic

... Away. Virtanen started his career as a musician while studying at Turku Polytechnic , making music using his PC's tracker software. As his interest in...
Where does Darude live?

Turku, Finland

...ce style. He is an electronic dance music producer, DJ and lives in Turku, Finland . He debuted in 1999 with the smash single Sandstorm (1 hit in numer...
What was the name of the song he played at a classmate's party?

Rude Boy

...ion techniques. While at a classmate's party, Virtanen played the song Rude Boy (written by Swedish artist Leila K) four times. This earned him the ni...
Who wrote the song Rude Boy?

Leila K

...e's party, Virtanen played the song Rude Boy (written by Swedish artist Leila K ) four times. This earned him the nickname Rude Boy, which gradually mo...
What chart did the hit single top in Finland?

Finnish Single Chart

...ko Salovaara). Sandstorm was a smash hit in Finland, topping the Finnish Single Chart , selling platinum and holding the 1 spot on the Finnish Dance Ch...
How many consecutive weeks did the single hold the 1 spot on the Finnish Dance Chart?

seventeen

... hit in Finland, topping the Finnish Single Chart, selling platinum and holding the 1 spot on the Finnish Dance Chart for seventeen consecutive weeks....
What was the name of his second album?

Before the Storm

...eleased the hit single Sandstorm in late 1999 and subsequent album Before the Storm . His music is characterized by its progressiveuplifting style. Bio...
How many times did Virtanen play the song Rude Boy?

four

...y, Virtanen played the song Rude Boy (written by Swedish artist Leila K) four times. This earned him the nickname Rude Boy, which gradually morphed in...
When did he begin releasing demos to radio stations?

1997

...ical school, occasionally releasing demos to radio stations beginning in 1997 , and offering his music for download on MP3.com. In 1999, he gave a demo...
What did Darude give himself by holding his finger on the pause button of a tape deck?

carpal tunnel syndrome

...music while he was still in school. He practically gave himself carpal tunnel syndrome by constantly holding his finger on the pause button of a tape ...
Darude says his education and broad taste in music dates back to what years?

active radiolistening years

...ys his education and broad taste in music dates back to those active radiolistening years . He says he gets inspired by other people's great music, amo...
What does he get inspired by?

other people's great music

...hose active radiolistening years. He says he gets inspired by other people's great music , among other things, and I think it's fair to say that he's p...
What did he use to improve his sound quality?

sound modules and samplers

... to the computer increased exponentially. He soon moved on to sound modules and samplers in need of better sounds and more variety. These days he's co...