Thijs Ploegmakers, known musically as Adaro, is a Dutch DJ and producer.^[1] He has produced music in several dance styles, and in 2008 started producing raw hardstyle, for which he is considered to be one of the originators of.

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Ploegmakers' breakthrough tracks as Adaro were “The Haunter of the Dark" and “No Time To Sleep”, along with a remix of “Answers” by Chain Reaction. In 2013 he was voted number 75 in the DJ Mag Top 100. Adaro released his music on A2 Records until 2014. In March, 2015, alongside Ran-D, B-Front and Frequencerz, Adaro became a founding member of the hardstyle record label "Roughstate".

Ploegmakers has released multiple songs that have reached marked commercial success within the hardstyle field, including "Touch A Star" with B-Front feat. Dawnfire, which was awarded #4 in the Q-dance Top 100 countdown for 2018. More hits include “I’m Alive” (official Rebirth Festival Anthem), “Strong” with Rejecta, his official Intents Festival anthem "Circus Of Insanity" with Digital Punk, his official remix for "Rellen in de Hel" by Dutch Hip-Hop artist EZG, “Walk with Me” with Vertile, his solo track “Flame up High”, and a remix of “Calling” by Sefa.

In addition to his solo releases, Ploegmakers has collaborated with many artists within the hardstyle genre such as B-Front, Rejecta, Vertile, Hard Driver, Endymion, Digital Punk, Kronos, E-Force, MYST and Crypsis.

In 2002, Ploegmakers was part of the electronic music group Driftwood with fellow producers Ron van Kroonenburg and Dirk Jans, best known for their worldwide radio hit “Freeloader”. Ploegmakers and Jans then regrouped as the duo Shocksteady, producing trance music.

Ploegmakers is currently a half of the hardstyle act Gunz For Hire together with Ran-D, which was created in 2011. Gunz For Hire have released a discography of well-known hardstyle hits, including "Bella Ciao," “Seek & Destroy”, "Bolivia," "Plata O Plomo," "No Mercy," “Kings of the Underground,” and “Sorrow”.

Ploegmakers has performed as Adaro at some of the largest EDM and hardstyle events, such as Decibel Outdoor Festival, Defqon.1 Festival (Netherlands & Australia), Qlimax, Mysteryland, Q-BASE, Tomorrowland, Qapital, Reverze and EDC Las Vegas. Aside from being recognised as a leading DJ and producer in his home country, The Netherlands, Adaro is globally popular in the hardstyle scenes of countries including The United States, Mexico, Chile, Australia, China, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Canada, Austria, Germany and Belgium.