Source:
We Rave You
Airwave, the pioneering Belgian producer behind trance cornerstones like Above the Sky, Ladyblue, and Alone in the Dark, has announced he will retire from DJing at the end of 2025. After three decades shaping the sound of progressive dance music, Laurent Véronnez shared the news through an emotional post to fans, signaling a new chapter centered entirely on live instrumentation.
From his breakout years in the late 1990s, Airwave gained global acclaim under various aliases including Planisphere, Lolo, and The Green Martian. His early work earned support from Paul Oakenfold, Ferry Corsten, and Armin Van Buuren, with whom he collaborated on the classic Sunspot. As his sound evolved, so did his reach – performing at festivals like Tomorrowland, ASOT, and Ministry of Sound, while also building a rich catalog of remixes and collaborations with Above & Beyond, Andy Moor, and BT.
However, as he explained, DJing eventually gave way to a deeper connection with live performance. “Over the years, playing instruments has given me much more joy than playing the turntables,” he wrote. Determined to honor remaining bookings, he promised to continue delivering powerful DJ sets until his official exit in 2025.
Meanwhile, his work as a sound designer for Korg, Loopmasters, and Plugin Alliance remains integral to the scene, alongside soundtrack ventures and genre-defying productions. With a legacy already cemented, Airwave now prepares to take his artistry even further – live, expressive, and without compromise.
Read the full statement below:
“My dear friends,
It is with an immense joy that I announce the next step in my life as an artist.
For many years, many of you have come to see my DJ gigs around the world, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Some of you have also seen me play live concerts, and very often these performances have had a significant impact on how you perceive what I do.
DJing is something I have always done with great pleasure, with the aim of sharing my passion for music with you. I also have many unforgettable memories doing that.
However, I have to admit that over the years, playing instruments has given me much more joy than playing the turntables.
It’s a joy that I dream of sharing with you completely and without compromise in the future.
For this reason, I am ending my DJ career at the end of 2025 in order to focus all my energy and skills exclusively on my live concerts.
Rest assured that my DJ dates until then will be honoured as promised, after which it will be over for good.
I hope to see many of you at my upcoming concerts. I am certain that you will all be amazed, knowing what I have in store for you.
Thank you for your unwavering support. See you soon. “