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Quazar aka Gert van Veen began his musical career in the late '70s, playing guitar, bass, and keyboards before shifting to electronic music. He found his place in the Amsterdam house explosion of 1988, releasing early hits like Pay the Piper and Dish & Tell (House of Venus) with DJ Eddy de Clercq. In 1990, he launched Quazar, a (Detroit-)techno project with Eric Cycle. Their debut album, The Seven Stars (1991), led to an extensive Dutch live tour.
In 1993, van Veen founded Welcome to the Future, a pioneering techno event series at Amsterdam’s Paradiso, featuring artists like Speedy J, Orlando Voorn, and an emerging Underworld (1994). After nine years, the event moved to Studio 80, where van Veen served as creative director (2008–2013), propelling it to global recognition. The brand also expanded into a major open-air festival (2007–2022), attracting 25,000 visitors in its final edition.
Beyond music, van Veen is an author, musicologist, and former Volkskrant journalist. He received the Amsterdam Dance Event Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and the Andreas Medal (2022) for his contributions to the city’s nightlife.
