DJ Paul Elstak

DJ Paul Elstak, full name Paul Roger Elstak, is a Dutch producer and disc jockey of Indonesian origin, active in the hardcore and happy hardcore scenes.

His career began in 1987 when he was hired as a DJ at the Rotterdam club Bluetiek-Inn, where he played alongside Dutch house pioneer Peter Slaghuis. He then formed the group Holy Noise with Rob Fabrie and Richard van Naamen, releasing on Slaghuis’ label Hithouse Records.

In 1992, he founded his own label, Rotterdam Records, under the banner of Mid-Town Records. He used his full name for happy hardcore and the pseudonym DJ Paul for gabber. In 2001, he left Mid-Town and launched Offensive Records at Rige Entertainment, since then using both names for gabber and continuing to release his typical Rotterdam hardcore on this label.

Throughout his career, he has used many aliases such as Da Warrior, Demo – 1, Daddy DJ, Iriz, Scrooge, and Stek. He has also been a member of groups like Holy Noise, Rotterdam Terror Corps, Euromasters, The Sound Of Rotterdam, Forze DJ Team, Bald Terror, Da Tekno Warriors, Hardcore Fundamentalists, Men Of Steel, The Hitmen, Evil Maniax, Bald Maniax, E-Wax, Hard Attack, Phatt Bastard, Rave Nation, The Global Insert Project, The House Shaggers, The Unknown, and Timedrillers.

He is also the owner of Forze Records, a sub-label of Rotterdam Records, and is a relative of jazz musician Nedley Elstak (1931-1989).