More than 10 years after the original turned heads in the global dance scene, Oliver Heldens is back, this time as HI-LO, with a dark and gritty reboot of his 2014 breakout banger “Koala.”
The new version, titled “KOALA,” landed via his HILOMATIK label and it’s already wrecking festival stages and warehouse dancefloors. With deeper grooves and raw techno energy, this is not the playful house track you remember, it’s a whole new beast.
HI-LO flips his own legacy track into something built for peak-hour intensity. “The original ‘Koala’ holds a special place in my journey,” he explains. “So flipping it into something rawer and more HI-LO just made sense. It’s been going off in my sets – the response has been insane.” And he’s not exaggerating. “KOALA” keeps the melodic hook of the OG alive but buries it under punchy low-end, hypnotic synth builds, and a moody, no-nonsense groove that’s tailor-made for the darker corners of clubland.
The track’s already been road-tested during Oliver Heldens and HI-LO’s recent tour stops, and every drop is hitting like a freight train. Whether it’s massive festival mainstages or gritty underground sets, “KOALA” is landing with full force. And the vibe? Think industrial techno meets flashback nostalgia. Where the original bounced with funky house charm, this version hits harder, deeper, and definitely darker.
The release comes during a seriously stacked year for HI-LO. Following standout collabs with artists like ZHU, Sarah de Warren, Temper, KASABLANCA, and even a surprise team-up with Tai Woffinden, HI-LO has been flooding 2025 with techno gold. “KOALA” is just the latest flex from the HILOMATIK boss, who’s clearly on a mission to fuse his melodic instincts with a heavier sonic arsenal.
“KOALA” feels like a full-circle moment for Heldens, revisiting the sound that launched his career but flipping it through the HI-LO lens. It’s personal, it’s peak-time ready, and most of all, it shows how far he’s come as a producer. No longer just the house prodigy with chart hits, HI-LO is staking his claim in the techno space with grit, power, and relentless momentum.
If you’re into nostalgic callbacks with a 2025 edge, “KOALA” is an instant add to your playlist. It hits all the right notes: familiar, yet totally evolved. This is how you reinvent a classic.
Mia Brooks dives deep into the beats and rhythms of the music industry, covering everything from chart-topping albums to underground artists. With a passion for discovering new talent and exploring the stories behind the songs, Mia keeps readers updated on all things music.
