Inspired by the mystery of ancient stone monuments, HI-LO’s newest release unfolds into a cinematic techno journey built for clubs and festival main stages alike.
Supported by Carl Cox, Eli Brown, David Guetta, and more
Available September 11 on Hilomatik
Advance Listen
Presave
HI-LO continues his run of peak-time techno on his Hilomatik imprint with “Megalithic,” set to arrive September 11.
Named after the towering stone monuments left by ancient civilizations, “Megalithic” channels the same sense of mystery, scale, and timelessness to the dancefloor. Already supported by Carl Cox, David Guetta, Eli Brown, and Konstantin Sibold, the track begins with patience and restraint, slowly revealing itself layer by layer before erupting into a commanding drop that showcases HI-LO’s signature blend of driving grooves, cinematic tension, and peak-time energy.
“Megalithic” is built for both cavernous festival stages and late-night club sessions, balancing atmosphere and impact. Its gradual progression builds anticipation before unleashing a relentless groove that commands attention without sacrificing the hypnotic qualities synonymous with the HI-LO project. The record pulls listeners deeper into the moment, rewarding patience with a monumental payoff.
Amid another busy season of massive festival and headline performances across Europe and North America, “Megalithic” arrives as the latest chapter in HI-LO’s ongoing evolution, offering another essential weapon for dancefloors worldwide.
HI-LO – “Megalithic” is available September 11 via Hilomatik.
About HI-LO
In just a few years, Oliver Heldens has transformed his HI-LO alias into a leading force in the techno scene, earning respect from the underground while maintaining international crossover appeal. With a sound that blends spacious atmospheres, raw energy, and innovative production, HI-LO has become associated with peak-time techno suitable for both warehouses and festival main stages. Early releases like “Zeus” and “Kronos” set the tone, earning him the title of the #1 most-supported producer across all genres on 1001Tracklists in 2020. Since then, he’s topped Beatport’s annual charts as the best-selling and most-streamed techno artist, released notable tracks on Drumcode and Filth on Acid, and performed key sets at Ultra’s Resistance, Crssd, Factory 93, Warehouse Project, Seismic Dance Event, and more. Industry leaders like Adam Beyer, Charlotte de Witte, Carl Cox, Tale of Us, Amelie Lens, and Solomun strongly support his music.
HI-LO’s output continues to influence the scene. His label Hilomatik, launched in 2023, has become a powerhouse for innovative techno, featuring his solo work and collaborations with Green Velvet, Armin van Buuren, Eli Brown, Maddix, ZHU, and Kasablanca. With a packed global tour schedule and performances to millions of fans each year, HI-LO pushes the limits of techno while bridging underground credibility and global appeal, proving that genre boundaries are meant to be blurred, broken, and rebuilt.
Hi-Lo On Tour
Sep 10: HÏ – Ibiza, Spain
Sep 11: Input – Barcelona, Spain
Sep 12: Day At The Park – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Sep 19: Soho Gadren – Dubai, UAE
Sept 26: Cialo – Wroclaw, Poland
Oct 11: Creekside – Under The K Bridge – Brooklyn, New York
Oct 16: Progresja – Warsaw, Poland
Oct 24: Dockyards x Hilomatik– Amsterdam, NL
Nov 01: Ritvales – Medellín, Colombia
Nov 07: Club Cultural – Lima, Peru
******** More TBA
Connect With Hi-Lo
Instagram / Facebook / SoundCloud / Spotify / YouTube / TikTok
The Hilomatik Ecosystem and Creative Independence
Since its inception in 2023, Hilomatik has evolved from a personal outlet into a curated platform that reflects the breadth of contemporary techno. The label operates with a distinct editorial vision, prioritizing records that function equally well in intimate warehouse settings and expansive festival environments. This curatorial discipline has attracted a roster that spans established innovators and emerging talent, fostering a dialogue between generations of producers.
Recent compilations and showcase events have reinforced this identity. Hilomatik stages at major festivals such as Amsterdam Dance Event and Miami Music Week have become fixtures for attendees seeking forward-thinking lineups that resist easy categorization. The imprint’s visual language, developed in collaboration with leading design studios, extends this coherence across merchandise, stage production, and digital assets, creating a holistic brand experience that resonates with a global audience attuned to aesthetic detail.
For Heldens, the label represents a critical degree of creative autonomy. It allows him to control the narrative surrounding his HI-LO output while championing artists who share his commitment to sonic exploration. This independence is increasingly rare in a landscape dominated by major-label partnerships, positioning Hilomatik as a case study in sustainable artist-led infrastructure.
Engineering Monumentality: The Sound Design of "Megalithic"
“Megalithic” distinguishes itself through a meticulous approach to sound design that translates geological scale into auditory weight. The track’s foundation rests on a sub-bass architecture engineered for physical impact, calibrated to exploit the low-frequency capabilities of festival-grade sound systems while retaining clarity on club installations. This attention to translation across environments is a hallmark of Heldens’ production philosophy.
The arrangement unfolds through a series of textural revelations. Granular synthesis and field-recorded percussion introduce an organic grit that contrasts with the precision of the synthetic elements. A recurring melodic motif, processed through evolving filter movements, provides narrative continuity across the extended runtime. This motif never fully resolves, maintaining a tension that mirrors the unresolved mysteries of the ancient structures that inspired the title.
The drop avoids the predictable sawtooth aggression common in peak-time techno. Instead, it deploys a layered composite of distorted FM tones and rhythmic noise bursts, creating a sense of controlled collapse. The mixdown allocates generous headroom to transient information, ensuring that each percussive hit retains its attack phase even at high sound pressure levels. It is a masterclass in functional minimalism where every element serves the groove.
Global Touring and the New York Connection
The upcoming North American leg of the HI-LO tour places particular emphasis on New York, a city that has shaped Heldens’ artistic trajectory since his early breakthrough. The October 11 performance at Creekside, situated beneath the iconic Kosciuszko Bridge in Brooklyn, continues a tradition of selecting venues that amplify the industrial aesthetic central to the HI-LO project. The raw architecture of the space – exposed steel, concrete, and waterfront views – functions as a physical extension of the music’s sonic palette.
New York’s significance extends beyond a single tour stop. The city’s historic clubs, from the legendary Output to the current vanguard of basement venues, have served as proving grounds where the HI-LO sound was refined in real time. Heldens has frequently cited the city’s relentless energy and discerning crowds as essential feedback mechanisms. The reciprocal relationship between artist and metropolis is evident in the tailored edits and extended versions often debuted exclusively for New York audiences.
This engagement reflects a broader strategy of market-specific curation. Rather than replicating a static festival set across continents, the tour adapts to local musical histories and venue architectures. The Brooklyn date, positioned between European festival appearances and South American debuts, serves as a critical anchor in a schedule that spans five continents. It underscores a commitment to presence over parachuting, reinforcing the authenticity that underpins the project’s global credibility.
