WITH over two decades at the forefront of melodic techno and house, Dutch DJ and producer Joris Voorn returns with his most personal project to date: SEROTONIN.
Released on his own Spectrum label in collaboration with Armada Music, the album is a sonic journey through loss, healing and emotional rebirth.
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“I’ve been working on this album for several years,” says Voorn, reflecting on a period that included the pandemic and the loss of both parents.
“Music has always been my rock, and I wanted this album to be something uplifting, which is why it’s called SEROTONIN.”
From ambient introspection to euphoric dancefloor energy, the album opens with a piece written at his childhood home on the piano once played by his father, composer Joop Voorn. “The house was being sold, and I set up a studio in the exact place where my father used to sit. That was a profound experience,” he shares. The track, Session One, captures that emotional space.
While deeply personal, Voorn hopes listeners feel something universal: “If it brings healing or joy to anyone who hears it, I’d be equally happy to hear that.”
Despite the emotional weight behind the project, SEROTONIN isn’t a sad album. It’s driven by the energy of his global sets. “It was always supposed to be melodic music aimed at the dance floor,” he explains. “Many of the tracks have been key parts of my live shows.”
Touring extensively, sometimes 4 or 5 shows a week, hasn’t slowed his creativity. “I made music for this album in my studio, on planes, in hotel rooms,” he says. “You have to be able to write anywhere now.”
Voorn also credits his long career with giving him the freedom to create music that feels “true and honest,” even as the digital age floods platforms with thousands of new tracks daily. “Timeless music is about being able to press play in 20 years and still feel it’s relevant.”
That sense of timelessness extends to collaborations on the album, which he describes as a mix of organic connections, management suggestions, and publishers pitching vocalists. “The final part is always the most time consuming, road testing the tracks at shows until they really work.”
Reflecting on his evolution since his debut album, Voorn says: “I’ve become more exploratory, more interested in ideas outside of my comfort zone. But I’ve always held onto sincerity and being true to myself.”
While SEROTONIN feels like the end of one creative chapter, he’s already thinking ahead. “Repetition is not something I’d ever want to do.”
His recent show atop The Shard in London was a fitting launch. “800 feet up with the perfect sunset… that certainly got the SEROTONIN levels jacked.”
Next up is a return to London’s KOKO on September 26th and maybe, just maybe, a remix of a synth-pop classic. “I’ve always wanted to remix Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat. It would be nice to give it a 2025 twist.”
Read the full in-depth interview with Joris Voorn on The Night Bazaar HERE.Stream Joris Voorn’s SEROTONIN or purchase HERE. Find out more about Joris’ show at KOKO in London on September 26 HERE.
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