Belgian trance DJ Johan Gielen, 51, has returned to performing despite a terminal illness, stating his intention to continue as long as he is able. The announcement comes as Gielen continues a decades-long career marked by international performances and production perform.
Gielen began DJing at age 17 in Belgium and has since performed in countries including Japan, Australia, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Northern Ireland, Israel, North Cyprus, and Denmark, where he currently holds a residency at Club Gorgeous in Copenhagen. He is known for his work as a trance producer alongside Sven Maes, creating music under various aliases including Airscape, Balearic Bill, Des Mitchell, Abnea, and Svenson & Gielen. The pair have also remixed tracks for artists such as Chicane, Delerium, Vengaboys, Tiësto, Scooter, and Boy George.
Beyond his production and DJing work, Gielen has also hosted radio shows. He previously broadcast “Lift Off” on ID&T for nearly two years before moving to Fresh FM, where he currently hosts “In Session” every Saturday from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM Central European Time.
In 2005, Gielen was ranked 57th among internationally known DJs, according to reports at the time. More recently, Gielen participated in a live mix with DJ Jeandre in 2025, as documented on YouTube. He also maintains an active presence on social media, including a Facebook page dedicated to his South African performances as DJ JOHAN SA, where he recently announced upcoming sets featuring RNB and Hip-Hop alongside DJs Anton and Skeelo.
Gielen’s musical career also includes the formation of Blue Bamboo with Oliver Adams, achieving international success with the 1994 hit “ABC & D”. A playlist of his work is available on YouTube Music.
