Garrixers.com : When you started filming Martin for this show, he was a teenager at the beginning of his career. Did you ever imagine it would grow to be such a huge success?

Eldar Gross : No, at the beginning, I had no idea it would turn out the way it did. But right from the start, things moved very quickly, and there was always something newer, better, and bigger. There was a lot of promise from the start.

What’s your favorite episode or filming session, and why?

My favorite episode is probably the F-16 one because we were able to push the boundaries a little. It was so cool to try to create something like Top Gun, which I love. It was a refreshing break from what the show usually is. Also, seeing Martin so engaged and inspired by the whole experience was very special. There have been so many memorable shooting sessions, but at the top of the list are the Winter Olympics because it’s such a unique environment and experience. 

Another highlight was everything surrounding the Coachella show. It was a special time with the team coming together, and being there with them and Martin as he went through everything is something I’ll never forget.

We recall the challenges with the 2018 Olympics episode, which took over a year to get approval for release. Were there other similarly complicated situations during the series?

Creating a series where we don’t know from the beginning how everything will unfold or how it will end is always a challenge. Surprisingly, though, we’ve encountered very few complications. There was a period when I wasn’t doing well personally—let’s call it burnout—and The Garrix Show was the only project I was still working on. I really had to push through, especially in situations with a lot of chaos like shows, helicopters, constant travel, and going in and out of hotels. At that time, what I needed most was peace and quiet. I remember those moments as the most challenging, but that’s on a personal level.

The series resonated so well with fans because of the unique connection it created between Martijn and his audience. You managed to show so much – even hospital visits when he broke his ankle – without crossing too much into his private life. Was it difficult to strike that balance?

No, that balance was there from the start. It was a conscious decision not to show much of Martin’s private life and to focus more on his career. When we started, Martin was just 17, and at such a young age—or at any age, really—people in the spotlight need a private space that’s just for themselves. You can’t imagine how invasive fame can be, and having that private space is incredibly valuable. So, we made sure the cameras were only there for work-related moments. However, when storylines affect his career or there are crucial moments, we do our best to capture those.

On average, how long did it take to produce one episode, from editing and mixing to adding music?

It really depends on the amount of footage and how many shows are featured, so it’s hard to say. Show edits take up more time because of faster cuts and the extra footage I get from Damian or Mathias. Sometimes the editing process goes smoothly, and other times it takes longer—just like any creative project. The more footage there is, the more work it requires. 😉

Could you share a little about yourself? How did you become a videographer? Did you attend a production school?

I always loved filming with a Hi8 cam when I was young, growing up in the ‘90s, capturing moments with friends and sitting behind the computer making things. After high school, I attended the Dutch Film and Television Academy, where I studied film production. I loved the filmmaking process, but in the end, I wasn’t very interested in the business side of the industry—too much hassle and stress, and not enough creativity. So, I bought a camera and a computer and started filming and editing on my own. After a few years, I was able to make a living from my work. That’s when I met Alistair Overeem, which led to The Reem, my first online documentary series. In 2014, I got an email from Watse, who knew me from The Reem, and the rest is history. 🙂

After filming for so long, do you enjoy Martin’s music? If so, what are your favorite tracks?

I enjoy Martin’s music—it’s very well-made—but after spending so many hours editing and listening to his tracks, it’s not something I’ll put in my playlist haha. I know every track down to its smallest detail. To be honest, I’m not a huge EDM fan. I prefer deep house, so Martin’s Ytram tracks align more with my taste. That said, I absolutely love the cinematic and atmospheric music he creates, like his show intros or some of the intros and breaks in his songs. Breakaway is one of my favorites.

What’s your favorite music genre or artist outside of Martin’s work?

I don’t have a single favorite genre, but I’ll share a few that I enjoy. I grew up with ‘90s hip-hop, which still holds a special place in my heart—Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Beastie Boys, etc. I also love funk and soul classics like Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder, and Etta James. As I mentioned, I like deep house, with artists like Be Svendsen, Acid Pauli, and Satori. I’m also a big fan of retrowave and synthwave.

What are your current and future projects?

I’m currently working on a documentary about a student team from Delft University of Technology that participated in the European Hyperloop Competition. It’s the story of a remarkable group of young people who built a levitating pod weighing over 500 kilograms that moves on a track with a motor they designed themselves, with limited prior knowledge beyond their bachelor’s degrees. They then competed with their pod against student teams from all over the world. It’s a film meant to inspire young people to engineer the solutions of the future in a exciting way, it will hopefully be released next year. For the future I don’t know yet, maybe more doc work or maybe try my hand at writing and directing fiction. We’ll see !

This interview was first published in Garrixers Mag 04 – Winter 2024-2025. All rights reserved.