Today considered one of the UK's most influential electronic artists, Darren Styles has been instrumental in introducing hardstyle music into the mainstream. Born Darren James Mew in Colchester, England, he was encouraged by his father - a fan of blues music - to pursue music since childhood. Styles got his first glimpse of the underground scene in '92 at Oscar's Nightclub, Clacton-on-Sea, which inspired him to pursue electronic music. A year later, he and three friends formed the group DJ Force & The Evolution and signed with the record label Kniteforce. After a few years with the group, Paul Hobbs and Styles began making music under the moniker Force & Styles, which went on to become extremely popular across the UK, Australia, North America and Ibiza. In the early 2000s, Styles began to incorporate more trance-elements in his work while working with Mark Brady in Styles & Breeze. He embarked on a solo career under his current stage name in 2002, making his official debut as a solo artist with "Save Me" released via All Around the World. His debut solo album Skidivin', issued in 2008, was a compilation of old and new hardcore songs. It became a huge commercial success, peaked at number four in the UK and was eventually certified Gold. Over the years, Styles has churned out some of the biggest hits in the genre. A vanguard of UK hardcore music, he has amassed multiple honors over the course of his career.
