In 2002, Dirk Jans, Ron Van Kroonenburg and Thijs Ploegmakers were three young Dutch producers at the very beginning of their journey in the music scene. They came together just once, but that meeting led to the creation of something destined to leave a lasting mark.
The early years of the new millennium marked a period of growth for trance: a genre in full evolution, capable of blending with the dance and house sounds of the time and reaching an increasingly wide audience. During this period, many producers were able to release tracks that found their place both in clubs and in the charts, thanks to a direct and widely appealing style.
Within this context, the project Driftwood emerged, releasing Freeloader in 2002. The track stands out for its classic trance structure, enhanced by a fast and highly memorable hook that immediately captures the listener.
Freeloader was widely played in clubs across Europe at the time, quickly gaining popularity and eventually becoming a true old-school reference within the genre. The single was also released alongside a remix by Lasgo, which added more energy to the beat while keeping the essence of the melody unchanged.
Released on RR Records (Spinnin’ Records), founded by Ron van den Beuken and later on Positiva, the track has maintained a strong following over the years, establishing itself as a genuine trance anthem, instantly recognizable from its iconic melody.
In 2003 the three Dutch boys also released Anything Goes, before shelving the project.
The track was first released in 2002, followed by a 2003 on Positiva:
A. Freeloader (Original Mix) 7:00
B. Freeloader (Lasgo Remix) 7:02