Who is Laurentius?
Laurentius is the artist project of Lars Jacob Beerda: producer, songwriter and DJ from Zwolle, the Netherlands, and the man behind the Smile More vision.
Streaming rankings via Muso.AI Encore 2025.
From Zwolle to the world, with a smile.
Laurentius is the artist name of Lars Jacob Beerda, a producer, songwriter and DJ born and based in Zwolle, the Netherlands. He started producing in 2014 and built a sound of his own by pulling exotic influences from across the world into catchy, radio-ready songs: Tropical, Latin and Afro house with a pop sensibility, all carried by one idea. Smile More.
Smile More is the reason the music exists. It is a vision and a community as much as a genre: uplifting songs and melodies made to bring people together, on record and on the dancefloor. That focus on feel-good, high-quality pop has made Laurentius one of the most streamed artists of Overijssel and the North and East of the Netherlands, with more than 30 million streams across his own catalogue and entries on Spotify's Top 50 charts.
What has Laurentius achieved?
His craft has been recognised internationally with a Music Award nomination for Best Electronic Production in Guatemala, and his records are supported by leading names in dance pop, among them Sam Feldt, Kygo, Lost Frequencies, Lucas & Steve and Deepend. Audio-Technica, one of the most respected names in audio, named Laurentius their Creator of the Month.
Alongside his own releases, Laurentius is an in-demand songwriter and producer for other artists. He writes and produces at a major-label level, with deals at Sony Music and Universal Music and ghostwriting and production credits that add up to hundreds of millions of streams. According to Muso.AI's Encore 2025 rankings he sits in the Top 1% of streamed artists and the Top 2% of streamed songwriters worldwide.
Why a DJ with hearing damage wrote an anthem for the WHO
Laurentius has tinnitus. Years of loud rooms left a ringing that does not switch off, and it is the reason the work below exists. Dutch press has covered it repeatedly: Techno moet je voelen, zorgde voor gehoorschade, and Een piep die nooit meer weg gaat. A producer losing the thing he works with is not an abstract risk.
So in 2025 he wrote and produced Can You Hear Me with Dutch artist KULI, and it became the official anthem for World Hearing Day at the World Health Organization. Two musicians with hearing loss, making a record about hearing loss, released with Stichting Oorfonds. NOS Radio 1, RTV Oost, De Stentor and De Swollenaer all carried it.
The same instinct runs through the catalogue. Lightning, released on Soave Records, was used in the WWF campaign to protect elephants and sits on the label's campaign playlist. Feel-good records, pointed at something.
And it runs through the studio. Laurentius owns CUE Sound, his professional recording studio in Zwolle, where he takes local talent to the next level in both producing and DJing. See the studio services →
Where does Laurentius play?
On stage, Laurentius plays around 100 shows a year and has performed across Europe, Asia and Africa, at clubs, festivals and private events alike. Everything he makes runs through his own professional studio, CUE Sound in Zwolle.
A handful of the rooms, out of around a hundred shows a year across Europe, Asia and Africa. Far from a full list.
Bevrijdingsfestival Overijssel
Zwolle
Hedon
Zwolle
Café del Mar
Phuket
Shark Club
Hanoi
Ava Club
Tirana
Table View
Cape Town
Dolomites Open Air
Dolomiti
Beach clubs across Asia
Sunset & lounge sets
Frequently asked questions
What is Laurentius's real name?
Lars Jacob Beerda. Laurentius is the artist name he has released, written and performed under since 2014, and it is the name used on every credit, chart entry and booking.
Is Laurentius a DJ or a music producer?
Both, and the producing came first. He has written and produced since 2014, with major-label deals at Sony Music and Universal Music, and he plays around 100 shows a year as a DJ. The two feed each other: he plays records he made himself.
What is Smile More?
Smile More is the idea the whole project is built on. It is a vision and a community as much as a genre: uplifting songs and melodies made to bring people together, on record and on the dancefloor.
What genre does Laurentius make?
Tropical, Latin and Afro house with a pop sensibility, built to be catchy and radio-ready on the first listen. In the studio for other artists the range is far wider, covering most electronic styles plus acoustic and instrument-based music.
Where is Laurentius from?
Zwolle, in the province of Overijssel, the Netherlands. He was born there, still lives there and works from his own studio there. He plays nationwide and takes international dates.
What has Laurentius been nominated for or awarded?
A Music Award nomination for Best Electronic Production in Guatemala. Audio-Technica named him their Creator of the Month. Muso.AI's Encore 2025 rankings place him in the Top 1% of streamed artists and the Top 2% of streamed songwriters worldwide.
Which labels has Laurentius worked with?
He holds writing and production deals with Sony Music and Universal Music, and his ghostwriting and production credits for other artists add up to hundreds of millions of streams.
How do I book Laurentius?
Through the bookings page or by email at bookings@laurentiusmusic.com. Share the date, city, venue and type of event and you get availability and a clear quote back.
In the press
NOS Radio 1, De Stentor, RTV Oost, Audio-Technica and more
Coverage by third parties. Most of it follows one story: Can You Hear Me, the World Hearing Day track with KULI, and hearing damage in music.
NPO Radio 1 · NOS Radio 1 Journaal Read the article
De Stentor Read the article
RTV Oost Read the article
RTV Oost · Op het podium Read the article
RTV Oost · SPUNCK Read the article
Audio-Technica · Creator of the Month Read the article
Bevrijdingsfestival Overijssel Read the article
Doof.nl Read the article
Hoorzaken.nl Read the article
Oorfonds Read the article
Earline Magazine Read the article
De Swollenaer Read the article
Rodi Read the article
WIN-nieuws, 2025 Read the article
WIN-nieuws, 2019 Read the article
External Databases
Muso.AI, Wikidata and MusicBrainz
Streaming platforms, search engines and AI assistants do not take an artist's word for a credit. They check it against open databases. Mine are kept current in three of them.
Muso.AI holds the verified songwriting and production credits, track by track. Open the Muso.AI profile
Wikidata holds the artist entity, with links out to the streaming and social profiles that belong to it. Open the Wikidata item
MusicBrainz holds the release and credit history, which is the source most music services read from. Open the MusicBrainz artist page
Where to next?
On stage
Festivals, clubs, weddings and private events. Around 100 bookings a year.
Bookings & Live-setsIn the studio
Production, mixing, mastering and writers' camps at CUE Sound in Zwolle.
Studio services