Patiently waiting for your all night show at Paradiso…

The past month felt like it took disproportionately long. Maybe it were all the new impressions and all the new people that I met, maybe it was all the travel time (I'm writing this while on the train), but I feel like I exponentially grew as a person in such a short amount of time. They say you're never too old to learn, and indeed I am still learning a lot about myself and life in general. I read a nice quote that you can only change your life when you go from wanting to change to deciding to change. And while on paper I decided to make such drastic changes to my life, it doesn't feel scary at all. I just feel like I am on the right track, towards the right positive energy. And maybe it's because however unpredictable and dynamic life gets, music will always be a stable factor for me. It gives me inspiration, it helps me focus, and it drives me nearer to my emotions and passions. Spending so much time commuting and actively listening to music lately, has made me appreciate all the more music's capabilities of storytelling and transporting you to some other plain of existence. For February's mix I tried to include some unknown gems that struck a chord with me and that really deserve some love. May they accompany you on your travels unknown. <3 Joey.

Tracklist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3MxI1xJY0gEydN7lL3bADa?si=pGrP-O8xQ9iQ3YuZ4Pxpig&pi=l3UHgsodQhCw1

XI - February 2025

One year ago I bought my very first second hand DJ deck, and started making these little mixes to work on my skills and share new music that I really enjoy. This was exactly the creative outlet that I had been missing for so long and can be passionate about. I find it interesting to see how even in one year my taste and techniques have developed, which was why I wanted to record and upload these episodes. Besides a quick tutorial on the basics as a jump start, I went in fully blank and along the way I taught myself by just trying to see what works and what doesn't. Most of this stuff I just do based on feeling. I know that I still have a very long way to go and am nowhere near perfect, but that's all part of the learning journey and I'm damn well having loads of fun. I try to dig for some new gems and make every XI just a little bit different, be it in energy, genres or vibes, just to keep things interesting. This month made for an extra difficult puzzle, but in the end I'm happy how it turned out. And while my original intention was to just make these mixes to listen to myself, I am beyond happy that all of you have been tuning in every month and listening and giving me your feedback. You give me the confidence to keep going and keep practicing and getting better. Here's to another 12 more episodes!  <3 Joey

XI - March 2025

Tracklist: https://www.1001tracklists.com/tracklist/1d9kp6st/helsloot-nye-the-concourse-project-austin-united-states-2024-12-31.html

Such an incredible night where I got to open before @tinlicker.. enjoy it loud!

Xx @helsloot

Helsloot - Live At The Concourse Project NYE (Austin - TX) 31 - 12 - 2024

Maybe it's due to the change of scenery, but for some reason I've been having a big influx of all kinds of creativity lately. Turns out is  much easier to lose yourself in things you're passionate about. I get so much energy from creating things, even if it's just writing these cheesy windows into my mind for you to gloss over. With spring around the corner, daylight becoming more abundant, and temperatures un-Dutchlike for this time of year, the summer butterflies are already starting to flutter. I can't wait for all the new memories, music, and friends this year will have to offer. Let this month's mix be a small encapsulation of that feeling for you to enjoy and yearn for. For the longest time I had this fixed idea of how exactly my life should unfold in a sensible and practical way, without actually listening to my inner dreams and passions. But sometimes you need to be shaken to to your core to actually realise that there is so much more to life than mediocrity. It is the low lows that make you truely appreciate how really good the highs are. And you're never ever done learning. Life is ephemeral, so might as well enjoy it while we can. And to share with you my personal motto: stay true to yourself, get out of your comfort zone, and never be boring. X Joey

Tracklist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3kLRyZM7jyN1lMZbCceIv1?si=eed55def9c3b40dd

XI - April 2025

What a treat this sunny weather has been the past few days. A nice preview of what hopefully this entire summer will look like. I can't wait to soak up all the good that the outdoor season will have to offer! Untill then, I will be fully swamped in the stress of moving house. I've barely had the time for any creative outlets lately, but I made myself sit down and put my heart into making another special episode for this month regardless. I hope it delivers. May will be a month of one chapter ending, and another, more exiting one starting. Loads of new impressions to look forward to, and busy times ahead! In any case, let's enjoy the spring sun to the fullest, and soak up that vitamin D! x Joey.

Tracklist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/16QCG95sBFodOyUdonkBgR?si=b3deff6fc407480d

XI - May 2025

Helsloot @ Het Sieraad 02.05.25

A full month since I touched my setup, but I was super eager to get back to mixing again. And how I missed it! Luckily I kept track of all the great releases from the past months. I feel so incredibly grateful and at peace currently. A stark contrast with how things were several months back. Music is such a comfort to me, whatever state I am in. It brings me closer to my emotions, and gives them extra strength. And after a long day of giving it all, music soothens the soul. I had a hard time figuring out the story of June's mix. The plot lines went all over the place while preparing the tracklist, but I feel like I ended up with eleven tracks that form the soundtrack of a story of epic proportions with all its twists and turns. Even though you will not know where the road you're on might take you, sometimes that's okay. Because deep down, you'll know if you're on the right track. You'll know that you were always supposed to be there. Here's to happy endings.

Tracklist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0WubkIIg1WdbpmRaTWl3tN?si=206c315804854fe1

XI - June 2025

For the 11th mixtape, I created a journey from the soft en deep melodics that I love, towards the club sound I'm seeking for the last couple of months. Find the tracklist below:

Nils Hoffmann, Julia Church - 9 Days
Thysma - ID
Ophanim - Opus
Thaylo - Stand Your Ground
Chris Luno, CEAUS, Keilimei - Horizon 
Panama, Nils Hoffmann - Far Behind (Jeremy Olander Extended Mix) 
Paul Oakenfold - Novacaine 
ACiDTRAX - Lightwave  
Olivier Weiter & Forniva - Delusional 
Ben Bohmer - Wall Of Strings
Joris Voorn & Jan Blomqvist - Flora
Huminal - A Place Within
Avoure - Tokyo
Thysma & Sam Rose - Stranger

Even If Mixtape _ 011

June was without a doubt one of the best and craziest months of my life. I made so many core memories in such a short timespan, that I feel like I didn't even had time to properly process everything, so I am enjoying some much needed downtime while recording this mix and writing this little description. I have been feeling a little emotionally vulnerable lately, which makes me get back into my natural state of isolating and slowing down. I think July's mix is built on that feeling. When life gets too crazy or tangled, sometimes all you need is to sit down, reflect, and get carried away by the sound of soothing synths. Take it slow for a while, and I hope that in some way this month's mix is also for you. <3 Joey

Tracklist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aeuESAE3v7LtbFUHRsXbf?si=cdfbef64645f496f

XI - July 2025

Today marks 8 years since this journey began. Honestly, I almost didn’t realise it until someone pointed it out. I’ve been so focused on the big things ahead, like episode 100, that I forgot to pause and appreciate how far Distant has already come.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the support and the stories you’ve shared about what Distant means to you. It’s incredibly moving to see how much impact a single hour of music a month can have in someone’s life. Here’s to many more to come. I hope you enjoy.

Distant Episode 96 / July 2025

They say there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. Well, that and the fact that there is a new XI episode every 1st of the month at 10 in the morning. Although this month was a way bigger technical struggle than others to get the mix the way I wanted. I am really due for a holiday to reset and re-energize, and forcing creativity under these circumtances just doesn't work for me. I keep striving for some unreasonable perfection, and try to make every episode better than the last one. While wanting to improve yourself in principle is not a bad thing, I need to not lose track of what XI in essence is all about: digging for unknown songs and combining them into an eleven track showcase of everything I have enjoyed the past month, and enjoying the whole process from start to finish. I try to capture recent moods and expectations for the coming month, all the while keeping track of my progression as a DJ. And that not every mix ends up like a flawless diamond should not matter all that much. Sometimes I just need to refocus to get that straight. So here is your monthly certainty: eleven fresh tracks that hopefully deservedly will find their way into your streaming libraries. Now then, nothing left to do but to enjoy Dutch summer to the fullest; pull on a sweater, equip your raincoat and stare out of the window of the train while the drizzle trickles down. These are your 50 minutes to be the main character in your own movie. X Joey

Tracklist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yWNIiDSvs3qAYpajc1qOm?si=599bc132a5304617&pt=d02885ad2e3d581712574794ee731e6b

XI - March 2025

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