M.E.N.N.O.

A dynamic figure whose keen music sense is matched only by his virtuosity at the turntables and unstoppable sense of right in the studio. Carrying the banner of MEZZO, this initiative and way of life he started in 2001, Menno has traveled around The Netherlands and conquered each port. He''s done so with a raise-the-roof party mentality. A strong dose of art and live artists, and the chunky, funky house sound that is so unique to him that it's described as "MEZZO"

Menno was born in The Hague , so his musical footing is appropriately in Urban, Dance, House and Garage. He started DJ-ing at the age of 13, and his hunger for music soon brought him from DJ gigs, to studio engineering classes at the Liquid Lab. Eventually he showed up as a resident-DJ of ASTA , Bahia Imperial , Cocoon , Club XS , and Buddha Bar (NL/ FR). These preeminent mainstream Clubs of the time, bearing his own musical perception, which he admits wasn't always that good. But after a string of rejections, he presented Cocoon with an ethnic energy concept called "MEZZO" under the moniker of "MEZZO Club night", a blend between musicians playing live and a DJ. That got signed, and was soon followed by huge outdoor dance events with international DJ's like Shapeshifters, Laidback Luke, Erick E, Lucien Foort, Dimitri, Mark van Dale, Sander Kleinenberg and Roog. Gigs so huge that people who don't know a damn thing about dance music could hum together all night. Menno still didn''t took over the pop charts all across the world, but this young DJ/ Promoter is reaching for the top!

Emboldened by his success, Menno launched MEZZO in 2001 after almost a year of prep. During that time, he fussed with logos, packaging, and every detail of the look, feel, and function of the organization, all with the goal of "standing out from the herd." But he never had to waffle on the musical policy - guided by Menno's ear and live presence, and bolstered by his equally able teammates Sean McCafferty and Walter Pedro, the sound of Mezzo's artists has been consistent yet always different, an amalgam of disco, soul, funk, and house, both vocal and instrumental, that's as underground as it is party-ready.

Three years later MEZZO has several events and a weekly club night. It's not been enough for Menno. Because in addition to being a promoter, producer, remixer and CEO, he's one hell of a DJ. Prompted by the success of the Wednesday weekly party he started in Cocoon, The Hague, The Netherlands (also called "Mezzo Clubnight"), Menno took the vibe on the road, testing out the strength of his events like the annual MEZZO at Billabong Beach, Scheveningen, NL. During summer 2003, and at his own coveted residency at Cocoon (he's one of few DJ's to ever hold one). That summer, MEZZO hold court each Wednesday at The Hague's TABU nightclub, featuring Menno working his records collection and mixer to the bone alongside internationally renowned DJs like Frederik & Pako, Stef Vrolijk, Ramon, Dimitri, Laidback Luke and Wessel van Diepen. The residency was already highly decorated: MEZZO was named "Club night of the month (ID&T magazine) of February 2004. Also Menno was named "Star Dj of The month" in January 2004 (Pioneer dj contest). His dearest friend Mark van Dale, who's resident at Escape Venue, Amsterdam on Sunday, invited Menno to the weekly club night "Sundae" ones and after that gig a long lasting collaboration took place at the capital of Holland. For the first time Menno has broken lose of all prejudices and made the club on a Sunday explode with his funky chunky house music. So then Menno has two residencies and a lot of events to hold on to. With the years Menno has become a recognized key player in the Dutch club scene and an outstanding DJ and Promoter. That year he's also added a live component, inviting vocalist's like "Rose" (United, NL) and "Paul T "(Combined Forces, NL), and rising stars like "Dez" (United, NL) to perform their tracks for the Dutch beach massive.

In 2006 Menno got signed with Ministry of Sound as a Tour Manager Middle East and moved to Sharm El Sheikh to manage three events a week in the outstanding outdoor location 'PACHA' In Egypt he became a Tour Manager with a lot on his mind. The challenge to make profit with the events was made but a lack of security made the job impossible. Due to a poor collaboration with both parties Menno desided to come back to the Netherlands. He striked back and found a job with the one of the best national event organization; ID&T as head of internet radio stations Dance-Tunes, Sensation & Q-Dance radio. Althought that didn''t work out like it was originally planned. Menno got noticed by the director of Fresh FM and got signed with Fresh FM in August 2008 and enjoyed his position as account manager and as a sidekick of the weekly Flitsende 50 with Peter van Leeuwen. This made Menno deside he would like to do more with this kind of work. Making radio is something he never thought about earlier but this was where he would like to go. Less clubbing and more radioshows. Although the residency with the weekly clubnight 'Mellow Moods' on tuesdays in the last ten years with international and national top Djs like Michel de Hey, Afrojack, Hardwell, Lucien Foort and many others and three 'all night' gigs as a resident at 't Maliehuisje' in The Hague, Menno didn't make it to the top yet.
Expanding his market value due to the radio he''s been searching for a new partnership with a producer to make his first E.P. The influence of all the international dance experiences made Menno curious about making an own studioalbum. Promises to himself will make Menno realise that he must work hard on all fronts and beyond. In February 2014 his first E.P. 'Montevideo' will finally be released on Poolside Recordings in collaboration with Dj Jeroenski.
Also has been performing in Barcelona, Mallorca, Sharm el Sheikh and beyond. And on the seventh day, perhaps he''ll rest… but probably not..