Balance Selections 368: Will DeKeizer

A two hour dive into mature progressive with Will DeKeizer…

Active since 2004, Will DeKeizer has developed a sound anchored in a classical piano background: melodic restraint and hypnotic flow. His approach leans on structure and atmosphere, with tension that builds in its own time.

While early breakthroughs came via support from Nick Warren and Hernan Cattaneo, his more recent work has maintained that trajectory, circulating consistently within DJ sets and specialist labels from Mango Alley to Plattenbank. Rather than pivoting toward visibility, DeKeizer dabbles in a process that favours durability over noise.

On this Balance Selections mix, the American producer has delivered something quite special. Featuring tracks from Mike Rish, GMJ & Matter, Kostya Outta and swathe of his own releases, the result is an intricate journey that privileges musical depth as much as dancefloor weight.

Tracklist

1. Will DeKeizer – Long Way From Home (Intro Mix)
2. Will DeKeizer – Fantasy (Original Mix)
3. GMJ – Sapience (Original Mix)
4. Mike Rish – Patenz (Original Mix)
5. Claudio Cornejo (AR) – Neuroaxis (Montw Remix)
6. Will DeKeizer – Wonders (Original Mix)
7. Will DeKeizer – Everlasting (Original Mix)
8. Will DeKeizer – Dixieland (Original Mix)
9. Will DeKeizer & Rockka – Whiplash (Original Mix)
10. Germán Guerrero – Radar (Will DeKeizer Remix)
11. Guy J – Against the Wall (Original Mix)
12. GMJ & Matter – Keepers (Original Mix)
13. Danae (NL) – Cool Alpaca (Eichenbaum Remix)
14. Noiyse Project & Will DeKeizer – Whispers (Original Mix)
15. Will DeKeizer & Maze 28 – Cornerstone (Kostya Outta & Alisha Remix)
16. Will DeKeizer – Whatever. (Original Mix)
17. Rndøm – KARMA (Will DeKeizer Remix)
18. Will DeKeizer – Clarity (Original Mix)
19. Will DeKeizer – Yearning (Original Mix)

Balance Selections Q+A

Name: William DeKeizer 
Location:St. Louis, MO
Alias/Producer name: Will DeKeizer
Labels affiliated with: Sudbeat, The Soundgarden, Mango Alley, Plattenblank, onedotsixtwo, Groovila

Soundcloud
Instagram

My last 3 releases:

What music did you listen to as a child?

The story my family always tells is that when I was around 2–3 years old, we went to a friend’s house after church.

They had a piano, and I would try to play the melodies from the hymns they sang. That’s when our family friend told my parents to get me piano lessons.

I was then classically trained for about 16 years. While growing up, I also played violin for five years and brass instruments in a jazz band.

I picked up the acoustic guitar in my teenage years, learning a lot of fingerstyle pieces.

My favorite one to play is “Rylynn” by Andy McKee.

When was the first time you realised that you liked electronic music?

My father’s coworker gave me a copy of Tangram by Tangerine Dream in the ’90s, and I fell in love with the sound.

We also grew up around computers, so I spent a lot of time playing video games, which introduced me to many different kinds of music.

When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?

When I was 18, I saw Above & Beyond for the first time in New York City. Their album Tri-State was a huge influence on my sound.

Seeing electronic music live helped pave the way for my understanding of how it translates from the studio to a live environment.

Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?

With my classical background, Franz Liszt is my favorite composer. His piece Liebesträume No. 3 is a particular inspiration—the way his melodies flow is something I try to replicate in my own work, especially through call-and-response phrasing in my arrangements.

What was the last album that you downloaded/purchased?

It’s been a long time since I’ve purchased or downloaded an album, especially with everything streaming these days.

But the last albums I owned and really loved were The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.

What is your current production and DJ setup like?

Current set up is just an M4 MacBook Pro with T7v Adam studio monitors. I also own an Arturia Microbrute.

I prefer playing on CDJ 3000s. I love the 4 deck setup and often have all 4 channels on with loops.

What releases do you have on the horizon?

I currently have a remix coming out on RPK’s label this summer and a remix for Pakistan’s Sincity label as well.

Where can we hear you perform? 

At the moment I have taken a pause for live events to focus on my studies at University. Hopefully I will return soon.

Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?

It took me a few months to write some new original tracks for this, and then about a week to prepare and record. I used Traktor Pro 4 with an Akai MIDI mix.

Mike Rish’s “Patenz” is a standout—he always has a unique approach to sound design and a very distinctive style. Eichenbaum’s remix of “Cool Alpaca” is also top tier; his foundation and talent for grooves really shine through.

The top track in my DJ set currently is:

If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be: