Mike Dierickx

Mike Dierickx (born Dirk Dierickx on 20 February 1973), most commonly recognized under the aliases Push or M.I.K.E. Push, is a Belgian DJ and producer. Best known for the song "Universal Nation", he has also released other club singles including "The Legacy" and "Strange World". His style is primarily trance and darker [retro] techno.

Biography

Producing and DJing under the name M.I.K.E. Push, he has been releasing records under the guises: Solar Factor, M.I.K.E, The Blackmaster, Return of the Native, Plastic Boy and Push. In total, he has used over 85 different aliases throughout his career. As a DJ, Mike's style is similar to the music he produces, mostly progressive trance.

As an 11-year-old boy, he discovered the potential of samplers and keyboards, with his interest in electronic music developed further over the next years. At the age of 18, Mike handed his first demo tape to the Antwerp-based record company, USA Import. Shortly after, his first record, "Vision Act" was released through the Atom label in 1992. Mike released a series of records before he signed up with Lightning Records (Bonzai) in 1996.

Push became well-known and in 1998, Universal Nation won several dance awards, including a platinum award for selling over 25.000 vinyl units & Spotify streaming award, and is recognized as one of the classic dance-records of the trance era. His Push follow-up single "Strange World" was also a hit and played throughout hundreds of clubs all across Europe. Over the years, Mike received several music awards including best club singles and best dance-producer, France Media award, and entered the national Top 40 in the UK six times. 1999 "Universal Nation '99" 2000 "Strange World" 2001 "The Legacy" 2001 "Please Save Me" (vs. Sunscreem) 2002 "Tranzy State of Mind" 2002 "Strange World / The Legacy" 2002 "Dreams from Above" (vs Globe) 2003 "Universal Nation 2003" 2003 "Tranceformation" (vs Globe) 2003 "Journey of Life" 2004 "Electric Eclipse" 2004 "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." 2008 "Dream Designer" 2008 "Universal Voice" 2008 "This Place" (feat. Sir Adrian) 2009 "Interference" 2009 "Infinite / Free Time" 2009 "Global Age" 2009 "Tomorrow Is Another Day" (vs Klems) 2018 "Together We Rule the World" 2019 "No Borders" 2020 "In the Sphere" (vs Crashguard) 2021 "Remind" 2022 "Big Things Have Small Beginnings" (Mark Sherry meets Push) 2022 "Straight to the Point / Mind Hype"

As Plastic Boy Albums 2005 It's a Plastic World (Bonzai Records) 2011 Plastic Infusion (Armada Music)

Singles 1998 "Twixt" 1998 "Life Isn't Easy" 1999 "Angel Dust" 2000 "Can You Feel It" 2001 "Silver Bath" 2003 "Live Another Life" 2004 "Twixt 2004" 2005 "From Here to Nowhere" 2008 "Rise Up" / "A New Life" 2010 "Chocolate Infusion" / "Exposed" 2010 "Aquarius" / "Journey of a Man" / "We're Back To Stay" 2011 "RED E.P" 2016 "Now & Forever"

As Absolute Albums 2008 Horizons (Armada Digital)

Singles 2000 "Stereosex" 2004 "New Horizon" 2005 "Day Dream" 2005 "Seven Sins / X-Factor" 2006 "Now & Ever" 2007 "Dream Odyssey / Up in the Air" 2008 "Absolute-Ly / Dolphin's Cry" 2008 "Sky High / Winter Time"

As M.I.K.E. and later on M.I.K.E. Push Albums 2005 Armada Presents: Antwerp '05 (Armada Music) 2006 The Perfect Blend (Armada Music) 2007 Moving on in Life (Armada Music) 2013 World Citizen (ID&T – High Contrast Recordings)

Singles 1999 "Futurism" 2000 "Sunrise at Palamos" 2001 "The Running Night" 2002 "Ice Cream" (vs John '00' Fleming) 2003 "Turn Out The lights" 2004 "Totally Fascinated" 2004 "Intruder" / "Pound" (vs. Armin) 2004 "Dame Blanche" (vs John '00' Fleming) 2005 "Massive Motion" 2005 "Fuego Caliente" 2006 "Voices From The Inside" 2006 "Salvation" 2006 "Strange World 2006" 2006 "Into The Danger"(with Andrew Bennet) 2007 "Changes 'R Good" 2008 "Nu Senstation" 2008 "A Better World" (with Andrew Bennet) 2010 "Art of love" 2011 "Back in Time" 2012 "Coleurs Du Soleil" (with Maor Levi) 2013 "Elements of Nature" (vs Rank 1) 2013 "Canvas" 2014 "Astrolab" 2015 "Zenith" (vs Rank 1) 2016 "Quadrant" 2016 "Chiffon" 2016 "Pretention" 2016 "Circa" 2016 "Estivate" 2016 "Night Shades" 2017: "Sonorous" [Who's Afraid of 138?!] 2018 "Freysa" (as Cosmo Kid) 2019 "Somewhere Out There" (as Cosmo Kid)

As Solar Factor 2001 "Deep Sonar" 2002 "No Return" 2002 "Urban Shakedown" 2004 "Fashion Slam" 2005 "Global Getaways" 2005 "The Rising Sun"

As Project M.C. 2010 "Kontrol" / "Crossing the Sun"

Retro Active 2020 "Here Once Again" vs. DJ Ghost 2022 "Blacked Out"

Singles chart positions Year Single Peak chart positions Album Project name Title UK Belgium Netherlands Germany 1998 Push "Universal Nation" 36 28 — 59 From Beyond Plastic Boy "Twixt" 94 — — — It's a Plastic World 1999 Push "Till We Meet Again" 46 — — — From Beyond "Universal Nation '99" 35 — — — 2000 "Strange World" 21 — — — 2001 "The Legacy" 22 — — — "Please Save Me" (vs. Sunscreem) 36 — 57 — Single only 2002 "Tranzy State of Mind" 31 — — — From Beyond "Strange World/The Legacy" 55 — — — Plastic Boy "Silver Bath" 88 — — — It's a Plastic World M.I.K.E. (vs. John '00' Flemming) "Icecream" 96 — — — Single only 2003 Push "Universal Nation 2003" 54 — — — Singles only "Transformation" (vs. Globe) 92 — — — "Journey of Life" 86 — — — Electric Eclipse Plastic Boy "Live Another Life" (feat. Rozalla) 55 — — — It's a Plastic World 2004 M.I.K.E. (vs. Armin) "Intruder" / "Pound" 144 — — — The Perfect Blend "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Remixes Art of Trance: "Madagascar" (Push Remix) Cygnus X: "The Orange Theme" (Push Remix) Mauro Picotto: "Back To Cali" (Push Remix) Moby: "In This World" (Push Vocal Mix) Rio Klein: "Fearless" (Push Remix) Sinéad O'Connor: "Troy – Phoenix From The Flame" (Push Remix) Sunscreem: "Exodus" (Push Remix) The Space Brothers: "Everywhere I Go" (Push Trancendental Remix) Yves DeRuyter: "Music Non Stop" (Push Remix) Robert Gitelman: "Things 2 Say" (M.I.K.E. Remix) The Gift: "Love Angel" (M.I.K.E. Remix) Armin Van Buuren: "In And Out of Love" (Push Trancedental Remix) Arnej: "They Always Come Back" (M.I.K.E. Remix) Ramirez Vs. Nebula: "Hablando" (Push Remix) Ayumi Hamasaki: "Boys & Girls" (Push Remix) Ayumi Hamasaki: "Carols" (Push Remix) Psy'Aviah: "Ok" (M.I.K.E. Remix) Lange: "Kilimanjaro" (M.I.K.E. Remix) Bloodhound Gang: "Clean Up in Aisle Sexy" (M.I.K.E. Push Remix) Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. Diplo feat Deb's Daughter: "Hey Baby" (M.I.K.E Push Remix) Cherrymoon Trax – "The House of House" (M.I.K.E. Push Remix)