Eelke Kleijn finally releases Connected the album and documentary. It’s a lived-in, emotionally deliberate, multimedia unfolding of a life in music. With his fifth studio album and a companion documentary of the same name, Eelke Kleijn has pulled back the curtain—not just on the music, but on the mindset. He’s chosen vulnerability over virality, evolution over spectacle, and most of all, he’s chosen connection.
The documentary premiered April 24 via Armada Music’s YouTube, tracing Eelke’s journey from early underground grooves to international recognition. But even with the accolades, this wasn’t a legacy play. It was a grounding act. “The hardest part was deciding exactly what moments you want to mention,” Eelke told EDMNOMAD in an exclusive interview. “There’s so much to talk about and always too little time.”
That balance—between reflection and restraint—is what gives Connected and Eelke Kleijn its gravity. Whether it’s hearing him speak about his Moonpark debut in Buenos Aires, or watching longtime collaborators like Jeroen Fontein and Armada’s Maykel Piron reflect on shared milestones, the documentary isn’t promotional. It’s personal. “Moonpark was really important,” Eelke said. “That show in 2008 kickstarted my career in Latin America. I’ve been visiting Argentina every year since.”
And what moved him most about the film? “For me personally the best part is watching people like Jeroen and Maykel and their view on our shared history.” That’s not a technical reflection—it’s emotional. The emotion flowing through Eelke Kleijn powers Connected on every level. The story begins on screen, but it finishes in headphones.
The Invisible Intermediary: Studio Isolation to Dance Floor Connection
For Eelke Kleijn, Connected is more than a title, it’s a worldview. “It’s the link between the audience and myself,” he said plainly. “On the dance floor it’s a very obvious one. But in the studio, it’s trickier. You’re by yourself writing songs and there’s nobody else around to listen.” That gap—between inspiration and reception—is the “invisible intermediary” he builds his records around. And on Connected, that bridge is longer, deeper, and more nuanced than ever before.
This isn’t music chasing algorithms or festival circuit fuel. It’s more internal, almost spiritual. Eelke admits the process takes time. “I’ve been listening to all the music on repeat for a year already,” he smiled. “Times like this, when you release an album to the world, are especially precious.”
Eelke builds albums as you’d build a novel—with structure, tension, and memory; and that’s what gives Connected its depth. It isn’t just cohesive—it’s intimate. The title isn’t symbolic. It’s architectural. Every element builds toward a feeling of unity, not just between artist and fan, but between versions of the artist himself.
That split identity—DJ versus composer, performer versus producer—has always defined Eelke’s duality. But this time, one clearly leads. “My production side always leads,” he admitted. “I like to create albums that are fun to listen to. I can let go of the dance floor for a bit and just think about writing the best possible song.”
There’s a quiet confidence in that statement. He’s no longer trying to prove anything. He’s simply trying to speak.
Eelke Kleijn Between Indie and Clubland: A Connected Sound Refusing to Choose
One of the most remarkable things about Connected is that it doesn’t beg for classification. It moves with the patience of indie rock, but the heartbeat of house. “This album was influenced mostly by ‘non-dance’ music,” Eelke said. “Bands like Editors, Depeche Mode, older stuff like Fleetwood Mac.”
That context reveals a lot. Where earlier records leaned on tight grooves and progressive arcs, Connected pulls from songwriting and soul. The songs don’t just rise—they evolve. They don’t crash into drops—they unfold like emotional reckonings. “I start out crafting a few ideas and over the course of a few years it flows into an album,” he explained. It’s a process built on discipline, not deadlines. And when we asked how he knows when a record is ready, he didn’t hesitate. “In the end I am my most critical fan,” he said. “I need to like it first. If everybody else likes it too, I’ve done something right.”
He also admits the record’s evolving tone comes from outside the club. “Maybe that’s why it has a bit of an indie feel to it at times,” he reflected. That feeling is strongest in “The Way I Feel.” “It has a groove rooted in my progressive roots,” he noted. “But the vocals and songwriting give it more of an indie feel.”
Another standout is “Lost In The Deep,” the album’s seventh single, released on April 4. Featuring Josha Daniel, who previously collaborated with Armin van Buuren, the track unpacks emotional drift—the slow unraveling between people who once shared everything. It doesn’t explode. It breathes. And it sets the emotional tone for the full record. This isn’t a record that rushes to the hook. It is the hook.
Eelke Doesn’t Want Spectacle. He Wants Longevity.
Connected hits differently because it refuses to chase intensity. It opts for detail instead. And in doing so, it creates space—the kind of space listeners need to reflect, not just react. While some artists bolt LED walls onto their albums, Eelke remains refreshingly minimalist. Don’t expect a live visual tour. “I don’t think I’ll ever do a live visual experience,” he said. “It distracts from the one thing that it’s all about. Music.”
This conviction guides everything he does. He’s not afraid to be slow. He’s afraid to be empty. So he waits. Refines. Let time decide what deserves attention. And somehow, that restraint makes Connected feel urgent. Not loud. Not fast. But needed.
It also speaks to where he is in his life. After nearly twenty years in the scene, he’s no longer operating on adrenaline. He’s operating on legacy. “It definitely gets harder to create something people haven’t heard,” he said. “But it’s all about challenging myself. In every track I try something I have not done before.” That pursuit of personal challenge comes at a cost. Fewer releases. Longer timelines. More self-doubt. But it also produces albums like Connected—records that grow with you, not just impress you.
And now that fans have both the documentary and the album in hand, what does he hope they walk away with? “With all my albums I’m trying to create a sense of timelessness,” he said. “I’d like people to listen to it today, but also twenty years from now.” If there’s any justice, they will. Because Connected isn’t trying to win a news cycle. It’s trying to survive a lifetime. And based on the strength of its vision—it just might.
Stream Connected, a journey crafted by Eelke Kleijn here.
