In our Sport DJ Spotlight series, we celebrate the people behind the music played at sporting events across the world.
From stadium announcers and DJs, to music curators and media teams, each team or event across the world of sport will have someone picking the songs that set the tone in the build up to the start of the sporting action and inbetween it – whether in the stadium/arena itself, or in a fanzone or the finish line. Our Sport DJ Spotlight Q&A brings you insight into how these people got their start, what influences the choice of music they play at their team’s matches and more.
Our latest Sport DJ Spotlight feature is with Jos Mechielsen, aka DJ Hugo Joss, Stadium DJ at Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar.
Sport Playlists: When did you begin DJing for AZ Alkmaar?
Jos Mechielsen: In June 2021, I started working as the stadium DJ for AZ. It was right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so things were very different at the time. My first assignment was to create a new walk-on track for the team, as well as several mashups for the stadium light shows.
On August 5, 2021, the moment finally arrived: I performed on the pitch during an AZ match for the very first time as the stadium DJ. It was a special moment and the real beginning of my journey with the club.
SP: How did you get into the role?
JM: My journey as AZ’s stadium DJ began thanks to the club’s team manager, Ari Menmi. He told me that AZ was looking for a stadium DJ and invited me to the stadium for a meeting with the club’s management and the department responsible for matchday entertainment.
As part of the selection process, I was asked to create a new walk-on track for the team. After successfully completing that assignment, I was offered the position and officially became AZ’s stadium DJ.
SP: Did you go to watch live football or other sports when you were younger? If so, can you remember your earliest experiences of that?
JM: I have been an AZ supporter since I was a young boy. At the time, AZ were still playing in the second tier of Dutch football, but I was immediately fascinated by the club. It is the club from my hometown, with a proud history that already included a Dutch league title.
During that period, Dirk Scheringa was the club’s chairman. He had ambitious plans for AZ and promised the supporters a bright future — a future that eventually became a reality.
By the late 1990s, I was part of AZ’s most passionate group of supporters. I was already working as a DJ at the time, and I remember wondering what it would be like to be the one playing the music inside the stadium. I would think about what kind of music I would choose and how I could use it to contribute to the atmosphere on matchdays. Years later, that thought would actually become reality.
SP: In your time at AZ, who’s the best player you’ve got to see in action?
JM: Without a doubt, that would be our captain, Jordy Clasie. Over the past few years, he has become one of the most important players in the team. There have even been periods when his absence was felt so strongly that, if he wasn’t playing, you almost expected the team to struggle to get a win. His influence on the team, both on and off the pitch, is enormous.
SP: What’s the best moment or game been in your time working at AZ Alkmaar?
JM: There have been many incredible moments over the years, such as performing in a sold-out De Kuip during the KNVB Cup Final and being the stadium DJ for some unforgettable European home matches.
But the most special moment of all was being the DJ at the huge celebration after AZ won the KNVB Cup. Celebrating such a major achievement together with the players, the club and thousands of supporters made it an experience I will never forget.
SP: What influences the choices that go into your playlist ahead of a matchday – is it completely your call on what gets played, or do you have players, club staff, fans etc. requesting you to play certain tracks?
JM: I have the freedom to choose the music I play at the stadium. However, for every home game, one of the players selects their personal top three songs, which I then play during the warm-up.
We also have a recurring feature on our social media channels called “Pick Your Song”. Before and during the match, fans can vote on Instagram or Facebook and choose from four different tracks. The song with the most votes is then played by me at half-time. It’s a great way to involve the supporters and let them have a say in the music they hear inside the stadium.
Another thing that is important to me is paying tribute to influential artists who have passed away. When a major artist dies, I like to honour them by playing one of their songs at our next home game. For me, music is not only about creating an atmosphere, but also about recognising moments and memories that connect people.
SP: What sort of atmosphere do you like to create in the build-up to kick off at AFAS Stadion with the music you play? Has that changed over me the longer you’ve been in the role?
JM: That approach hasn’t really changed over the years, although it does depend on the type of match and who we are playing. For an important game or when we are facing a big opponent, the stadium tends to fill up earlier, which gives me the opportunity to start building the atmosphere sooner.
I start playing music about an hour before kick-off. Then, around 30 minutes before the match begins, I gradually increase the energy by playing the most popular tracks — the songs I know our supporters respond to really well. There are always a few regular favourites that have become part of the matchday experience over the years.
For me, it’s all about reading the atmosphere in the stadium and choosing the right moment to take the energy to the next level before the players walk onto the pitch.
SM: What are your favourite genres of music or artists you like to select for your setlist/playlists?
JM: At the beginning of my pre-match set, I usually play a mix of popular dance tracks and pop and rock classics, ranging from artists like Franky Rizardo to Oasis. When the players come onto the pitch for their warm-up, we have a fixed track that we always play, followed by the personal top three songs selected by one of the players.
After that, I start focusing more on the atmosphere inside the stadium. I play songs that I know will get a strong reaction from the supporters and encourage them to sing along. This includes popular Dutch-language songs, songs and chants created by our most passionate supporters for specific players, and towards the end of the warm-up, I build up the energy with more powerful and uplitiing house music. For evening matches, we often combine this with a light show, which makes the build-up to kick-off even more special.
I also provide the music during half- me, but what I play then very much depends on what is happening in the match. You have to read the situation and understand the mood inside the stadium. If we are behind and the team has played a very poor first half, for example, it wouldn’t feel right to immediately start playing extremely cheerful music. As a stadium DJ, you always have to be aware of the emotions of the supporters and choose music that fits the moment.
SP: Do you have a favourite track to play to motivate the fans in the build-up to a match?
JM: There are several songs I could choose, but if I had to pick just one, it would be ‘Parada de Tettas’ by the Vengaboys. I created my own edit of the track, which I also play at other events and venues. Whenever I play it somewhere else, you can immediately tell if there are AZ supporters in the crowd from the way they react to it.
Since this season, the track has also become our official goal song. It is played after every AZ goal, with the entire stadium singing along, which has made the connection between the song and the club even stronger.
And of course, the traditional AZ club anthem will always have a special place. It has been part of the club for many years and still gets a great response from the supporters.
SP: Who is your favourite artist/band of all time?
SP: That’s a difficult ques on and one I get asked quite often. I find it almost impossible to name just one artist because my taste in music is incredibly broad. It ranges from Iron Maiden to André Hazes, the legendary late Dutch singer, and pretty much everything in between.
I’ve always enjoyed different genres and styles of music, which I think is also reflected in the way I work as a DJ. But if I really had to choose just one artist, it would probably be Michael Jackson. His music, performances and influence on popular music have always stood out to me.
SP: Are there any other sports events or teams that you’ve DJ’d at along with? If so, what were those experiences like?
JM: I have also created walk-on tracks for kickboxers and performed as a DJ at kickboxing events. It is a very different experience compared to football matches, mainly because kickboxing is an individual sport.
At a football match, you generally have two groups of supporters focused on their respective teams. At a kickboxing event, every fighter has their own group of fans, so the atmosphere and energy can change completely from one fight to the next.
As a DJ, that makes it interesting because you have to constantly adapt to different fighters, different crowds and different emotions throughout the event.
SP: What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt from working in your role at AZ Alkmaar?
JM: One of the most important things is to listen carefully to what the most passionate supporters are singing and chanting. If you recognise the song behind a chant, you can respond by playing the original track, which often encourages the rest of the stadium to join in and creates an even stronger atmosphere.
You also have to remember that a football stadium is filled with all kinds of people, from young children to older supporters. As a stadium DJ, you want to connect with all of them, so having a broad knowledge of music and knowing how to read the crowd is essential.
I also enjoy creating my own edits and versions of tracks. It allows me to give the music my own identity and helps me distinguish myself from other DJs.
DJ Hugo Joss
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