With his latest release ‘Good As You Are’ on Purified Records, Tim van Werd enters an exciting new chapter in his artistic journey. From its beginnings as a melodic instrumental to its first play by Nora En Pure during the Purified 500 stream in South Africa, the track captures the emotional, atmospheric sound that has become central to Tim’s music. With more than 30 million streams, support from some of the biggest names in melodic electronic music, and his own label Innerleaf Records continuing to grow, the Dutch producer is building a career rooted in curiosity, musicality and authenticity. We caught up with Tim to talk about the story behind ‘Good As You Are’, his classical and jazz influences, the importance of the dance floor, building Innerleaf, and why he feels he has finally found both his sound and his audience.
Hi Tim, welcome to House Music With Love! Where are we speaking to you from today?
I’m speaking to you from my happy place, my studio in the Netherlands. where I spend most of my time producing and mixing music.
Your new release ‘Good As You Are’ on Purified Records has quite a special story, from the studio to its first play during Nora En Pure’s Purified 500 stream in South Africa. When you look back on that journey, what does that moment mean to you?
It means a lot to me. The whole journey of this record has been quite special, but hearing Nora play it during the stream in South Africa was definitely one of those moments where everything came together. Purified is a label I’ve admired for a long time, so hearing my own music played in that setting was a very special feeling.
What was the starting point for ‘Good As You Are’? Did the track begin with ADRI’s vocal, a melody, or an instrumental idea?
The track started with the instrumental and the main melody. I wanted to create something melodic and emotional, but still with enough energy to work on a dance floor. Once the foundation was there, I send ADRI the instrumental. Her vocal really brought the idea to life and gave the track its emotional direction.
How do you approach balancing emotion and energy when producing melodic electronic music?
For me, it’s about making the emotion the starting point and then building the energy around it. I usually start behind the piano, then I start searching for sounds and drums. I want a track to tell a story and make you feel something, but at the same time, it needs to have movement and work in a club environment. Finding that balance is something I really enjoy.
What did ADRI bring to the track that changed or elevated your original vision for the record?
She brought a very natural and emotional feeling to the record. After she sent me her recording, I made a few adjustments to the mix so it would blend nicely with the track as a whole. I also wanted to create enough space around her voice so it could really breathe.
You’ve released music on labels including Spectrum and Armada, as well as through your own Innerleaf Records. What does making your Purified Records debut represent for you at this stage of your career?
Making my Purified debut feels like an important milestone. I’ve been working towards this kind of release for a long time, and Purified is a label whose sound and identity I really connect with. It feels like a natural step in my journey and I’m very grateful to Nora and the whole team for believing in the record!
Your music has accumulated more than 30 million streams and received support from artists such as Joris Voorn, Tinlicker, Eelke Kleijn and Nora En Pure. Has that level of support changed the way you think about your music, or do you still approach the studio in much the same way you always have?
It’s always amazing to see other artists connect with your music, but I don’t think it fundamentally changes how I work in the studio. Maybe later in the mixing and mastering stage, I’ll make certain choices to push the sound a little more in the direction of artists I’m inspired by. I still start with the same curiosity and excitement I’ve always had. The support gives you confidence and motivation, but ultimately I’m still trying to make music that I personally believe in.
You mentioned that you’re excited to see how ‘Good As You Are’ comes to life on the dance floor. What kind of reaction from a crowd tells you that a track has really connected with people? Have you had the chance to play it out yet?
I tested the track before it was released and could already tell that people were dancing to it. But the real magic comes a few weeks later, when people recognize the song and start singing along. Those moments still feel unreal to me.
With Innerleaf Records, you’re also building something of your own outside of your releases on established labels. What is the philosophy behind Innerleaf, and how does running your own label influence your artistic identity?
The name comes from my connection with nature and my hobby of growing plants. My studio and home are filled with plants, and I’ve always found something inspiring and calming about being surrounded by them. Running my own label gives me the freedom to release music exactly the way I envision it, without having to compromise on the sound, direction, or release schedule.
I see the label as an extension of my own taste and creativity, something that can grow organically over time, hopefully alongside other artists who share a similar vision.
What has your artistic journey been like so far? Who have been your greatest inspirations and what keeps you dedicated to creating music?
My journey has taken me through quite a few different parts of music and electronic music. A big part of my musical background comes from playing trumpet in an orchestra, which taught me a lot about dynamics, arrangement, harmony, and the importance of listening to music as a whole. I’ve also always been curious about different styles, from jazz and classical music to electronic music, and I think all of those influences find their way into what I create today.
I’ve studied at the Herman Brood Academy and I’ve been lucky to have teachers and students around me who encouraged me to explore music and develop my own taste. Over the years, I’ve learned just as much from listening and playing with other musicians as I have from working in the studio. Jazz, in particular, taught me to appreciate space, groove, and the small details that can make a performance feel alive, while classical music has influenced the way I think about melody, tension, and dynamics.
I also get a lot of inspiration from experiencing music in the crowd and really paying attention to how a track works in a live setting. Recently, I joined Nora En Pure and Eelke Kleijn for their show in Bloemendaal, where I spent quite some time in the crowd listening and observing. It was inspiring to notice which tracks had the biggest impact on people. But I also found myself listening in a more technical way: paying attention to how different kicks, basses, and sounds translate through a big sound system, and which elements feel the best physically.
I also do quite a lot of mixing and mastering for other artists, which I find really helpful for both my creativity and technical skills. I feel like I’m growing every day as a musician and producer. Music is a never-ending journey there’s always something new to learn, discover, and improve.
I think that combination of musical education, playing with other musicians, listening to different genres, and experiencing music live keeps me curious.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about musically — are there particular sounds, collaborations or directions you’re keen to explore next?
I’ve noticed how incredibly warm and welcoming the Purified family has been towards me, so I’d love to have another release on the label in the future. I already have quite a lot of music ready, and I’m currently in discussions about several new releases.
There’s also more music coming through Innerleaf, as well as some collaborations I’m really looking forward to sharing. It’s an exciting phase for me because I feel like I’ve found my sound and, more importantly, my audience. I want to keep exploring the more melodic and melodic techno side of things, while staying true to the emotion that has always been at the heart of my music.
I’m just looking forward to continuing to make music, playing it out, connecting with new people, and seeing where it all takes me.
Thanks for having me!
