Jordi van Achthoven has spent the better part of two decades chasing the moments when his mind goes quiet… in a bath, on a walk or on a tour bus somewhere between towns. Thirteen years into his partnership with Micha (Black Sun Empire) as Tinlicker, which started over a coffee while both were drummers in different bands, the duo have built one of melodic techno’s most enduring collaborations. It started with night studio sessions after Jordi’s day job and grew into a genre-defining catalogue shaped by the tension between his more melancholic instincts and Micha’s more uplifting energy.
Fresh off Edge of Forever, a bus-born collaboration with longtime friend Thomas Helsloot out via Remember The Future [PIAS] , they’re heading back to their roots as a live band alongside their solo DJ sets, touring as a full live band with vocalist Hero, whose voice they’ve worked alongside for the better part of a decade. They’re now preparing for a five-week run across North America.
Sylwia: Hi Jordi, where are you connecting from today?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I’m at home, actually. In the Netherlands, in Utrecht.
Sylwia: Were you born in Utrecht? Is that where you originally are from?
Tinlicker (Jordi): No, not born there. I was born in a city close to Utrecht called Gouda. I think a lot of people know it for the cheese. I grew up in a very small town called Aarlanderveen until I was 18, and then I moved to Utrecht. I’ve been living here for most of my life.
Sylwia: So when you got into music, would you say the first scene you got into would be Utrecht then?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah. I was DJing in clubs in Utrecht in the beginning.
Sylwia: Do you want to tell me a little bit more about that, how did you get into music first? What are your first memories?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Wow, back in the day… I got into music when I started taking drum lessons when I was 10 years old. From there, I actually started playing in a band when I was 14. That was also the time I started making music on a computer. The computer was basically in my parents’ living room, so I was making music on my headphones. From there, I fell in love with making music and it became very addictive.
Sylwia: What kind of music was it at the beginning? What kind of band was it?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Really shitty music (laughs). Yeah, well, the band tried to be like Radiohead. We were like this fake Radiohead band playing music, but it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed playing in a band, but I liked making music on a computer more. Eventually, it was easier because I could basically always make music without band members.
Sylwia: Without rehearsing and planning, I know what you mean. So when you started as a band and then transitioned into DJing, was it because you discovered making music with software?
Tinlicker (Jordi): When I made music I contacted producers in the Netherlands. They were living quite close to where I was living back then. And when I got in contact they helped me finish my first song and then I signed this first song at a record label in the Netherlands.
I signed my first deal when I was 18 years old, and then they immediately said maybe I should DJ as well, because I might want to play my own music. I got gigs very soon after that. I was already DJing in my bedroom, so I knew how to do it, and then I bought music that fit with what I was making. I had a lot of opening shows. I was a young kid between all these famous DJs and producers back then, so that was nice. I always liked DJing as well.
Sylwia: That’s really great when you grow up in a country like the Netherlands where you already have such an established scene to have people who can help you. What has changed since then? If you were starting now, would you say it’s as easy or is it way more competitive these days?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Well, it looks easier now because we have more technology and it’s easier to DJ. You can basically get everything on your laptop. The whole world is open with so many choices, and I think that’s the downfall as well. Back then, I couldn’t make a lot of choices. There was this one choice: I could DJ and I could make music. There was not a lot of software. I had to learn DJing all by myself, and now you can easily go on YouTube and watch many tutorials or buy a lot of gear. In a way, it’s not easier because more choice doesn’t give you more freedom. It’s hard to choose the right thing because you don’t know what you want. You have to go through the process of trying things out.
Sylwia: Decision fatigue.
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah, exactly! Decision fatigue.
Sylwia: How did you meet Micha, the second member of Tinlicker?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I met him in Utrecht. I was releasing an EP and the PR agent told me she was doing an EP for another guy from Utrecht as well who was making drum and bass music. She said it was Micha from Black Sun Empire. I knew who they were back then. We met in 2013 in a cafe. We had some drinks and just said let’s try making music together and see where it takes us. Back then, I also had a day job working in an office. I would meet him every Monday night; we always started at 6:00 PM and worked deep into the night. I think we had our first EP ready quite soon after three months. We learned a lot from each other because he was making very different music with drum and bass and I came from more pop music. It was nice to meet somebody with new knowledge. We became friends and we didn’t know where it was leading.
Sylwia: You’ve gone so far together. 13 years as a duo still making music is very impressive. When you get together in the studio, do you have different responsibilities or do you naturally both do everything?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I’m way better than he is (laughs). No, it changes. In the beginning, we were very starstruck by each other, learning new things. After a while, it’s the same as in a relationship: you get to know somebody and you have to reinvent yourself and the relationship when it becomes a little bit boring. I can be bored really quickly if things become very repetitive. In the last 10 years, it changed a lot.
In the beginning, we were always together in the studio, but then it changed so that we basically made music apart from each other and then combined our songs. We make our own songs, pick the ones we like, and then always finish them together. I would say I’m making more melancholic music and he’s making more dancy music. There is a difference. Together it’s a nice balance. If I were making solo music, it would be very depressing.
Sylwia: It seems you both have a very collaborative nature. You just dropped a single “Edge of Forever” with Helsloot and you’ve been working with him on a few other tracks. Do you want to tell me a bit about the process, how it came together?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah, we were on tour together in Europe, driving in the bus from town to town. I remember the bus had an upper floor, and if you sat in the front, you had the best view of the roads and countryside. We were driving to Germany and I opened my laptop and started making noise. I had a melody and Helsloot was sitting next to me; he also opened his laptop. That’s basically how it started.
Sylwia: On the MacBook speakers? (laughs)
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah but then I connected the MacBook to the Bluetooth system of the bus, so we had speakers.
Sylwia: Oh, nice. A bus studio.
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah (laughs) Well, it doesn’t really matter where. Most of the music I don’t make in the studio. I create it somewhere else and then finish it in the studio with a good sound system.
Sylwia: What would you say makes a collaboration easy? Have you had experiences where it was more challenging, or do you always make it work?
Tinlicker (Jordi): When I started making music, I signed to a publisher and participated in a songwriting day. That’s where I actually learned to collaborate. I am not really musically skilled, so I learned everything myself, and then I got into the studio with a lot of musicians. I basically lied that I was a good musician with a laptop, and that’s where the pressure to collaborate comes from. But because Helsloot is a good friend, it makes it easy to be creative with someone you know. But it’s nice to learn new things from people you don’t know. I’m always open to collaborating if it’s interesting, but I really have to like the artist’s music.
Sylwia: Yeah, that makes sense. You’ve been DJing for quite some time and now you have been joined by Hero, who’s a live singer and you’re moving back to being in a band and performing live again. Where did that idea come from?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I always liked the idea of being a band. DJing can be quite boring sometimes if you do it every weekend. I wanted to challenge myself to learn the keyboard and play the piano better. It was a challenge to myself, and I had to convince Micha because he wasn’t into it. In 2022, we did our first live performance with gear, and I really enjoy the balance of doing a live show and then a DJ show the next week.
Sylwia: How did you meet Hero and how did she end up joining you on tour?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I have known Hero for quite some years. We had a writing session with my publisher. I was with Helsloot, and then in 2012, we met Hero during the Amsterdam Dance Event. We had a writing session and made our first song together.
I worked with her for the last 10 years on a couple of songs and it’s always nice because I really love her voice. She really knows what to do with the music I make. It made sense to play as a band. If you play as a band, it’s nice to have one singer instead of five different people. It was clear we should make an album with her so we could perform on stage together.
Sylwia: Sounds great. And you have a tour planned for North America…
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah. Quite extensive.
Sylwia: How many shows?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Five weeks. A lot of shows. I think 27. So yeah, it’s quite a lot.
Sylwia: Talking about that, what are the biggest challenges of touring as a live trio, travelling on a bus? I’m sure it’s not always easy if you don’t sleep enough and see the same people all the time?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Well, first of all, I really like the crew. We have a couple of people coming along: Micha, Hero, and Thomas Helsloot. And then we have the crew for sound, lights, and visuals, plus a tour manager. We are about 10 or 12 people including the bus driver. The first challenge is to get enough sleep. It really depends on the road. Driving through America is mostly straight, but Europe is bumpy, and Germany has really bad roads. You constantly wake up in your bed. But we try to stay healthy since we perform every day for two hours on stage. We just have a lot of fun and try to be healthy.
Sylwia: Do you have any rituals or systems for protecting your health on tour?
Tinlicker (Jordi): People think we are sipping champagne every day or doing drugs, but I behave the same as I do at home. I treat it as work and take it very seriously. I don’t drink any alcohol anymore because I learned it doesn’t do any good for my health. Just do what feels best for you. If you need sleep or don’t want to drink, don’t fall for the trap of thinking everybody is doing it. Choose what you want instead of following everyone else. That’s my number one rule.
Sylwia: I think doing what you feel like as an artist in general is very important, right?
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yeah. And it can be hard sometimes. It’s like being a kid walking around in a candy shop (laughs).
Sylwia: For sure. I can imagine all the temptations. What is your regular day like outside of touring when you’re in Utrecht?
Tinlicker (Jordi): A regular day involves spending time with my daughter. Walking around and having fun with her. I really love cooking and I love walking. I’m usually the one who cooks every day and I really love that. Simple things.
I broke my foot recently on a holiday. I was jogging and then I fell and broke my foot. I found out that I walk so much because it keeps me balanced and sane. So now I’m becoming an angry person. (laughs) No, I’m joking. The first week on the upcoming tour, I will still have to wear this weird shoe though.
Sylwia: Where do you get your inspiration from? Is it nature, time off tour, or new artists you’re excited about?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I think there are a lot of possibilities for inspiration. I get it when I get a bit bored. When I’m not doing anything, the mind is so clear that the music comes. Two days ago I was sitting on my couch and heard something outside, like a bird, and I heard a whole song in my head. I grabbed my laptop and wrote it down. It’s like having an epiphany or finding the solution to a puzzle. It comes when your mind is clear, like while showering or having a bath. If I sit for three hours in a bath, I can come out and make a song.
Sylwia: That makes sense; when the mind is not cluttered it has space to create. Do you have any other exciting plans for this year?
Tinlicker (Jordi): I’ve been making a lot of new music. I have a solo project I started last year. Maybe I’m going to do another solo album.
It is hard to be excited in 2026 with so much bad stuff happening in the world. It is good to focus on life and enjoy little moments. The tour excites me, and being around best friends on the bus is amazing. I am excited to finish all this new music. Maybe it will be a new Tinlicker album or a solo album. I don’t know yet, and that is a good thing…
Sylwia: You will know when you have some more baths and walks.
Tinlicker (Jordi): Yes, exactly (laughs)
Sylwia: Thank you very much for your time today!
Tinlicker (Jordi): Likewise!