David Vanderhouwen, known professionally as DJ VTwelve, is a California-born DJ and producer currently based in Japan. He is a retired Navy veteran. DJ VTwelve is recognized for delivering energetic sets that blend tech house, techno, and progressive electronic music. DJ VTwelve has performed at a variety of venues and events throughout Japan, including multiple appearances at the renowned Swallow Lodge during the Fuji Rock Festival in Naeba, as well as performances at GreenHill in Yokosuka and numerous events in Sasebo. DJ VTwelve has become an international radio presence as a resident DJ for RadioClubMix, Planet Music Radio, and Zagreb Radio Kapital3, where he regularly showcases the latest in house and techno alongside his signature high-energy mixes.

What’s the story behind your artist name “DJ VTwelve”?

Vtwelve was a nickname I got when I joined the Navy. Nobody could pronounce my name, so they called me V12 since my name starts with a V and has 12 letters. 😀

Which part of California did you live in?"

I had been away from my family for a long time because of my deployment to Afghanistan. I didn’t bring them with me to California, where my final Navy tour was at Port Hueneme. After retiring, I moved back to Japan and have lived here ever since.

Did you join the military, get stationed in Japan, and then decide to live there after leaving the Navy?

I joined the Navy in 1990 because I wanted to get out of my hometown.  I actually picked my first orders to go to Bremerton, WA, but they got canceled. The Navy sent me to a ship in Japan, the USS Independence.  I really enjoyed it. I later took orders to another ship in Sasebo, Japan.  This is where I met my wife on my first ship, and we got married. I did a couple of tours back in the United States, but I always felt that Japan was the place for me.  I had been away from my family for a long time due to deployment to Afghanistan; I didn’t bring them to California, and my final tour in the Navy was at Port Hueneme, California. I retired, moved back to Japan, and have lived here ever since.

How long have you lived in Japan? 

I retired from the Navy about 14 years ago and have lived here ever since.  In total, it has been about 27 years. Granted, all of my ships were here in Japan, so I did spend a lot of that time underway.

How long have you been in the music scene? 

When I was in high school, I worked with a mobile DJ group.  Mostly doing lighting and setup, but did do occasional sets.  I had so much fun, but when I joined the Navy, I didn’t do anything with music; I always used a DJ controller, so I was able to play around, and it was a blast.  Then COVID hit, and like many others, I needed to find a hobby.  I bought a DJ controller and a laptop.  I started by watching YouTube videos to learn how to use the controller, and then I decided to take an online class.  Club Ready DJ School.  It was an awesome experience.

What first got you into producing electronic music?  

About eight months ago, I was given the opportunity to sign up for an EDM coaching school and jumped right in.  I joined because I wanted to play my own music in my DJ sets.

Who or what were your biggest musical influences growing up? 
I would say my parents.  They always had music playing in the house and car. It was mostly 50’s - 60’s music and country music.  I started buying my own music, and it was all over the place. I had everything from Beastie Boys to Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode to AC/DC. A little bit of everything.  I think because they all gave a different emotion.

Were you a DJ first or an artist/producer?
DJ for sure.

Are there any genres or artists outside of EDM that influence your style? 

Not really, I just love music. When I am not making EDM, I listen to almost everything, but for my music, for now, I use reference tracks to keep it similar while adding my own flair.

Can you explain the genres you produce and what attracted you to them?

I have been experimenting with different genres. Some tech house/ bass house, trance style, and a little techno. I make these genres because that is what I have been playing in my DJ sets.

Can you tell me about your experience as a resident DJ for RadioClubMix, Planet Music Radio, and Zagreb Radio Kapital3? How did you get connected with these stations, and what does being a resident DJ for them involve?

The experience has been amazing.  I started doing Radio shows about three years ago.  The first one I got on was NRG Radio.  It was a great experience, and it opened doors for many others who followed up on the contacts I made there.  I reached out to a couple of others who were playing on other Radio stations, and they put me in contact with the station managers.  The second was Profound Radio out of the UK. This was a big step up, and played there for about two years.  What turned into one show a week evolved into 3-4 shows a week.  It got too busy for my schedule, and I had to back off.  Next was ClubMixRadio.  I was with them for just over a year, but left there.  It was time to move on.  Planet Music and Zagreb Radio are the only two that I am on now.  I joined them again from contacts that I made previously. I sent the radio managers sets that I had done on previous radio stations, and now I am doing one night a week on both of them.  Awesome experience.  I would recommend every DJ to build a community and do a weekly radio show. 

Can you tell me about your performances at Swallow Lodge during the Fuji Rock Festival in Naeba, at GreenHill in Yokosuka, and at the various events in Sasebo? 

The Swallow Lodge gig is every year. I have been up there five out of the last six years, playing various sets throughout the 3-day festival.  Usually anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours multiple times throughout the day. It's a lot of fun, and I really enjoy the atmosphere. I haven’t done a gig in Yokosuka for quite some time now.  The main reason is that Yokosuka loves hip hop and rap.  I am not a big fan of these genres, and I do not have enough music in these genres for a full 4-5 hour set. 

Were these large-scale events, and are they held annually?

The only annual event is Fuji Rock.  I am hoping some day to be able to play on a stage or in one of the nightclubs inside the festival. That would be really sick. Hopefully soon.

 How would you compare these experiences to major U.S. EDM festivals like Outside Lands and Portola Music Festival?

No comparison.  These events are fun, and I enjoy reading the crowd and playing music that they enjoy. Hopefully some day I will get on a big stage, but for now I am loving what I do.

I listened to your song called “Roll up to my Crib,” which has a Tech House vibe. Can you tell me more about that song and what inspired its sound?

Roll Up to My Crib is a tech house-style track inspired by Chris Lake. I love the music that he puts out.  I had almost all of the full track laid out, but I think I must have gone through about four different vocal samples before I found the ones that are in the song.  I think the vocals are very important, if not the most important.  This one took me about three months to complete.  I was working on other projects, but for some reason I kept going back to it. Once I found the vocal samples that I liked, it took about 3 days to finish, master, and release.  It's crazy what a good sample will do.

Are you involved in the music scene full-time, dedicating all your time to creating and promoting your music? 

Pretty much.  I quit my job about 10 months ago, so now I can focus on making music and DJing. Probably one of the best decisions of my life. I am still getting used to the promotion side of the house.  It takes a lot of time, but I know how important it can be. For me, creating music is a lot more fun.

Are you currently signed to a record label? If not, do you hope to be signed in the future, and if so, why?

Yes.  I have three of my tracks signed to my friend's startup label Xtaosea Music and one signed to Anchor Records, but we don’t want to talk about that. It is amazing how much time is saved on promotion when the label helps with it.  With the current situation of the record industry, I am going to avoid any major labels for now unless it is one of the big ones and the contract is acceptable.  In my opinion, people just starting out should self-release their first 3-4 tracks and try to understand the promotion game so you can have an idea of what a label can offer.

Who are you currently collaborating with on songs? I can't wait to make a track with you.

My last track was a collaboration with Tony Greco (DJ GR3CO), and my next track, coming out on 14 August, is a collaboration with Vikki Davis (Xtoasea).  That one is a tech house style track called Red Lights.

Right now I am using  Alpha Theta XDJ-AZ and Rekordbox.

Why?  

I bought the AZ because it is the closest thing that I could get to club gear, and it is the biggest one that I could fit in my room at the time. I use Rekordbox because that is what I started with, and it is compatible with all of the Pioneer DJ and Alpha Theta equipment.  I don't feel like using anything new that I would have to learn all over again.  Now I mainly use it to verify my beat grid and to put my music on my USB.

How do you read the crowd, and what signals do you look for when deciding to switch up the music or change the BPM?  

First off, it is important to know what the crowd wants ahead of time by going to the venue and seeing what they normally play. I normally start off playing some songs that are a bit slower with a good groove.  If I see people start to get in the groove, I normally drop a familiar song. 

When you first DJed your own music, how did the crowd react? Was the outcome what you expected, or did it surprise you?

I have only played one live gig that had my music in it, and they enjoyed it.  Surprisingly, a really good reaction to the songs that I made.  I have put my music in a lot of my Radio sets, and people seem to enjoy them. I am still shocked by the number of Shazams I get on several of my songs.

What sets your current music apart from other underground Techno and Tech-House artists and makes it uniquely yours?  

I hear a lot of people's sets that are just nothing but bangers from start to finish.  I find that my sets bring the listener on a journey. Honestly, one to two hours of the same hard beat is boring and quite repetitive for me.  I believe in mixing it up.  Not just the BPM, but the vibe and rhythm of the songs.

What is the most popular EDM genre in Japan right now?

It really depends on where you are.  Some parts of Tokyo like hard house, while others like more of a hard techno vibe. Yokohama is a mix of genres, and as I stated before, here in Yokosuka, where I live, it's almost all hip hop. Maybe because the Navy base is here.

What strategies are you using to grow your audience and make sure your music stands out (make sure your music gets heard)? 

I am really trying to grow my social media platforms using my own music first.  That is what I believe will later build my brand as a DJ. I plan on doing some live sets either on YouTube, Spotify, or TikTok. Hopefully coming soon.

Who creates your music promo videos? They look amazing. Can you share some platforms you use to make these videos?

I use a lot of AI to create the videos.  First, I upload a portion of my track into ChatGPT and ask it to build a prompt I can use to create a video or a clip for freebeat.ai. I will normally tell it what kind of vibes I want.  For example (high energy, club scene, music festival, etc.). ChatGPT will then spit out the prompt that explains the process of making the video, including color schemes and vibes throughout the clip.  I then use that prompt and put it into Freebeat.ai, You can add characters as well, which can make it interesting. I also use CapCut. They have a lot of templates you can use. I just find one, upload a picture or video, and it will convert the photo into short clips

How many songs do you have out on DSPs?

I only have a couple up on Beatport. I have submitted to ZipDJ, but every time I submit, I get no response, and it never goes up. (UEDM what's going on ZipDJ?)

What is your musical background? 

Other than being a listener, I do not have one.

Which music equipment and/or DAW do you prefer for music production, and what makes them your top choices? 

Ableton Live for the DAW, AKAI MPK mini play for the MIDI controller/keyboard. I use Ableton Live because that is what they use for the DJ course I was taking, and I like the features and the familiarity now. The AKAI MIDI controller, mostly because of the size.

Do you mix and master your own songs? 

I always do the mixdown and have mastered all but two of my tracks. I find that it is getting better with every master. I enjoy the practice. 

What do you like to use for mastering? Are there any particular plugins, EQs, or stock compressors you prefer?

For mastering, I generally use a utility, an EQ, a couple of limiters, then I run it into Ozone 12 to fine-tune the master.  At the end, I put a plugin called MiniMeter so I can visually see the waveform as if you were looking at a DJ deck.  It also has a LUF meter so I can see the loudness.

What typically sparks your creativity when making a new song? Do you find inspiration in movies, books, or listening to music?

I find inspiration from songs that I hear and play in my DJ sets. I will try to take elements from different songs and combine them.

What BPM range do you prefer when producing your tracks? Is there a tempo that feels most natural or inspiring to you when creating music?

My songs usually range between 130-140 for now.  Eventually I will do some faster stuff, but at this stage of my journey I am still figuring out some sounds that go with the hard-hitting techno.

How do you start a song? Do you begin with the melody, the drums, or the bassline when building a track? 

Normally, I will start with the kick and bass as they are the foundation of most EDM music.  I have started with vocals before and worked a melody around them before going to the kick/bass, but only on two songs. 

How do you approach making kick drums and bass stand out in your songs?

I sidechain the hell out of everything.  I like the rolling basslines, so sidechaining is a must. (UDEM likes this 👍)

What’s one production tip you wish you'd known when you first started producing music? 

Quickly get the 8-bar loop done for the drop with the essentials and then move to building the track outwards.  Add all of the fluff and the effects as you go.  Also mix as you go.  It will save a lot of time in the long run. ( 👍UEDM “Mix as you go” I do the same)

How do you decide when a song is “finished”? 

When I can go through every lane and listen to every lane one at a time and can remove any sound that is not relevant to the track. Sometimes less is more. I also have people that I trust to give me good feedback on the track, and when they say it is done, then I say Roger that and finish the mixdown and the master.  Then I get feedback again before I release it. It is important to have people besides your friends review your track.

What music-producing advice can you give someone who is trying to break into the EDM/ Techno scene?
First off, do not get stuck in 8-bar loops. Use a reference track that you like.  Something proven, and attempt to mimic the intro, break, buildup, and drop, and build your track around that. Proof is in the pudding.  If something works, why change it?

It is a hard space to be living in. There are so many artists out there. Both Producers and DJ’s.  That is why it is as important as ever now to build a fan base through both your music and social media.

Do you think techno fans are interested in seeing more live performances featuring artists who use hardware, such as my friends The Last DJ and Infermode, instead of DJs who perform solely with controllers or laptops?

Live performances are always going to be the way to go. I don't think that will ever go away.  I watched Fred Again last year at Fuji Rock Festival, and it was one of the best shows I saw.  Honestly, I do not see a lot of DJ controllers used at festivals or big venues.  They expect the DJ to be on club-type gear.

Unfortunately, in these big festivals, most of them want pre-recorded sets from what I hear. The DJ is just up there turning knobs and hyping the crowd up.  I understand why they do it, but in my opinion it is just a show.

Do you think a DJ should simply play songs and let people listen, or should they keep mixing and performing tricks during their set?

I am all about playing music that people can dance to. Just do clean transitions, and you can sprinkle a couple of effects here and there, but I say let the music play. (UEDM 👏)

AI is here, and there is nothing we can do but to continue to make music.  I think AI music will eventually be clipped out.  People can't connect with AI artists on a personal level, and I think that is very important.

After reading the article: The Digital Paradox: How Music Streaming Saved the Industry but Stifled the Artist," https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-music-streaming-saved-industry-hurt-artists/

What do you think about digital streaming?

Streaming doesn't pay the bills for most artists.  There are probably only 10% of people, probably less on Spotify, that can honestly say they make their living on music. Physical copies are the way to go, but that requires a fan base.  That is what I am working on now.

With this in mind, many artists like myself find that selling tangible items benefits both them and their fans, especially since artists make very little from streaming.  Do you see a future for physical formats compared to digital streaming? 

I think that is the only way to make money in music production now.

Do you have any plans to release your music on vinyl or CD? 

I am still building my catalog, but really close to putting something together. 

Where do you see your Music taking you in 2026 or 2027?  

Hopefully by the end of the year I will be playing in some bigger clubs or stages. For 2027, I hope to greatly increase my output of music and put out at least one quality release a month and possibly an EP.

Do you have any performances lined up for summer and fall  2026?

Right now I only have a gig at my friend's lodge for Fuji Rock the last week of July.  Hopefully that will gain me some momentum to accomplish my goals for this year.

Are there any upcoming tours in Japan, the USA, or internationally?

Not in the foreseeable future.  Hopefully soon.

Which EDM artist would you like to open for?

James Hype

Where can I find your music? 

Search DJ Vtwelve on nearly all music platforms and social media platforms.

Any closing statement?

For all of you producers out there, keep making music, and to all the DJs, keep playing.  Hope to see you all soon, either in person or on my socials 

Entropy Radio is a global underground broadcasting platform dedicated to electronic music, operating without corporate influence, subscriptions, or ads. Streaming live 24/7, it provides a home for DJs and listeners, spotlighting genres such as techno, drum & bass, dubstep, grime, and house. The station features weekly resident shows, international guest DJs, and supports artists through live broadcasts, promotion, and mix uploads, with programming that highlights underground scenes from diverse regions. Entropy Radio encourages new DJs and producers to connect, submit music, or host shows, and is accessible worldwide via their website, Instagram, and Mixcloud.

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