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Nervo (stylised as NERVO) are an Australian DJ duo comprising twin sisters Olivia and Miriam Nervo (born 18 February 1982).[1] After signing with Sony/ATV Music Publishing at 18 years of age, the sisters pursued careers as songwriting partners. In 2008, they signed with Fredrik Olsson and his Swedish music publishing company Razor Boy Music Publishing, which led to co-writing the Grammy Award-winning single, "When Love Takes Over", performed by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

The Nervo twins were born in Ivanhoe, Melbourne on the night of 18 February 1982.[2] In 2012, the twins told a reporter that they "almost have the same birthday",[3] but in 2021 they said they share a birthday.[4] Olivia was born first.[3] Their parents were Flaviana Benedetti and Garry Nervo, who had established a dental practice together in 1975 in Whittlesea, Victoria, Australia, north of Melbourne.[5] The Italian-heritage family included older sister Adele and younger brother Morris. Around 1992 the family moved to Ivanhoe, Victoria.[6][7][8] The twins studied at Genazzano FCJ College, a girls school in Kew, where they participated in rowing and swimming, but were mainly involved in music. They completed Year 12 and graduated in 1999.[9][10] The twins began their careers as models with the Australian Chadwick Models Agency.[11]

Career

[edit]

When the sisters were sixteen, a modeling agency took an interest in the pair, but Liv Nervo stated in April 2012 that music "was always the focus" for them.[12]

The sisters were accepted into the Opera Australia Academy, but decided to pursue a music career instead.[13] A contract was then signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and the duo subsequently embarked on a songwriting career.[14] Initial recognition for the pair occurred following the single "Negotiate with Love", written for British pop singer, Rachel Stevens, which reached tenth position in the United Kingdom (UK) music charts in 2005.[15] Also in 2005, the duo released the single "Boobjob", which received substantial airplay in their native Australia.[16][17] The duo went on to write for Kesha, Richard Grey, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ashley Tisdale and the Pussycat Dolls.[14]

When their publishing deal was set to expire they considered dropping their songwriting career due to a dissatisfaction with the modest level of success they had experienced while with the major publisher.[18] Instead they were persuaded to give it another chance by signing with Fredrik Olsson (Music Executive) and his Swedish music publishing company Razor Boy Music Publishing in 2008.[18] The move reaped quick rewards when the new publisher arranged a writing session with Kelly Rowland through Universal A&R Max Gousse.[18] The group co-wrote Guetta and Rowland's number one dance hit, "When Love Takes Over" which went on to win a Grammy Award, in addition to reaching the top position on numerous charts around the world.[19] The song was also ranked the No. 1 dance pop collaboration of all time by Billboard.[20]

The duo's official logo

In March 2010, Nervo announced a worldwide recording deal with Virgin Records/EMI Music, which included a joint venture to release new artists that Nervo discover and produce.[21] They also served as ambassadors at the L'Oreal Fashion Festival.[22] A month later, Nervo released their club single "This Kind of Love" through their independent UK-based dance record label, Loaded Records. It went number one on the world club charts, number two on the Music Week club charts and number six on the Music Week pop charts.[23] In June 2010, Allison Iraheta released the single "Don't Waste the Pretty", co-written by Nervo. The twins also worked on records for Kylie Minogue's eleventh Aphrodite,[24] Britney Spears,[25] Cheryl Cole, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Armin Van Buuren[26] and for Kelly Rowland's self-titled, third studio album.[27] They also released the single "Irresistible" on Positiva/Armada, which reached number one on the UK Club Chart.[28]

In July, after DJing at Belgium's Tomorrowland, they wrote a track with Afrojack, "The Way We See The World (Tomorrowland Anthem)" and followed this with "We're All No One" featuring Afrojack and Steve Aoki which reached number 27 on the UK Dance charts.[29] In August, Nervo signed with modeling agency, Wilhelmina Models.[30] They were also featured in Pacha magazine.[31] They wrote the track "Night of Your Life" performed by Jennifer Hudson on David Guetta's new album Nothing but the Beat. They wrote, vocally produced and arranged Agnes Carlsson's single "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". The group also wrote Nicole Scherzinger's single "Try With Me".

In 2011, the sisters began hosting a monthly show on Sirius Radio called "Nervonation".[32]

The single "You're Gonna Love Again"[33] was leaked in 2011 and reached the No. 1 position on the Hype Machine chart.[34] It was officially released in 2012.

Nervo began their 2013 music production schedule with "Like Home", with Nicky Romero, followed by the Nervo single "Hold On", which was released to iTunes on 9 April. The music video for "Hold On" was released on 19 April and uploaded to their VEVO channel on YouTube. In June 2013, Nervo were featured on the cover of Spanish magazine S Moda and a feature article that included further posed photographs was published on the magazine's website in May.[35] In July 2013 Nervo wrote Daichi Miura's single "GO FOR IT". In November they also worked on records for Daichi Miura's fourth "The Entertainer", which reached No. 5 on the Japan chart.

On 24 February 2015, the twins released a new single titled "It Feels."[36] In March, they also collaborated with Kreayshawn, Dev and Alisa Ueno for "Hey Ricky". Both "Hey Ricky" and "It Feels" appear on their forthcoming debut artist album Collateral, set for release on 24 July 2015.

Also, from Collateral, was "The Other Boys" featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers, was a remix single that was released on 23 October 2015.[37]

In 2016, the Nervo song "People Grinnin'" served as the foundation for a video produced by eight universities led by the University of South Wales. The video was part of an Australian campaign to attract more women to engineering programs. In the video, the Nervo twins are shown as futuristic androids designed by women engineers.[38]

In 2017, A3 enlisted Nervo for his remix of Guns N' Roses' "November Rain".[39]

In 2018, the duo's collaboration with Sofi Tukker, the Knocks and Alisa Ueno on the former's “Best Friend” (used in a 2017 television commercial for iPhone X) gave Nervo their first number one on Billboard's Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart in its January 20, 2018 issue.[40][41] In June, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and Nervo teamed up to have their song "Worlds Collide" be the anthem for the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) for men and women.[42] Nervo first performed "Worlds Collide" live in Ottawa, Canada for the Canada vs. USA men's match on June 10.[43] Nervo also performed the song live at the Women's VNL Finals in Nanjing, China and the Men's VNL Finals in Lille, France.[44]

In October 2021, Nervo's song "Horizon" was used in a mini art film created within the Las Vegas mega-club Omnia. This mini art film was the first installment of One. One is a project series with content focused on storytelling, music, dance, and exotic locations, all with a dance music sound and Cirque du Soleil flair.[45]

Film and television

[edit]

In May 2013, the duo filmed scenes for the soap opera One Life to Live that included dialogue in addition to their performing DJ roles.[46] The women also appear on Episode 6 of the TV show Styled to Rock set to air 29 November 2013.[47]

They are profiled in the 2020 documentary film Underplayed.[48]

In 2023, Mim & Liv were part of BePlaying, The Voices Behind the Sound.[49] They tell their story of starting out in music and moving to London at the young age of 19 to make a name for themselves in the industry. They offer an insider's perspective on their collaborations with singers like Paris Hilton and Natasha Bedingfield. The sisters also open up about the pivotal moments that have influenced their personal and professional growth and reflect on how motherhood and grief have inspired their latest compositions.

Personal lives

[edit]

On 31 December 2018, the twins announced via an Instagram post that they were both pregnant.[50] In February 2019 Miriam gave birth to a daughter with her partner, radio and television announcer Oriol Sabat. In May 2019 Olivia Nervo gave birth to a daughter with businessman Matthew Pringle.[51] Miriam and Oriol had another daughter in February 2022.[52] In 2022, Liv spoke out about how Pringle deceived her by maintaining a second family including having another daughter a few months prior to Liv's daughter's birth.[53]

The Nervo twins collaborated with the child advocacy group Hopeland on a campaign to end the practice of children separated from their parents and moved to orphanages for profit. They wrote a song called "Is Someone Looking For Me" to help raise awareness of the issue.[54]

Live performances

[edit]

2010

[edit]

In 2010, Nervo played on the Ultra Main Stage during the Winter Music Conference.[55]

2011

[edit]

In June 2011, Nervo opened for pop singer, Britney Spears on her sixth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour, along with Nicki Minaj and Jessie and the Toy Boys.[56] They then hit the iD festival tour.[57] They also launched a Las Vegas DJ residency with the Wynn Las Vegas.[58] The duo also performed a DJ set at Belgium's Tomorrowland event.

In September they played twice at Pacha in Ibiza, at two of the islands biggest club nights – David Guetta's Fuck Me I'm Famous,[59] and then the closing party of Pete Tongs All Gone Pete Tong.[60]

2012

[edit]

In 2012, Nervo played at Creamfields alongside Fatboy Slim and Dream Valley Festival booth in Brazil and the Sunset Music Festival in Tampa.[61] They also played at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas and the Spring Awakening Music Festival in Chicago in June 2012. In July 2012, the twins DJd again at Belgium's Tomorrowland and performed at the Electric Zoo event in New York City, over the American Labor Day weekend.

The twins played at the Voodoo Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana, US, in October 2012.[62] They also played at Escape from Wonderland in San Bernardino, US on 27 October 2012.[63]

On 7 November 2012 Covergirl announced the signing of Nervo.[64]

2013

[edit]

In January Nervo played on the bill of Central America's first electronic music festival The Day After. The festival was held in Panama City, Panama and also featured David Guetta, Afrojack, Rehab and others.[65]

Nervo played twice at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida, U.S. They played on the "Ultra Worldwide" stage on Weekend 1 and on the "Main Stage" during Weekend 2.

During March and April they toured throughout Mexico with the Alive Music Festival, alongside Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.[66][67][68] In April they also announced a residency at Hakkasan Nightclub in the MGM Grand Las Vegas[69]

In June they played at Boonstock in Gibbons, Alberta, Canada[70] and also returned to Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas to play the Circuit Grounds.[71]

In July they performed at the first Electric Daisy Carnival in London, followed by the Main Stage and the Dim Mak Stage (alongside Steve Aoki) at Belgium's Tomorrowland festival.[72] The twins also headed back to Ibiza for their Nervo Nation residency at Ushuaia Beach Hotel.[73]

In August they played at the MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet Ceremony as well as the MTV VMA event hosted by CoverGirl at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.[74]

In September they played at the three-day TomorrowWorld Festival in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, US. The festival was the inaugural US version of the Belgian Tomorrowland event and was held at a farm near Atlanta.[75]

In October they played on the same bill as Empire of the Sun, A-Trak and Mord Fustang at Spookfest. Held at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, US, Spookfest is an event organised by the Live 105 radio station and its electronic dance music specialty program "Subsonic".[76]

In December they played at ZoukOut, one of Asia's biggest music dance festivals[77]

2014

[edit]

Nervo performed at the second edition of summerland festival in Colombia on 5 January and at the fourth annual Avila Beach Party on 23 May along with Cash Cash and Manufactured Superstars[78]

Nervo performed at Digital Dreams 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada along with many others like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Eric Prydz and Tiesto. In addition, Nervo also performed at Escapade 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada alongside well-known DJ's, such as Kaskade, Carnage and Zeds Dead.

On 18 & 25 July 2014 they performed on the main stage of Tomorrowland[79]

Over the Memorial Day weekend in May 2014, they performed during the first U.S. edition of Mysteryland which was held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the site of the notable Woodstock festival held in 1969. A few months later, Nervo played on the mainstage of the original version of Mysteryland, at Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands.

Nervo performed at the Forever Festival, Freedom Hill Amphitheater, Sterling Heights Michigan on 19 September 2014.

Nervo had also played during the Road to Ultra event in Paraguay, Asuncion, being this their first time stepping on Paraguayan soil.

2015

[edit]

In April 2015, it was announced that Nervo will release a single with Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers soon and will be featured on the upcoming album Collateral. In May 2015, Nervo played in the second and third days of Tomorrowland Brasil, the first edition of Tomorrowland (festival) held in Brazil during 1 – 3 May.

In July 2015, Nervo played on the second day of the WiSH Outdoor festival held in the Netherlands from 3 July. – 5 July. In December 2015, Nervo played on the second day of EDC festival in Brasil.

In October 2015, Nervo played at AMF (Amsterdam Music Festival) as part of ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) on the opening night of the DJ Mag Top 100, received award ‘Highest Ranked Female DJ’ at the DJ Mag Top 100, remaining in the Top 50 at #45 and signed with Armada Music to launch their own label imprint ‘Got Me Baby! Records’.

2016

[edit]

In June 2016 Nervo begun their Nervonation summer residency at USHUAIA in Ibiza, with dates running until the season closed in September.

In July 2016 Nervo played the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV for the Miss USA 2016 Swimsuit Competition and also played the Opera Stage at Tomorrowland.

In August 2016– Nervo played Creamfields on the Arc Stage and also played at UNTOLD Festival, in Romania.

2017

[edit]

Nominated for ‘Best Party DJ’ at the inaugural World Dance Music Radio Awards at the Azteca Stadium on 29 March, Nervo played at the award ceremony in front of a crowd of thousands and a radio audience of over 10 million listeners across Spain, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Los 40, the radio group behind the WDM Radio Awards, broadcasts across 12 countries: Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Mexico. In September they will perform in Israel as part of the international dance festival Life in Color.

2022

[edit]

Nervo returned to play on the Mainstage and the Library at Tomorrowland (festival) 2022[80] in Belgium; the first Tomorrowland festival after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Nervo discography

DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs

[edit]
Year Position Ref.
2012 46 [81]
2013 16
2014 21
2015 24
2016 45
2017 42
2018 27
2019 24
2020 20
2021 18
2022 40
2023 48
2024 50

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Nervo (DJs)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
NERVO (stylised as NERVO) is an Australian duo formed by identical twin sisters Olivia and Miriam Nervo, born on 18 February 1982 in . The sisters initially established themselves as songwriters, signing with /ATV Music Publishing at age 18 and co-writing the 2009 hit "" for featuring , which earned a Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. Transitioning to performing DJs and producers around 2010, NERVO released successful singles including "Hold On", which reached number one on the chart, and "" with and , topping charts. Their debut album Collateral (2015) topped charts in multiple countries, and they peaked at No. 16 on DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs poll, the highest ranking achieved by any female DJ act to that point. NERVO have headlined major festivals such as Tomorrowland and , performed over 200 shows annually, and collaborated with artists including , , and , while securing high earnings estimated at $9 million in 2014 from gigs and endorsements.

Background and Formation

Early Life and Family Origins

Olivia and Miriam Nervo, identical twins known professionally as Liv and Mim, were born on February 18, 1982, in , a of , . Of Italian descent through their parents, the sisters grew up in a household that valued cultural heritage and personal development, with their family originating from Australian-Italian roots. Their parents actively encouraged musical pursuits from childhood, investing in formal training to foster the twins' talents despite limited resources. This included lessons starting at age six, as well as and classical instruction, which the sisters credit for building their foundational skills in performance and composition. At home, early exposure came through family listening sessions featuring records like those by the Gypsy Kings, instilling an appreciation for rhythmic and melodic diversity. The environment, with its vibrant suburban culture and access to diverse musical influences, further shaped their nascent interests in pop and emerging electronic sounds during formative years. This Australian backdrop, combined with familial support, provided a supportive yet demanding setting that emphasized discipline in artistic endeavors without formal professional guidance at the outset.

Initial Entry into Music as Songwriters

Olivia and Miriam Nervo, Australian twin sisters born in in 1982, initially gained attention through modeling agencies in their youth but pivoted toward due to their longstanding interest in composition, which they had explored informally since childhood. At age 16, the sisters began producing demos in a local studio, securing an early songwriting placement with a that demonstrated their professional potential. This hands-on experimentation in Melbourne's environment facilitated initial networking with industry contacts, highlighting their collaborative songwriting dynamic as twins. The quality of their early compositions drew interest from major publishers, culminating in a signing with /ATV Music Publishing at age 18 in 2000, marking their formal entry as professional songwriters. This deal shifted them away from modeling pursuits, professionalizing their output through structured studio work and emphasizing their talent for crafting pop-oriented material. Following the contract, they relocated to to further hone their skills in music composition, solidifying their foundation in the industry as a songwriting duo.

Pre-DJ Career Achievements

Key Songwriting Hits and Collaborations

The Nervo twins first garnered widespread recognition as songwriters through their co-writing of for featuring , released on April 21, 2009, as the lead single from Guetta's album One Love. The track debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and achieved similar peak positions in , , , and the , driven by its infectious house-pop melody and Rowland's vocals. By September 2022, it had accumulated over 1.2 million certified units in the UK from sales and streaming equivalents. Guetta's Electro Extended Mix of the song won the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the on January 31, 2010, underscoring the duo's foundational role in crafting a global dance anthem that sold millions worldwide. Earlier, in 2008, Olivia and Miriam Nervo co-wrote "" for the ' second studio album , released September 23, 2008. The ballad-sampling pop track, interpolating Toni Braxton's "," peaked at number seven on the and number nine on the UK Singles Chart upon its single release in September 2008. Co-authored with and Michael "Smidi" Smith, it exemplified their ability to blend emotional with commercial hooks, contributing to the album's sales exceeding 3 million copies globally. Their songwriting portfolio extended to other artists, including contributions to Kesha's debut album (January 2010) with tracks like "Boots & Boys" and "V.I.P.," which supported the project's diamond certification in the US from over 10 million equivalent units. For , they co-wrote "" with , released August 20, 2010, as a trance-pop collaboration that charted in multiple European markets and highlighted their versatility in electronic-leaning pop. These pre-DJ efforts, amassing hundreds of millions in combined streams and sales across platforms, solidified their industry credibility through verifiable chart success and publishing deals with Sony/ATV.

Commercial Success and Industry Recognition

The Nervo twins secured a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing at age 18, enabling them to establish themselves as professional songwriters in the mid-2000s. This agreement facilitated initial cuts on high-profile releases, including "If I Was a Man" for the ' album in 2008 and contributions to Kesha's debut album in 2009. Their breakthrough came with co-writing "When Love Takes Over" for featuring , released in April 2009, which topped charts in the UK, , and several other countries while achieving gold certification in the United States for 500,000 units sold. The track's international performance generated royalties that, despite common industry delays in payments requiring publisher advances, provided the financial foundation for independent creative pursuits. These songwriting revenues and advances directly supported their acquisition of DJ equipment and studio setup around 2010, allowing self-funded experimentation in production without reliance on label backing. The era's commercial outcomes underscored their value in pop songwriting circles, with multiple top-10 placements affirming their market viability prior to pivoting to performance-based careers.

Transition to DJing and EDM Production

Debut Performances and Style Development

Following the 2009 release of David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over," which featured vocals by Kelly Rowland and earned the Nervo sisters a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Olivia and Miriam Nervo shifted from full-time songwriting to DJing and live electronic production around 2010. This pivot capitalized on their established networks in the dance music scene, including direct support from Guetta, who invited them to open his sets after years of collaborative work. Their inaugural paid DJ performance occurred at Pacha in Ibiza, marking a rapid escalation from informal bedroom mixes to professional club stages. Early appearances also included a slot on the main stage at Ultra Music Festival in Miami in 2010, further leveraging songwriting ties to secure initial European and U.S. exposure. The sisters developed their production skills largely through self-directed practice, building on piano training from their teenage years in Melbourne and a formal course in Logic software at London's School of Sound. Influenced by house and electro sounds from Ibiza club scenes and London venues like The Cross, they crafted an initial style that fused pop-oriented vocals—drawn from their hits for artists such as Kesha and Taio Cruz—with high-energy EDM builds and drops, aiming for accessible, anthemic dancefloor appeal. These elements were honed via smaller club residencies and opening slots in and , where they experimented with set structures to balance melodic hooks and rhythmic intensity, refining transitions without relying on automated syncing tools. This phase emphasized skill-building through trial-and-error in intimate environments, prioritizing crowd response over polished production, before scaling to broader audiences.

Breakthrough Releases and Rising Popularity

Nervo's entry into the EDM mainstream began with the release of "We're All No One" featuring and , announced on August 22, 2011, and issued as a multi-track digital single on September 6, 2011, via . This collaboration marked their transition from songwriting to prominent producers in , debuting on charts and gaining traction through high-profile remixes, including their own "NERVO Goes to " version. The track's chart entry on March 24, 2012, further evidenced its role in building international exposure within EDM circuits. Building on this momentum, Nervo expanded their network through merit-driven partnerships, notably collaborating with on "Like Home," released November 12, 2012, via Protocol Recordings. The progressive house track, with its anthemic build and vocal hooks, received remix support from artists like and Stadiumx, amplifying its play in festivals and clubs, and underscoring Nervo's growing invitations from established EDM figures. These releases contributed to their debut in the Top 100 DJs poll at position 46 in 2012, the first time female DJs ranked that year based on global fan votes reflecting performance visibility. Subsequent output solidified their ascent, with "Hold On," co-produced by and digitally released on April 9, 2013, via , topping the Dance Club Songs chart. The single's viral traction, including over 11 million video views by mid-2013, highlighted its driven by club and digital streaming, distinct from prior vocal-chant-heavy tracks. This chart dominance and peer collaborations evidenced Nervo's shift toward self-produced hits, propelling sustained rankings in subsequent DJ Magazine polls.

Musical Output and Style

Core Discography Highlights

Nervo's entry into EDM production featured singles like "You're Gonna Love Again," released digitally on June 4, 2012, through , showcasing their shift from songwriting to full vocal-driven tracks. This release included extended mixes and remixes, emphasizing high-energy drops and festival-ready builds characteristic of early EDM. Subsequent singles such as "Hold On," premiered in March 2013, further solidified their production style with uplifting melodies and collaborations, distributed via major electronic imprints before broader independent ventures. Their debut studio , Collateral, released on July 24, 2015, via the independent label , compiled 15 tracks blending , electro, and elements, reflecting accumulated production decisions and artist collaborations. This move to Ultra post-initial major label affiliations enabled greater creative autonomy in output selection and styling. Key remixes during this phase, including reworkings for David Guetta's "," bridged their songwriting roots to EDM, incorporating signature twin vocal layers and rhythmic enhancements for club play. Later independent releases, such as the 2025 single "Basement" on Toolroom Records, continued this trajectory with playful, bass-heavy productions.

Production Techniques and Influences

NERVO's production style centers on , featuring prominent vocal chops, layered harmonies, and explosive drops designed for environments. They employ software like Output's Exhale for manipulating vocals into rhythmic, chopped elements that integrate seamlessly with driving basslines and synth stabs. This approach draws from their songwriting roots, prioritizing melodic hooks adapted to EDM structures, where vocals provide emotional anchors amid high-energy builds. Layering constitutes a core technique, with the twins stacking multiple vocal takes—including harmonies, ad-libs, and textured dubs—to achieve depth and width. They utilize plugins such as Soundtoys Little AlterBoy to alter pitch and for varied timbres, creating "gospel hum" effects or contrasting soft and percussive layers. Their twin dynamic facilitates intuitive in recording sessions, enabling precise matching and rapid iteration on vocal stacks that enhance the anthemic quality of tracks. Influences trace to 2000s electronic sounds, including the gritty energy of The Prodigy's and the pulsing grooves of Bob Sinclair, which informed their emphasis on live-tested, crowd-mobilizing builds. Pop sensibilities from artists like shaped their focus on spacious melodies and perfect harmonies, evolving empirically from pop-oriented writing to festival drops responsive to audience reactions at early performances. This shift prioritized hooks that sustain energy in large venues, blending melodic accessibility with EDM's structural demands for tension-release dynamics.

Live Performances and Touring

Major Festival and Event Appearances

Nervo made their major festival debut at in on March 24, 2012, performing as one of their earliest DJ sets following mentorship from . This appearance marked a pivotal step in their transition to live electronic performances, held before crowds exceeding 50,000 daily attendees at the event's main stages. From 2013 onward, Nervo secured recurring mainstage slots at Tomorrowland, beginning with their set in , that year. They returned for performances in 2015 at Tomorrowland Brasil, 2018 in , and continued through 2024 and 2025 editions, including Weekend 2 in (July 2024), Winter edition (March 2025), mainstage Weekend 1 (July 2025), and Brasil (October 2025). These slots at the festival, which routinely draws over 400,000 attendees across weekends, underscored their sustained global appeal amid evolving EDM lineups. Nervo also performed at (EDC) , including sets during the 2013 edition, contributing to events that attracted over 525,000 total attendees by 2025 across three days, with mainstage performances reaching subsets of 50,000 or more. Similarly, their mainstage appearances at Miami, such as in 2014, aligned with the event's scale of 55,000 daily capacities, reinforcing metrics of their reach in North American EDM circuits. Post-hiatus performances from 2023 to 2025, including multiple Tomorrowland returns and slots at festivals like Sunbeach (August 2025) and Pa'l Norte (2025), demonstrated ongoing demand, with mainstage crowds reflecting capacities in the tens of thousands per set.

Residencies, Tours, and Set Evolution

Nervo secured a Las Vegas residency at nightclub in March 2013, marking an early commitment to regular performances in the city's club circuit. This arrangement expanded to include venues under the Group and Nightlife, such as Omnia, Jewel, and Wet Republic, where they delivered consistent sets amid the high-volume EDM scene. These residencies continued through at least 2020, offering repeated engagements at mega-clubs that hosted resident lineups featuring multiple electronic acts. The duo's world touring schedule intensified from 2012 to 2017, encompassing regional runs like the USA Spring Tour and performances across global markets as part of broader club and event circuits. During this period, Nervo maintained an output of over 200 live shows annually, prioritizing international travel to build their presence beyond one-off appearances. Touring volume decreased after , shifting emphasis toward established residencies and selective bookings while sustaining activity into the mid-2020s. Their DJ sets progressed from shorter, 60-minute opening slots in early tours—often supporting larger acts—to extended 90-minute headlining formats by the mid-2010s, incorporating custom transitions, live vocal elements, and crowd-responsive builds drawn from their production catalog. This reflected growing technical proficiency and audience demand, with sets increasingly featuring layered drops and thematic arcs tailored to club residency durations.

Recognition and Rankings

DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs Positions

NERVO first appeared in the Top 100 DJs poll, a fan-voted ranking reflecting global popularity among electronic music enthusiasts, at position 46 in . Their entry coincided with growing recognition from early productions and performances, marking initial fan-driven momentum. In 2013, NERVO achieved their career-high ranking of 16, the top position among female DJ acts that year and one of the highest ever for women in the poll's history per records. This surge followed intensified visibility from breakthrough tracks and high-profile sets, which expanded their voter base through causal increases in live exposure and streaming metrics. Subsequent years showed sustained presence with varying positions, indicating enduring appeal amid evolving EDM trends: #27 in 2018, #48 in 2023, #50 in 2024, and #63 in 2025. These fluctuations correlated with release cycles and tour activity driving periodic vote upticks, as the poll aggregates over 1.5 million annual submissions from fans worldwide.
YearPosition
201246
201316
201827
202348
202450
202563

Awards, Nominations, and Chart Performance

In 2010, Olivia and Miriam Nervo co-wrote the track "" for featuring , which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the held on January 31. The song also topped Billboard's year-end chart for 2009, based on club DJ airplay reports. In 2020, Nervo won the International Dance Music Award for Best Female Artist in the dance/electronic category, as announced by the . Their original releases achieved several peaks on Billboard's dance charts. The 2013 single "Hold On" reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, reflecting strong club play metrics compiled from DJ reports. Earlier, "You're Gonna Love Again," released in 2012, garnered over 24 million streams by 2025 and topped the independent aggregate chart upon its 2011 leak, indicating early digital buzz prior to official release.
TrackChartPeak PositionYear
"When Love Takes Over" (as songwriters)Billboard Dance Club Songs (year-end)12009
"Hold On"Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs12013
"You're Gonna Love Again"Hype Machine12011

Personal Lives and Challenges

Family, Relationships, and Motherhood

Miriam Nervo and her partner, radio and television announcer Oriol Sabat, welcomed a daughter in February 2019. Her sister Olivia Nervo gave birth to a daughter, named Ace Paloma, in May 2019 with then-partner businessman Matthew Pringle. The twins announced their simultaneous pregnancies on December 31, 2018, following an intensive touring schedule, highlighting the synchronicity of their personal milestones. Miriam and Sabat had a second daughter in February 2022, as shared via their Instagram account amid resolved pregnancy complications. Olivia Nervo's relationship with Pringle deteriorated after revelations of his deception, including and undisclosed prior commitments, which surfaced while she was eight months pregnant and contributed to her subsequent depression. This led to her raising as a single mother, a transition she publicly addressed in 2021 alongside reflections on the emotional toll. Miriam has maintained her partnership with Sabat, integrating family life with professional commitments. The sisters have discussed motherhood's influence on their touring, including instances of incorporating their daughters into performances, such as during a December 2022 set in where the children joined them onstage for their first festival appearance. In a July 2019 interview, they described motherhood as a new chapter intersecting their music release "Worlds Collide," emphasizing adaptive scheduling to sustain performances post-birth. By 2022, they affirmed balancing parental duties with DJing through family-inclusive travel and mutual support, viewing their daughters as sources of resilience amid career demands.

Health and Professional Hiatuses

Following the release of their 2017 album Why Am I Crying?, NERVO experienced a noticeable reduction in new music output and touring frequency, which the duo attributed to the demands of impending motherhood and the cumulative effects of intensive global touring schedules. Both Olivia and Nervo gave birth in early 2019, with in , leading to a natural prioritization of family responsibilities amid ongoing industry commitments. This period coincided with broader reflections on burnout, as the sisters publicly voiced concerns about pressures in EDM following Avicii's death in April 2018, citing relentless performance demands and lack of work-life balance as risks for exhaustion and breakdowns. The further extended this professional slowdown, resulting in a hiatus from live performances that lasted over two years, during which NERVO focused on personal recovery and selective virtual engagements. Olivia Nervo disclosed experiencing depression tied to a personal , which she shared via and interviews, highlighting emotional strain that intersected with professional pauses but did not halt collaborations entirely. In January 2022, the duo engaged in the International Music Summit's discussion series, emphasizing dialogue and resilience as countermeasures to industry fatigue. NERVO resumed live shows in April 2022 with their first club performance in over two years at Omnia, signaling a deliberate return amid renewed energy. This resurgence included mainstage appearances at Tomorrowland in July 2022 and sustained activity through 2025, such as Tomorrowland Brasil in May and tours across including and . These efforts underscore adaptation rather than permanent withdrawal, with no documented physical health impediments beyond typical tour-related fatigue acknowledged in broader EDM contexts.

Reception, Impact, and Criticisms

Achievements and Contributions to EDM

Nervo pioneered notable success as a female DJ duo in the male-dominated EDM landscape, securing sustained fan-voted recognition in DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs poll since 2012, with peak placements including #20 in 2020 and #40 in 2022. Their achievements underscored merit-based advancement, as evidenced by estimated earnings of $9 million in 2013 from global performances spanning to , marking them as potentially the highest-paid female EDM act that year through production and touring revenue rather than ancillary modeling. In the subgenre, Nervo advanced anthemic, -oriented production with tracks such as "Not Taking This No More" (2013), which reached #1 on Beatport's chart, and collaborations like "Like Home" with (2012), contributing to the era's high-energy drops that amplified mainstage appeal and crowd engagement at EDM events. These outputs aligned with big room's rise, providing vocal-driven builds and drops optimized for large-scale venues, thereby supporting the subgenre's commercial expansion via repeatable, euphoric structures suited to festival programming. Their career trajectory exemplified a songwriting-to-DJing pipeline, beginning with credits on David Guetta's "" featuring (2009)—a crossover hit blending pop and EDM elements—before pivoting to self-produced releases and over 200 annual live shows, offering a model for artists diversifying from backend composition to frontstage performance and thereby sustaining longevity through multifaceted revenue streams in the industry.

Criticisms Regarding Longevity and Authenticity

Some observers in the industry have questioned the authenticity of Nervo's transition from songwriters to DJs, suggesting their rapid rise leveraged prior fame from co-writing hits like David Guetta's "" in 2009 and physical attractiveness rather than established DJ proficiency. In 2012-2013 media coverage, promoters and commentators expressed surprise at young, attractive women occupying DJ booths traditionally dominated by men, implying skepticism toward their technical skills independent of visual appeal or pre-existing industry connections. Nervo themselves acknowledged broader industry perceptions that certain female DJs, including those emphasizing bikini-clad performances or social media imagery, undermined credibility for women in the field, potentially extending to their own image-conscious branding. Post-2010s peak, online discussions in EDM communities have critiqued Nervo's output for lacking innovation following professional pauses for motherhood and family, attributing any perceived stagnation to reliance on established formulas rather than evolving production techniques. Such views portray their career longevity as propped by for early hits rather than fresh contributions, echoing general with EDM's . These claims of diminished relevance are countered by empirical evidence of sustained high-profile engagements, including a Mainstage performance at Tomorrowland on July 18, 2025, during Weekend 1, where they delivered a 59-minute set of 44 tracks to large audiences. Additional bookings, such as Tomorrowland Brasil in 2025, demonstrate ongoing demand and festival viability into the mid-2020s, refuting narratives of irrelevance tied to hiatuses.

Broader Influence on Female DJ Representation

Nervo's entry into the Top 100 DJs poll in as the first female act selected by public vote represented a pivotal demonstration of women's potential for mainstream commercial success in (EDM), achieved through songwriting collaborations and high-energy performances rather than preferential treatment. This milestone coincided with modest gains in female visibility, as subsequent polls saw entries from acts like those in , yet representation stagnated; women held just 15% of Top 100 spots in 2025, indicating that inspiration alone did not substantially alter gender demographics dominated by production expertise and fan-driven metrics. In their early career, Nervo navigated overt , including media portrayals that emphasized appearance over artistry, a pattern critiqued for undermining credibility in male-skewed lineups. They overcame such barriers via verifiable commercial outcomes, such as lucrative deals and rivaling top male acts, attributing to talent and industry networks rather than for quotas. This approach highlighted causal factors in EDM success—technical skill in production and audience resonance—over narratives prioritizing identity, with Nervo publicly stressing that emerging DJs should prioritize musical substance to avoid cynicism toward representation-focused hype. Persistent underrepresentation, despite Nervo's example, underscores that gender dynamics in EDM reflect empirical barriers like fewer women pursuing intensive audio engineering paths, not solely ; diluting merit standards through enforced diversity could erode trust in rankings tied to performance data and sales. Their influence thus lies in proving viability through results, cautioning against overreliance on that risks conflating with causation in talent acquisition.

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