Thijs Ploegmakers, known musically as Adaro, is a Dutch DJ and producer. He has produced music in several dance styles, and in 2008 started producing raw hardstyle, for which he is considered to be one of the originators of.
Ploegmakers' breakthrough tracks as Adaro were âÂÂThe Haunter of the Dark" and âÂÂNo Time To SleepâÂÂ, along with a remix of âÂÂAnswersâ by Chain Reaction. In 2013 he was voted number 75 in the DJ Mag Top 100. Adaro released his music on A2 Records until 2014. In March, 2015, alongside Ran-D, B-Front and Frequencerz, Adaro became a founding member of the hardstyle record label "Roughstate".
Ploegmakers has released multiple songs that have reached marked commercial success within the hardstyle field, including "Touch A Star" with B-Front feat. Dawnfire, which was awarded #4 in the Q-dance Top 100 countdown for 2018. More hits include âÂÂIâÂÂm Aliveâ (official Rebirth Festival Anthem), âÂÂStrongâ with Rejecta, his official Intents Festival anthem "Circus Of Insanity" with Digital Punk, his official remix for "Rellen in de Hel" by Dutch Hip-Hop artist EZG, âÂÂWalk with Meâ with Vertile, his solo track âÂÂFlame up HighâÂÂ, and a remix of âÂÂCallingâ by Sefa.
In addition to his solo releases, Ploegmakers has collaborated with many artists within the hardstyle genre such as B-Front, Rejecta, Vertile, Hard Driver, Endymion, Digital Punk, Kronos, E-Force, MYST and Crypsis.
In 2002, Ploegmakers was part of the electronic music group Driftwood with fellow producers Ron van Kroonenburg and Dirk Jans, best known for their worldwide radio hit âÂÂFreeloaderâÂÂ. Ploegmakers and Jans then regrouped as the duo Shocksteady, producing trance music.
Ploegmakers is currently a half of the hardstyle act Gunz For Hire together with Ran-D, which was created in 2011. Gunz For Hire have released a discography of well-known hardstyle hits, including "Bella Ciao," âÂÂSeek & DestroyâÂÂ, "Bolivia," "Plata O Plomo," "No Mercy," âÂÂKings of the Underground,â and âÂÂSorrowâÂÂ.
Ploegmakers has performed as Adaro at some of the largest EDM and hardstyle events, such as Decibel Outdoor Festival, Defqon.1 Festival (Netherlands & Australia), Qlimax, Mysteryland, Q-BASE, Tomorrowland, Qapital, Reverze and EDC Las Vegas. Aside from being recognised as a leading DJ and producer in his home country, The Netherlands, Adaro is globally popular in the hardstyle scenes of countries including The United States, Mexico, Chile, Australia, China, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Canada, Austria, Germany and Belgium.