Ivo
Meet Ivo, founder of Disruptive Records—a label that’s as much about slowing down as it is about shaking things up. With a background in dance music and a present rooted in the calming tones of piano and electronic music, Ivo’s journey is one of contrast and clarity. What began as an experimental project during the stillness of COVID has evolved into a full-blown mission to offer people an alternative soundtrack to modern life. One that helps you breathe, be present, and maybe even feel a little bit more like yourself again.
Your label is called Disruptive Records. That’s a pretty bold name—what’s the story behind it?
Ivo: The name came to me pretty instinctively—it just had a certain energy. I liked how it sounded, but over time I started to see how much it actually stood for the direction I wanted to take. It just clicked. "Disruptive" to some people felt negative, but to me, it was exactly the energy I wanted to tap into. It’s about going against the usual pattern, not following the industry template just because it's there. Whether in music, design, or life in general—I’m interested in the alternative routes, the ones that feel a bit more honest or original.The funny thing is, someone once told me they thought the name had to do with vinyl—like a record getting stuck and making that crackling noise. That wasn’t the idea at all, but I kind of love that interpretation. It speaks to the lo-fi roots we started from, and this idea that imperfection can be beautiful too.So what did the early days of Disruptive look like? Was it all about calming music and lockdown vibes?
Ivo: Pretty much, yeah, as it all started in 2020 during COVID. I had just moved into a new studio apartment in Amsterdam. With the world slowing down, it gave me space to reflect—and I realized I was craving a different kind of sound. Something softer, something that felt closer to home. I’d been working in the dance music industry, listening to high-energy tracks all day, but in my own time I craved the opposite. Lo-fi, ambient, piano... anything that helped me feel grounded. So I started making beats, just for fun. It wasn’t some big business idea. But then some of my friends from the dance scene got curious, and it snowballed from there.It was really playful in the beginning. I was reconnecting with producing after years of mostly working behind the scenes. At the same time, I was already releasing music by my dad, who’s a pianist—something I’d actually started back in 2018. It lit something up in me, bringing a much deeper sense of connection and purpose. It felt like reconnecting not just with music, but with where I come from. Eventually we created a separate label for that, called Andante Piano. It’s named after a composition by my dad and granddad, actually—which makes it feel extra special to me.
These days your work seems to be about more than music. There's this whole mission of helping people slow down. Where did that come from?
Ivo: It evolved very naturally. As the label grew, so did the pressure—new responsibilities, employees, running a business in a post-COVID world. Suddenly life sped up again, and I found myself needing what our music offers: a moment to breathe. We started getting messages from listeners saying our tracks helped them through tough times, helped them focus, helped them feel. That was when we realized—this isn't just music, it’s something people lean on when they need it most.It’s become part of how we do everything now. Our concerts are small, intimate. We ask people to be present, to really listen. Not through a screen, not through their Instagram stories, but in the room, together. It’s a beautiful thing when that lands. You see it in people’s eyes, in their stillness.I wanna hear more about these concerts!
Ivo: As of last year, we started hosting Andante Piano Nights—a monthly concert in our recording studio with a limited number of people gathered closely around the piano. The lights are dimmed, and everyone is seated around the piano, just a few feet away from the artist. There’s no stage, no barrier—just everyone in the same room, together. You catch every little sound—the movement of the pianist, the pause before a note lands. Before the concert begins there’s the moment to have a drink, connect with other visitors. There we also encourage peopleto write down a prompt for the pianist to improvise on during an improvisational element. Something simple like a rainy bike ride through Amsterdam, or a summer evening by the sea. Later during the concerts, the pianist pulls one of these post-its from a bowl and turns that little idea into music on the spot. It’s quiet, reflective, and there’s always a moment where you realize:Everyone is just… there. Present.“Our concerts are small, intimate. We ask people to be present, to really listen.”
You speak about being present, but as a founder, you're wearing a million hats. How do you personally find balance in all that?
Ivo: Haha, good question. It’s hard. I won’t lie. My role feels like five different jobs mashed together. One moment I’m thinking about branding or creative direction, the next I’m doing taxes or processing invoices. And I’ve definitely had moments where it got too much. 2022 and 2023 were a bit more intense sometimes. I felt my energy dip, and lost some excitement. That was a sign to take action, stop trying to do everything myself, and start relying more on the people around me.This is part of the journey too, right? I always say our vision—“find your own sense of balance, anytime, anywhere”—applies to me just as much. I don’t have it all figured out either. But I've come to see that as growth, not failure.
Disruptive Records is about more than just music now—it’s also a platform to challenge norms and make space for change. Tell me about ‘Keys for Change.’
Ivo: Yeah, that’s something I’m genuinely proud of. It started when we looked at our roster and just wondered—wait, where are the women? Only a small part of our releases came from female composers, and so we decided to explore the barriers and challenges women face in the neoclassical and broader classical music landscapes.. We dug into it and learned so many new things—about historical gender roles in music, the lack of representation in music education and even how the design of the piano wasn’t exactly made with everyone in mind. It really made us think.So we launched Keys for Change, a campaign during Women’s History Month including a collaborative album with works by female composers. It wasn’t just about releasing the music, it was about sharing the stories and experiences of the women we work with, and using that to highlight the imbalance and actively shift it. Since then, more women have been submitting their work to us, and that also feels like a real step forward. It’s a small start, but if this campaign helps amplify more female voices, then we know we’re moving in the right direction.
