Interview with AARON HIBELL at Tomorrowland Belgium 2025

Among the most particular and interesting artists in this year’s Tomorrowland Belgium line-up is Aaron Hibell, English DJ and producer born in 1996, real name Aaron Thomas Highbar.
He is known for his unique style, which combines cinematic sounds from orchestral productions with techno and trance.

We interviewed him before his set at the Atmosphere stage x EXHALE by Amelie Lens, asking him more about his style, his connection to and inspiration from cinema, his label All Time High, his EP “SOS,” and upcoming projects!

Matteo: Hello everyone, here at Tomorrowland Belgium and so happy to meet you Aaron!
After your twenty of twenty-five selection for Tomorrowland World World Radio, we are here and you will perform at Atmosphere Stage. So first question is, which music from your catalogue you fit closer to the Tomorrowland vibe?
AARON HIBELL: I’d say a lot of them do fit in pretty well. Because obviously, I’d say Tomorrowland’s been…
In my sort of like narrative as an artist, it’s been something that’s pretty, like, it’s been a pretty big thing, it’s been a pretty big goal of mine. So to finally be able to, you know, play here, play the atmosphere stage is really, really cool.

I think in terms of my musical catalog, something like… It’s tough, you know? I mean, there’s definitely a few, maybe something like 73 or Morninglight. They definitely have a lot of sort of like big energy.
And when you think of Tomorrowland, you’re thinking of big euphoric energy, lots of power as well. So I’d say those two fully spawn. And we chat now a little bit about your sound because it’s a unique blend of orchestral elements with techno trance, so electronic.

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Matteo: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey, the sound journey that led you to develop this unique style? And how do you manage to translate those classical also influences into contemporary electronic tracks?
AARON HIBELL: It’s a good question. Well, I think initially it started when… It’s probably around like lockdown sort of time. I went back to live with my parents who lived by the coastline in like the east of England.

And I would just go on these really long walks and I’d put my headphones on and I’d be listening to like, you know, lots of different movie soundtracks, lots of our hands in them, obviously. And I think it just really just naturally sort of inspired me and came through.

So when I sort of like reapproached making like techno and trance music, I think those influences really just sort of like carried through. So it feels very natural. And I think that, yeah, I don’t know.

I think it’s, I didn’t really, you know, intend on making something particularly unique, but I always love sort of like doing something different and trying to separate myself from everyone else. But also not following trends.

Matteo: You mentioned it about movies. Of course, it’s an important part of your path because, for example, “Benevolence” was Tetris soundtrack and your music is often linked or dedicated to some movies and cinema, for example, “Destroyer of the Words” for Oppenheimer.
That’s huge and viral on socials, you know, 180k reels, sounds usage, and also “Levitation”, you know, it’s got that flavor. So which movies inspired you the most over your path? And what’s your favorite? Also soundtrack producers!
AARON HIBELL: Well, definitely a lot of Christopher Nolan movies, a lot of Daniel movies, like Blade Runner 2049. I just often, you know, sometimes I’ll put movies on the background when I’m making music, just like on silent, and like it just helps me visualize things.

I feel like I often make things from a very sort of like emotional or like visual place. And I think when you channel like emotion and like real sort of, I don’t know, just like a real idea in your head, or like the sort of vibe and the mood you want to feel it being played in, then you can really, you know, that really translates as well when you play it live.

And when you hear the, you know, like the subs hit you on like a big system and like the chord changes hit you right, that’s when it really hits. You have to go deeper inside and to then translate what you feel into music.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And it definitely is like a… I think early on I would make things and they would be a little bit less danceable. And I think my sets now evolved a lot more and they’re like…

Because obviously my stuff was so different to what DJs are usually playing, it was often hard to make it danceable. But I think I’ve done a really good blend, especially for the DJ set, because I have a live show now as well, but for the DJ set, to make it more danceable.

 

Matteo: Now we talk a little bit about your label All Time High of which “Twilight Zone” was the first EP.  So what motivated you to launch this project? What are you looking for with the talents that are sending you new stuff? And which direction will you take?
Also, the name is super nice, all-time high. I feel it’s something about the trip, the “VOYAGE AROUND ATMOSPHERE”, the stage you are going to perform and the space, because I feel that your music lets you travel outside!
AARON HIBELL: Yeah, well, I think my music really embodies very euphoric, ethereal qualities. And you do sort of want to go to this other place. Also, coincidentally, ATH, all-time highs, my initials, Aaron Thomas Highbar.

So it was a bit of synchronicity. I think, honestly, I think definitely the theme of synchronicity is very important to me. There’s a lot of things that just happen very sort of serendipitously. So I think that’s a pretty big theme for me.

But with the all-time high, it’s only me who’s released on there so far. But we definitely plan in the future to release more things. And to be honest with you, it’s not going to be just limited to dance and technical music.

We sort of want to cast a wide net in terms of those sorts of things. It could be just orchestral music. It’s just got to be anything that kind of gives you that feeling, regardless of genre. Yeah, cool, you know?

 

Matteo: Cool, cool! Thanks for the info. And about your latest EP, S.O.S. it includes “Set Me Free” and “Morning Light”. So what’s the message behind this EP and what’s next for your music?
AARON HIBELL: Well, they’re sort of like three singles that are falling into like an album.
So there’s going to be another single coming and then the album’s going to drop pretty soon. Which is very exciting. But the messages are kind of like, a lot of my stuff is very space themed. And I kind of want to just like, whatever it is, just like take the listener on a journey and like take them out of the normal mundane world.

Because I’m very aware that we get caught up in our lives and so many stresses and stuff like that. So it’s everything in a rush. And when I make art, I just want to capture a feeling and allow people to escape just for a second.

Matteo: That’s good. So it’s like a message of help, it’s like a support that you want to interact with.

AARON HIBELL: It can be really whatever you want it to be. It’s however you interpret it. And music is all about sharing emotions and also helping the souls of passionate people.!

 

Matteo: Congrats for the music you make and for the feelings that you managed to share with this huge audience, also through social media. That’s a good thing, because everyone can take the music and use it for a different thing, like a memory or feeling.
AARON HIBELL: Well, to be honest with you, I think, especially on social media, I just try and be as real as I can be. I just try and be as authentic as I can be. Like, I’m pretty much just exactly who I am when it comes to calling social media.

Matteo: Thank you so much for the interview and for your time. And see you soon, maybe in Italy.

AARON HIBELL: Yeah, maybe. I’ve never played there before, so I would love to. Cool, thank you!
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Thanks to AARON and Tomorrowland team for the opportunity!