He started buying records at the age of 12, during the early rise of Hardcore. Among the first records he bought were Human Resource – Dominator and Friends of Alex – What Is Fck Dig?*, releases that later became foundations of the harder styles. Throughout the 1990s, Stinger fully immersed himself in Hardcore culture. He practiced on belt-drive turntables and began producing music at an early stage using OctaMED, a tracker running on the Commodore Amiga, followed later by FastTracker II (FT2) on DOS-based systems. These trackers formed the technical foundation of early electronic music production and shaped his hands-on, pattern-driven approach. After leaving boarding school at the age of 18, he moved to Rotterdam, widely regarded as the birthplace of Hardcore. Living on the same street where Paul Elstak had his studio, Stinger received early encouragement from artists such as Paul Elstak, Buzz Fuzz, Dano, and Distortion, which pushed him to develop his sound at a professional level. He invested in better equipment, upgraded his turntables, and began working as a roadie for Excess Audio in Rotterdam. Alongside this, he worked for organizations such as ISP (former organizers of the Hellraiser events) and later for Rige at the Energiehal. In 1999, while in Berlin, Stinger met Ian Wright (DJ Plague), one of the founders of CSR – Canadian Speedcore Resistance. This connection led to close collaboration within the international Speedcore and Terror underground. Stinger not only released multiple vinyl records on CSR, but also actively contributed to and supported CSR-related events and organization. In 2000, he met DJ Akira, who played a crucial role in his further development, supported his artistic direction, and later offered him a position at the BPM Dance record store in Zoetermeer. After numerous demo attempts, Stinger released his first official track in 2001 on the then-new Pendeho label (owned by Justice), alongside artists such as Drokz, Justice, and Regulator. Shortly after, he released his first Speedcore track on Hong Kong Violence, the label owned by DJ Akira. In addition to his CSR releases, Stinger also released a notable vinyl record on Matt Green’s label, CORRUPT, featuring underground legends such as Matt Green himself, Fiend, and Bryan Fury. The track “Suicide Trooper” from this release was directly inspired by Somatic Responses, the Welsh electronic duo (John and Paul Healy) known for their uncompromising blend of Industrial, Hardcore, Acid Techno, and experimental electronic music. Their sound proved pivotal for Stinger — Somatic Responses opened his industrial perspective, directly influencing his approach to sound design and composition, and ultimately becoming one of the key foundations behind the creation of his darker alias Autiszm. From that point onward, bookings increased steadily. Stinger performed at many major Hardcore and Industrial events, as well as legendary Terror and Speedcore events within the underground scene. He appeared on virtually all CSR event line-ups, and regularly performed at key underground events such as P.O.R.N. (Preachers Of Raging Noise), Hardcore vs Terror, Industrial Power, Temple of Terror, and CSR showcases including Welcome to Terrorland, Return to Terrorland, and Deadline, alongside numerous international underground appearances. Career Highlights
The defining milestone of Stinger’s career was his performance at Thunderdome – 25 Years of Hardcore (2017), one of the most iconic events in Hardcore history. Further career highlights include multiple appearances at Ground Zero Festival, as well as performances at Dominator Festival (multiple editions), A Nightmare Outdoor, and Decibel Festival. In addition to the Netherlands, Stinger has performed internationally in Scotland, Belgium, France, England, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Musically, Stinger is known for producing and performing underground electronic music ranging from Hardcore and Terror to Industrial Hardcore, Acidcore, and Industrial Acid–driven styles. As Stinger, he is currently developing a new interpretation of Early Hardcore and Gabber, combining classic Gabber stab synths, hard distorted guitars, and raw 909-driven percussion, merging old-school energy with a modern, aggressive edge. Under his alias Autiszm, he focuses on darker, more experimental and uncompromising sounds. In 2017, Stinger founded Core In One, an independent underground platform and label dedicated to raw and uncompromising electronic music, distributed by Triple Vision. He previously managed CSR Digital, where he was responsible for overseeing releases and reviewing demos. With decades of experience, deep involvement in underground events, and extensive hands-on knowledge in producing and performing nearly all forms of Hardcore, Industrial, and Acid-driven electronic music, Stinger remains a respected and authentic figure within the international underground scene.
