Weval

Weval are a genre-blurring electronic duo from Amsterdam, made up of Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte Albers. Since their 2013 debut, they’ve earned global recognition for their emotionally rich, textured productions that fuse analogue warmth with forward-thinking sound design. With roots in film and a cinematic approach to storytelling, their work sits somewhere between introspective electronica, psychedelic pop, and atmospheric dance music. On their fourth album CHOROPHOBIA, Dutch electronic duo Weval lean into what once held them back: dance music. Known for rich, introspective productions that straddle the line between electronica and cinematic soundscapes, Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte Albers have spent a decade carving out a space outside the club mainstream. But the discovery of the term “chorophobia” – the fear of dancing – prompted a re-evaluation. Realizing they’d always held back from fully embracing dance, they set out to make their most extroverted, groove-driven album to date. Known for their immersive live shows, Weval have played major festivals across Europe and the US, including Primavera, Pukkelpop, Lightning in a Bottle, Lowlands, DGTL Amsterdam and sold out iconic venues like Paradiso and the Royal Concertgebouw in their hometown. Their music has been featured in multiple acclaimed TV series including Good Girls, Industry, and I May Destroy You, and championed by BBC Radio 1, KCRW, KEXP, and SiriusXMU. Press support includes Pitchfork, The Line of Best Fit, DJ Mag, Billboard, and Crack Magazine. Refusing to be pinned to a single genre, Weval continue to evolve, balancing dancefloor instincts with introspection, and always following the emotional thread. CHOROPHOBIA is not a traditional dance record—it’s closer to a house party soundtrack than a club set. Inspired by a low-res iPhone photo of a friend DJing with one hand and snacking with the other, the duo found a visual metaphor for their new direction: playful, chaotic, and unpolished in the best way. With a tighter writing schedule and a looser approach to production, the record came together fast, resulting in bold choices, higher BPMs, and genre-melting moments that span acid, funk, bass, and psych-pop. What emerged is a liberating, mixtape like album that challenges the idea of what “dance” even means. CHOROPHOBIA invites listeners to embrace discomfort, let go of overthinking, and find joy in movement, awkward or otherwise.