Bitbird
Dutch independent label known for future bass releases.
Bitbird (stylised as bitbird) is an independent Dutch record label and creative company based in The Hague. It was founded in 2014 by Sander van Dijck. The label is co-run by van Dijck’s manager, Budi Voogt, and his childhood friend Thorwald van den Akker, who also acts as creative director and co-founder. Although bitbird is best known for releasing future bass, its catalog also includes classical, R&B, trap, and electronica.
The label was started in mid-2014 by van Dijck and van den Akker, who grew up together. Van Dijck has said he founded it because no label had ever given him the full creative control he wanted. Their first single, “The First Route” by Duskus, came out on 30 July 2014 and was re-released on 29 October 2015. On 15 July 2016, bitbird released its first compilation album, *Gouldian Finch*, led by the single “Still Looking” by San Holo. That single came out on 7 June 2016 and topped the Hype Machine charts for original releases soon after. On 22 November 2016, the label put out San Holo’s single “Light,” which also hit number one on Hype Machine. It entered the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart at number 38 on 17 December 2016, rose to number 26 the next week, and broke into the top 20 by 31 December. “Light” was the first bitbird release—and San Holo’s first—to chart on any Billboard chart.
Bitbird is most associated with artists such as San Holo, Droeloe, Taska Black, Duskus, and BeauDamian.
Quick Facts
- Key People
- Sander van Dijck / Thorwald van den Akker / Budi Voogt
- Industry
- Music industry
- Genre
- Electronic dance music · future bass · trap · electronica
- Founded
- 2013
- Founders
- Sander van Dijck / Thorwald van den Akker
- Hq Location City
- The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bitbird was founded in mid-2014 by childhood friends Sander van Dijck and Thorwald van den Akker. Van Dijck stated that one reason for starting the label was that 'no label has ever given me that full creative control I crave.' On 30 July 2014, they released their first single 'The First Route' by Duskus, which they redistributed on 29 October 2015.
On 15 July 2016, the label released its first compilation album 'Gouldian Finch' with lead single 'Still Looking' by San Holo. 'Still Looking' was released on 7 June 2016 and topped the Hype Machine charts for original releases shortly after. On 22 November 2016, the label released the single 'Light' by San Holo, which also topped the Hype Machine charts and debuted on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic songs at #38 before rising to #26 and then breaking into the top 20. 'Light' marked the first bitbird and San Holo release to chart on any Billboard chart.
Reader's Guide
Bitbird's significance lies in its role as an independent platform that gave artists like San Holo and Droeloe creative control, as emphasized by founder Sander van Dijck. The label's early success with 'Light' on the Billboard charts demonstrated that a small Dutch label could achieve mainstream visibility in electronic dance music. By releasing a variety of genres beyond future bass, Bitbird helped broaden the scope of what an independent electronic label could represent. Its compilation 'Gouldian Finch' and singles like 'Still Looking' and 'Light' became touchstones for the future bass movement in the mid-2010s. The label's continued operation from The Hague, run by van Dijck, Budi Voogt, and Thorwald van den Akker, underscores a model of artist-driven, collaborative management. Bitbird's legacy includes fostering a roster of artists who have since become influential in electronic music, while maintaining a distinct visual and sonic identity through its creative direction.
Did You Know?
- Bitbird's first single was 'The First Route' by Duskus, released on 30 July 2014.
- The label's first compilation album was 'Gouldian Finch', released on 15 July 2016.
- 'Light' by San Holo was the first bitbird release to chart on any Billboard chart.
- The label is jointly run by Sander van Dijck's manager Budi Voogt and co-founder Thorwald van den Akker.
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