Techno powerhouse HI-LO (also known as Oliver Heldens) teams up with Tai Woffinden, three-time FIM Speedway World Champion, for the electrifying “The Orange Theme”—a vibrant mix of trance nostalgia and modern techno energy; available July 4 through Armada Music.
A massive reinterpretation of Cygnus X’s timeless classic, HI-LO and Tai Woffinden demonstrate the full extent of their combined production prowess. Fueled by powerful drums, a relentless bassline, and the same legendary melody that made the original track iconic, this modern 2025 version is crafted for dance floor domination. HI-LO's signature low-end grit merges with a turbo-charged melody, while Woffinden injects a raw, energetic edge inspired by his years at the top of global motorsport.
For Tai Woffinden, who’s long admired the artistry behind Heldens’ HI-LO project, this marks a dream collab:
“After witnessing him go B2B with Armin van Buuren at ADE 2024, I made one of my key goals in 2025 to collaborate with Oliver under his HI-LO guise! I’m super stoked we could make this happen in the form of ‘The Orange Theme’; it’s the perfect blend of our styles, and I hope this is the first of many collabs with one of the most talented artists out there!” — Tai Woffinden
The Orange Theme also lands at the peak of a stacked summer for HI-LO, who’s currently storming stages across Europe and North America. He’ll hit Airbeat One and Audioriver back-to-back before tearing through A State of Trance London on July 13 — the very show featured in the giveaway. From there, it’s on to Tomorrowland, Das Energi in Salt Lake City, Elements Festival in Pennsylvania, a special Resistance x Amnesia night in Ibiza, Zürich Openair, and Gold Rush in Phoenix…with more to be announced soon.
"The Orange Theme" is available July 4 on Armada Music.
Dimitris Kechagias Review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]HI-LO & Tai Woffinden - The Orange Theme[/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]HI-LO and Tai Woffinden’s reimagining of Cygnus X’s iconic ‘The Orange Theme’ is a masterclass in modern techno production, blending nostalgic elements with cutting-edge sound design. The track operates at a dynamic 136 BPM, perfectly aligning with MainStage techno standards to deliver a high-energy auditory experience suited for massive dance floors. The production process showcases meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the drum programming. The highly impactful drums are crafted using layered kick samples, each processed with precision EQ and transient shaping to achieve a punchy, resonant thump that cuts through the mix. Complementing the kick, the percussive elements are treated with subtle reverb and delay effects to add spatial depth without overwhelming the core rhythm. The bassline is equally uncompromising, characterized by a gritty, analog-driven texture. Synthesized using a combination of subtractive synthesis and analog emulation plugins, the bass undergoes distortion and saturation techniques to enhance its raw, aggressive quality. Sidechain compression is deftly applied to ensure rhythmic cohesion between the bass and kick drum, creating a pulsating groove that propels the track forward. Central to this modern interpretation is the preservation of the original’s epic melody, which is revitalized through contemporary synthesis techniques. HI-LO and Woffinden employ a rich harmonic layering strategy, blending classic trance-inspired leads with modern, lush pads. The melodic hooks are accentuated with modulation effects, including chorus and flanger, adding a dynamic, evolving texture that maintains listener engagement. The track’s arrangement is structured to maximize energy flow, with strategic build-ups and tension releases. Automation of filter sweeps, reverb tails, and volume levels play a crucial role in guiding the listener through peaks and troughs, ensuring a captivating journey from start to finish. In essence, this version of ‘The Orange Theme’ is a testament to HI-LO and Tai Woffinden’s production prowess, seamlessly merging the timeless appeal of the original with the relentless energy of contemporary techno. #PureGold indeed. Love IT[/content]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item][item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item]
[item value="10"] Melody [/item]
[item value="10"] Synths [/item]
[item value="10"]Breakdown[/item]
[item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item]
[item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item]
[item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item]
[item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item]
[item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Radio Friendly[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocals & lyrics[/item]
[item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item]
[item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item]
[/review]
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. His music receives strong support from industry leaders like Adam Beyer, Charlotte de Witte, Carl Cox, Tale of Us, Amelie Lens, and Solomun.
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 over 90 shows each year and millions of fans worldwide, 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
July 11: Airbeat One Festival - Neustadt-Glewe, Germany
July 12: Audioriver Festival - Łódź, Poland
July 13: ASOT - London, United Kingdom
July 18: Tomorrowland - Boom, Belgium
Aug 08: Das Energi Music Festival - Salt Lake City, UT
Aug 09: Elements Festival - Long Pond, PA,
Aug 20: Resistance x Amnesia - Ibiza, Spain
Aug 22: ZÜRICH OPENAIR - Zurich, Switzerland
Sep 12: Gold Rush - Phoenix, AZ
*More TBA
About Armada Music
Armada Music is the biggest independent dance music label in the world. Founded by Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron (CEO) and David Lewis, the label manages an ever-growing catalog of over 50,000 tracks built up across twenty-plus years of specialized dance music exploitation.
Representing artists such as Armin van Buuren, ARTY, D.O.D, Eelke Kleijn, Jan Blomqvist, Joris Voorn, KI/KI, Lilly Palmer, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, THEMBA and Yulia Niko, Armada Music amasses more than one billion streams per month, airplay on leading radio outlets such as BBC Radio 1 and Sirius XM, and top positions in the world’s most notable charts. Significant label milestones include Armin van Buuren's Grammy nomination for 'This Is What It Feels Like' and two tracks surpassing one billion streams on Spotify: Loud Luxury and Brando’s ‘Body’ and Lost Frequencies’ ‘Are You With Me’.
Across offices in Amsterdam (HQ), New York, London and Laren (NL), Armada Music offers a global appeal to its growing roster. The label has its own club, radio studio and multiple production studios, and hosts various live formats. Producer platform Armada University, which offers educational products and opportunities, shows the label’s sustained effort to nurture the next wave of talent.
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