How MOONLGHT Transformed Classic Rock Vibes into EDM Festival Anthems
If you told someone five years ago that a DJ would make a name remixing rock staples into dance floor bangers, they might’ve laughed. But MOONLGHT made it not only possible, but viral.
Born Stefan Schonewille, the Dutch-born, Nashville-based producer-DJ is redefining the EDM landscape by embracing the music of his roots and flipping it on its head. His remixes don’t feel gimmicky or ironic. They feel transformative. His version of “Free Bird” was a full-on cultural reset for what EDM can sound like.
By the time “There She Goes” hit #1 on TikTok’s viral chart in late 2024, MOONLGHT was already headlining festivals, earning tens of millions of streams, and proving that music doesn’t have to be new to be revolutionary. It just has to be reimagined right.
@musicbymoonlght There sheeeeeee goes @Cyril Riley #housemusic #edm #rave
His remix of Trace Adkins’ “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” may be the most unexpected yet. A guilty pleasure turned high-octane banger, it captures MOONLGHT’s mission perfectly: to make people dance and remember why they loved these songs in the first place.
His influences: John Fogerty, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, are all present in spirit, but the packaging is fully 2025. And with MOONLGHT now focusing on original music, the next chapter is shaping up to be more personal and emotionally resonant.
Beyond the music, MOONLGHT is building community. His sets feel like reunions for people who never met before. Strangers bonding over songs they didn’t realize still lived in them. That, perhaps more than the edits, is his true magic.
He may be EDM’s most unpredictable newcomer, but he’s also one of its most heartfelt.
