Lars Beerda, a pop producer from Zwolle, Netherlands, is widely recognised by his stage name Laurentius. He began his music production journey in 2014 and has since amassed an impressive 20 million streams globally. Laurentius aims to bring people together through his uplifting beats and memorable melodies.

What motivated you to embark on your journey to become a musician? Did you always have a sense that this was your destined path? 

I’ve always been passionate about music! But by the time I discovered music production in 2014, it became clear to me that music was not just a hobby, but something I wanted to make my life about. The ability to create something that resonates emotionally with others is a feeling like nothing else, and I feel really blessed that I am in a position to make my life about sharing these experiences with others.

Your focus on spreading positivity through music is truly uplifting. You frequently share your vision of “Smile More,” aiming to create joyful and connected experiences for others. What inspired you to pursue this motivating goal? 

To answer this, we need a quick backstory out of my personal life. My whole life, people have told me my smile is contagious, and over time, I realised that this has a unique and positive effect on others. I want to share this effect with as many as I can- because the world needs a lot more smiles in my opinion!

I created my “Smile More” vision from years of observing how music is such a powerful tool to transform moods and connect people. My goal is quite simple- I want to make people smile with my music and connect people to a positive mindset. A smile is your body’s most beautiful and powerful feature—it’s there for a reason! Let’s aim to build a smile-more community with like-minded people that can build a smiling world together.

Could you lead us through your creation process? What environment inspires you the most—do you prefer working alone or do you find collaboration with others more energising? 

My creative process is very mood-driven, I would say. Each environment has its unique spark, but it all begins with capturing raw emotion and translating it into a story, it’s different every time.

When I started out as a musician, I wanted to do everything myself. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I now find collaboration a lot more energising. Sharing this “synergy” with so many talented artists in the studio is a special feeling, and I believe that the best music is made in teams. Collaboration is without a doubt where the most magic happens, because you can utilise and grow from all the unique perspectives that other artists bring to the table.

We know that you’ve been using the ATH-M50x for years, and they’ve played a crucial role in producing and mixing tracks that have surpassed 20 million streams. You also used them for your DJ performances. How do they integrate into your setup and what do you love most about them?

I’ve been using the ATH-M50x for a lot of years and swear by them. They are lightweight, which makes them really comfortable for longer production sessions. But my favourite part of the M50X’s is their sound quality. They have a very flat frequency response, which is great for producing and mixing. I usually combine them with studio room emulation software like Waves NX, which is especially nice when I’m traveling for my shows. I’m positive that the ATH-M50x have contributed a lot to my success, and I always check my mixes in them! I also occasionally use them during my live shows because of the great bass frequency response, which cuts through the loud environments I work in. They’re truly a gem!

Reaching nearly 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and hitting 20 million streams globally is an incredible milestone. How did that achievement make you feel?

It feels surreal to see these types of numbers! These milestones remind me of when I started out producing music, reflecting on what I’ve learnt and where I want to work towards. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my music reach so many people all around the world, and makes me think of all the insanely talented people I have come to meet, work and grow alongside. Music truly connects, in so many ways!

When you’re not in the studio or performing at DJ events, you frequently travel to discover new cultures and locations. How do you incorporate these experiences into your music production?

Traveling opens my mind to new sounds and stories. For instance, I lived in Cape Town, South Africa for a period, and I was amazed by how the music finds you in this city. Still to this day, my productions are influenced by this incredible city! I am lucky enough to be in a position where I travel for my work regularly, and these cultures often sneak their way into my songs.

Are there any hobbies that you feel especially passionate about? 

Here’s a fun fact: I’m a HUGE Arsenal supporter! I’ve been following the football club since I was a kid, and I never miss a match. Being born and raised in the Netherlands, it might seem a bit unusual to support a British football club, but it’s connected me to the city of London since childhood.  

What exciting plans do you have coming up that you can share with us and is there any advice you could kindly share with musicians just starting their careers? 

I’m working on several new tracks, including collaborations with some amazing artists. I can’t say too much about this, but one of these artists is somewhat of a childhood hero to me, so I fan-girl’d a little about this collaboration.

My advice goes as follows: learn to network, network, network! I’ve gone through this learning curve myself, and it’s 100% worth it. I would never be in the position that I am in right now if it wasn’t for the people supporting and working with me over the years. I owe so much to the people around me, and we grow together every day. If you don’t know how to start out, my DM’s and email are always open. Because I know the music industry and have dealt with a lot of no’s, I will always try to help people along their way by connecting to make this huddle easier. I believe strongly in growing together and building a community that does the same!