Dutch hitmaker Mike Williams is known for his larger than life melodic soundscapes. He recently released the emotive single ‘Better Now’ featuring the siren-like vocals of singer-songwriter Oaks. The single is testament to Mike’s creative fervour and love for collaboration, as he’s also worked with the likes of R3HAB on the certified platinum track ‘Lullaby’ as well as Felix Jaehn on his breakout hit ‘Feel Good’.
Mike Williams has also become a staple at festivals like Tomorrowland, Parookaville and ULTRA Music Festival, while he’s also set to play at Tomorrowland Winter and Don’t Let Daddy Know in March and Tomorrowland Belgium in July.
In the interview, Mike reveals more about working with Oaks on ‘Better Now’, what still excites him about performing and what he’s focussing on this year. 
Congratulations on the release of ‘Better Now’ with Oaks! You’ve mentioned that this track felt different from the start. What does this track mean to you on a personal and creative level?
Thank you! From the first session it just felt right. It had more emotion than some of my other tracks. It’s still energetic, but there’s a darker edge to it. Creatively, it pushed me a bit out of my comfort zone, which I really liked.
Stream ‘Better Now’ below:
Was there a particular lyric or idea during the creative session that really stuck out to you or gave you goosebumps?
Yeah, the main question of the song whether someone actually feels “better now” after leaving. It’s simple but strong. That idea really stuck with me because it’s something a lot of people can relate to.
The single leans into the discomfort of loving someone you can’t fix. As a producer known for uplifting energy, how do you approach translating that kind of emotional weight into something danceable?
I like combining emotion with energy. Even if the story is a bit heavier, the drop still needs to feel powerful and good live. So I focused on keeping it driving and energetic, while the vocal brings the emotion.
You teased ‘Better Now’ in your sets for a long time before its official release. Was there anything specific you were looking for from the crowd before deciding it was ready to be released?
Honestly, just real reactions. If people react without knowing the track, that’s the best sign. When I saw people filming it and asking about it after shows, I knew it was ready.
Was there one particular festival or club moment where you realised, “Okay, this track is going to hit”?
There were a few big festival moments where the crowd energy just went up instantly when I played it. That’s always the moment you know when it works live without people even knowing it yet.
What did you learn creatively from working with Oaks and Max Adrian on this record that you might carry into future collaborations?
To keep things simple. The vocal is strong, so you don’t need to overproduce it. Sometimes less is more, and that’s something I’ll definitely take into future projects.
After major global successes and playing the biggest festivals in the world, what still excites you about making new music and performing?
Testing new music live. That feeling never gets old. And in the studio, it’s still amazing when a new idea just clicks. That’s why I keep doing it.
If you could describe this chapter of your career in one sentence, what would it be?
More focused, more intentional, and evolving my sound.
What are you most focused on this year as an artist?
Growing my sound, releasing strong music, and building bigger live moments.
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