With a thriving solo career, Nick Schilder joins forces for the first time with Dutch DJ/producer duo Lucas & Steve. The result? A track that lives up to its name. ‘Something Like Magic’ blends Nick Schilder’s warm, recognizable vocals with the uplifting, high-energy sound that has made Lucas & Steve famous worldwide.
The collaboration came about in a special way. Ahead of their performances at the TeamNL House during the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nick Schilder and Lucas & Steve got into conversation. What started as a casual exchange of musical ideas quickly evolved into a fully realized track.
‘Something Like Magic’ is about the big and small wonders of life—the friendships we form, the love we encounter, and the unexpected coincidences that shape our journeys. Nick Schilder shares a personal example: “I met my wife in a crowd of 25,000 people but forgot to ask for her number or any details. Two days later, I ran into her again in that same crowd. Moments like that feel like magic.” The lyrics capture this sentiment perfectly: "Million faces, million places. Somehow by design, it was you and I."
Known for their signature high-energy, feel-good productions, Lucas & Steve once again deliver a track that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The organic layering of instrumentals and the emotional depth of Nick’s voice create a unique synergy, making ‘Something Like Magic’ an instant favorite.
“Sometimes things just fall into place in a way that’s hard to explain—that’s exactly what Something Like Magic is about. And that’s how this collaboration felt too. The energy in the studio was right from the start, and the creative process flowed naturally, as if it was meant to be,” say Lucas & Steve.
“The music I make is who I am, what I feel and what I want to create.”
It’s these words that define Nick Schilder and his approach to music. Feeling the pull of electronic music grow stronger upon hearing Matt Simons’ 2014 single ‘Catch & Release’, the Dutch singer-songwriter is carving out his own path and stepping onto a playing field known for infinite possibilities.
Transitioning from Dutch folk and pop to dance music may seem too great a shift at first glance, despite – or maybe even because – the seventeen years of profound success he’s had as one half of Nick & Simon. Together, they topped the Dutch Top 40 chart ten times, sold 1,000,000 album copies, played sold-out solo show to crowds of 30,000 strong and frequently appeared on Dutch television, including The Voice of Holland (as coaches), popular talk shows and their own documentary series, ‘Homeward Bound’. Yet, a deep-dive into Nick Schilder’s upbringing – from learning to play guitar from globally recognized artist (his neighbor) at the age of 8 to becoming an ambassador for the Dutch Chess Association many years after securing a chess championship in his youth – hints to an artistic depth that insists on a look beyond the shallows.
Across his output, Nick Schilder will be connecting with unique songwriters from all over the world, a desire that stems from a long tradition of seeking out writing talent across the music spectrum. His songs usher in electronic music’s influence and subtly reference his own personal experiences.
About Lucas & Steve
Dutch DJ and producer duo Lucas & Steve have been a dominant force in the international music industry for over a decade, earning multiple platinum and gold records as well as awards like the Edison Award, Buma Award, and MTV Award. Known for their energetic, feel-good house and pop tracks, they’ve released hits such as Summer On You, Up Till Dawn, Perfect, and Letters, with their debut album Letters to Remember (2020) achieving massive success. Following their album, they continued to release major hits, including Anywhere With You (with Afrojack & DubVision), Feel My Love, If It Ain’t Love, After Midnight (with Yves V & Xoro), and the 2023 summer hit Best Of Me. They have amassed over 1 trillion online streams, 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and their radio show airs in 51 countries.
Lucas & Steve are recognized as key tastemakers in house and pop music, collaborating with top artists like Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, W&W, and Galantis, and remixing tracks for David Guetta, Kygo, Robin Schulz, and more. Their global presence includes performances at Tomorrowland, Creamfields, Sziget Festival, and extensive touring across Europe, Asia, and South America. In the Netherlands, they have performed at Vrienden van Amstel Live, the Dutch Grand Prix, and even for the royal family.
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 40,000 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, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Tensnake, 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. The label also takes great pride in major achievements such as Armin van Buuren’s GRAMMY nomination for ‘This Is What It Feels Like’, Loud Luxury and Brando’s ‘Body’ surpassing one billion streams on Spotify and breaking artists such as Lost Frequencies into global stardom.
Across offices in Amsterdam (HQ), New York, London and Laren (NL), Armada Music offers a truly 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.
In 2023, Armada Music launched BEAT Music Fund, the world’s first dance music investment company, that acquires catalogs with the mission of honoring, representing and reinvigorating them. BEAT’s portfolio will continue to grow; in the first six months following its launch, BEAT acquired the catalogs of, among others, electronic music star ARTY, house and techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson’s KMS Records, legendary NYC-based house label King Street Sounds and chart-topping producers Chocolate Puma.
From dusk till dawn, Nick Schilder's new single shines with acoustic brilliance, highlighting the Dutch singer's enchanting vocals with finesse. A feel-good track through and through, ‘Moonlight To Sunrise’ is a peak summer hit in the making, coming soon to a radio station or playlist near you.
Off the back of chart success in the United States via the Angrybaby remix of his sophomore solo single ‘Realize’, Nick Schilder released recently the lead single, title track and final extension of his five-track debut EP, ‘Dancin’ Alone’.
Comprising all of his solo singles on Armada Music to date, Nick Schilder’s ‘Dancin’ Alone’ EP audially depicts both the journey and innate songwriting prowess of the established Dutchman. While the first two songs, ‘Shatterproof’ and ‘Realize’, strike a more serious note, ‘Tequila’, ‘Whenever’ and the brand-new ‘Dancin’ Alone’ add positivity, playfulness and an overall uplifting atmosphere to the storyline, echoed by the feel-good music video of ‘Dancin’ Alone’.
Nick Schilder - Dancin' Alone
“‘Dancin' Alone’ very much pinpoints where I’m at in my career right now,” says Nick Schilder. “I’m continuously being inspired and encouraged by the great people around me and the lovely people who visit my shows. I feel more and more comfortable as a solo artist; I may be dancin’ alone, but I’m not feeling lonely at all.”
With the release of the ‘Dancin’ Alone’ EP and the multifold success of its singles, the singer-songwriter is off to a great start as a solo artist. In addition to conquering familiar territory with ‘Shatterproof’ and ‘Realize’ (e.g. respectively #31 and #35 in the Dutch Top 40 charts), he’s also been making waves abroad, most notably in Italy — ‘Shatterproof’ reached #64 in the Italian Airplay Radio Charts — and the United States. Charting a new artistic path naturally comes with its own set of challenges, but the leaps-and-bounds growth of his international solo profile means any hurdles are merely stepping stones, signifying that the best is yet to come.
About Nick Schilder
“The music I make is who I am, what I feel and what I want to create.”
It’s these words that define Nick Schilder and his approach to music. Feeling the pull of electronic music grow stronger upon hearing Matt Simons’ 2014 single ‘Catch & Release’, the Dutch singer-songwriter is carving out his own path and stepping onto a playing field known for infinite possibilities.
Transitioning from Dutch folk and pop to dance music may seem too great a shift at first glance, despite – or maybe even because – the seventeen years of profound success he’s had as one half of Nick & Simon. Together, they topped the Dutch Top 40 chart ten times, sold 1,000,000 album copies, played sold-out solo show to crowds of 30,000 strong and frequently appeared on Dutch television, including The Voice of Holland (as coaches), popular talk shows and their own documentary series, ‘Homeward Bound’. Yet, a deep-dive into Nick Schilder’s upbringing – from learning to play guitar from globally recognized artist (his neighbor) at the age of 8 to becoming an ambassador for the Dutch Chess Association many years after securing a chess championship in his youth – hints to an artistic depth that insists on a look beyond the shallows.
Across his output, Nick Schilder will be connecting with unique songwriters from all over the world, a desire that stems from a long tradition of seeking out writing talent across the music spectrum. His songs usher in electronic music’s influence and subtly reference his own personal experiences.
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 40,000 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, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Tensnake, 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. The label also takes great pride in major achievements such as Armin van Buuren’s GRAMMY nomination for ‘This Is What It Feels Like’, Loud Luxury and Brando’s ‘Body’ surpassing one billion streams on Spotify and breaking artists such as Lost Frequencies into global stardom.
Across offices in Amsterdam (HQ), New York, London and Laren (NL), Armada Music offers a truly 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.
In 2023, Armada Music launched BEAT Music Fund, the world’s first dance music investment company, that acquires catalogs with the mission of honoring, representing and reinvigorating them. BEAT’s portfolio will continue to grow; in the first six months following its launch, BEAT acquired the catalogs of, among others, electronic music star ARTY, house and techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson’s KMS Records, legendary NYC-based house label King Street Sounds and chart-topping producers Chocolate Puma.
Diving deeper into his exploration of the genre, Dutch singer-songwriter Nick Schilder is back on Armada Music with ‘Realize’, a silky, guitar-driven, dance/pop crossover that vulnerably depicts his first experience of heartbreak.
The follow-up to Nick Schilder’s debut hit ‘Shatterproof’, which peaked at #31 in the Dutch Top 40 this summer, ‘Realize’ is a deeply personal narrative of enduring — and overcoming — his first heartbreak. Drawing from his own youth, Nick lyrically unfolds the pain of his heart shattering for the first time and the gut-wrenching experience of putting it back together. His story is vividly portrayed in the track's music video, which can be viewed via Armada Music TV.
“’Realize’ is the first English song I wrote with Leon Paul Palmen and Matt Simons for my solo career. As I'm currently crafting my most personal work ever, it has brought forth a range of emotions, from my deepest feelings to childhood memories,” says Nick Schilder. ‘Realize’ is about surviving my first heartbreak, my journey of self-discovery and the self-confidence I ultimately found through music.”
The track signifies Nick’s tireless work in the studio over the last year, having already penned approximately fifty songs throughout his experimentation with fresh musical dimensions. With a celebrated career in Dutch pop songwriting, Nick is charting a new artistic path and ‘Realize’ is a testament to his creative journey.
“The music I make is who I am, what I feel and what I want to create.”
It’s these words that define Nick Schilder and his approach to music. Feeling the pull of electronic music grow stronger upon hearing Matt Simons’ 2014 single ‘Catch & Release’, the Dutch singer-songwriter is carving out his own path and stepping onto a playing field known for infinite possibilities.
Transitioning from Dutch folk and pop to dance music may seem too great a shift at first glance, despite – or maybe even because – the seventeen years of profound success he’s had as one half of Nick & Simon. Together, they topped the Dutch Top 40 chart ten times, sold 1,000,000 album copies, played sold-out solo show to crowds of 30,000 strong and frequently appeared on Dutch television, including The Voice of Holland (as coaches), popular talk shows and their own documentary series, ‘Homeward Bound’. Yet, a deep-dive into Nick Schilder’s upbringing – from learning to play guitar from globally recognized artist (his neighbor) at the age of 8 to becoming an ambassador for the Dutch Chess Association many years after securing a chess championship in his youth – hints to an artistic depth that insists on a look beyond the shallows.
Across his output, Nick Schilder will be connecting with unique songwriters from all over the world, a desire that stems from a long tradition of seeking out writing talent across the music spectrum. His songs usher in electronic music’s influence and subtly reference his own personal experiences.