LATEST _ MIXTAPES
From _ Turntables _ to _ Global _ Stages
The Nau Nau DJ Story
A passion ignited in the Dutch countryside transformed into an international music journey. At age 16, Maarten discovered his calling behind two Technics SL-1200 MKII turntables, marking the beginning of an extraordinary musical odyssey. Main vinyl stores to go to at that time were Kareltje (Utrecht, NL) and Velvet Music (Rotterdam, NL).
VPRO _ VILLA 65 _ PARKZICHT
Before moving to The Hague Maarten and a friend discovered acid house. VPRO radioshows like ‘Front’ and ‘Villa 65’ (Semtex Cyberradio) were the main inspiration. Progressive and obscure. So they started crate diggin’ and experimenting.
After having pitched numerous ‘weird’ mixtapes, they scored their first ever (Thursday night) residency. The door at Parkzicht, later to became a legendary venue in Rotterdam, was open. At that point it was still disco and italo galore whereas practically no one had heard of house music yet, let alone acid house.
THE _ HAGUE
The move to the big city meant a big change for the better. The Hague (NL) is where he started dj-ing more, next to organising underground house parties with some of his close dj friends. This resulted in a series of legendary underground parties in the 070 area. Fun Force, SoundSjop, TOF (Techno On Friday) and Secret Sessions parties were the result.
When he finally decided to start following his true dreams he made a drastic career move. Said goodbye to his rather comfortable management job. And then got a job at Combined Forces Records, a well respected dance record company in The Hague. This is when he decided to change his dj name to Dan Sanders.
LITTLE _ MOUNTAIN _ ROCKS
Acquiring the position of label manager at Sander Kleinenberg’s new Little Mountain Recordings (LMR) label was another landmark. This is where his dj career as Dan Sanders then got another boost. The new label manager job kinda opened up the doors to the international clubbing scene. LMR’s successful Little Mountain Rocks label nights all of a sudden saw him perform from Amsterdam (Paradiso & Melkweg) to Moscow (Discotheque), to London (Ministry Of Sound), to Miami (Nerve & LIV), to… Well, the sky all of a sudden seemed to be the limit.
THE _ EVOLUTION
- Early influences: VPRO’s ‘Front’ and ‘Villa 65’ radio shows shaped his progressive sound
- First breakthrough: Secured a residency at Rotterdam’s legendary Parkzicht, pioneering acid house music when disco and Italo still ruled
- The Hague era: Launched underground sensations like Fun Force, Soundsjop, TOF (Techno On Friday) and Secret Sessions
- Industry insider: Pivotal roles at Combined Forces Records, Little Mountain Recordings (LMR) and This Is ™ Recordings as Dan Sanders
- International reach: Headlined prestigious venues from Moscow’s ‘Discotheque’ to Amsterdam’s ‘Melkweg’ & ‘Paradiso’ to Miami’s ‘LIV’ and London’s ‘Ministry of Sound’
The _ Renaissance
Now based in Spain, Nau Nau (his latest incarnation) combines decades of expertise with cutting-edge technology. His intimate and exclusive invite only Club Nau nights honor the underground spirit while two groundbreaking concepts await their launch in 2025. Living by the motto “Without music life would be a mistake,” Maarten continues to push boundaries in electronic music, blending classic vinyl heritage with modern innovation.
