Wasted Penguinz
Wasted Penguinz is the hardstyle project of Swedish producer and DJ Pontuz Bergman, active since 2008 out of Helsingborg. Originally a duo with Jon Brandt-Cederhäll, the act built its reputation on emotionally charged, melodic hardstyle after switching from eurodance production in the mid-2000s. Wasted Penguinz signed to Bazz Implant Records in 2009 before moving to the major Dutch hardstyle label Scantraxx in 2010, later releasing through Dirty Workz.
The act made back-to-back appearances in the DJ Mag Top 100, debuting at number 75 in 2012 and returning at number 83 in 2013, a rare feat for an act rooted specifically in hardstyle rather than mainstream EDM. Tracks such as "Melancholia," "Stay Alive" and "Euphoria" became staples of the harder dance festival circuit across Europe, contributing to the duo's reputation for anthemic, emotionally driven sets rather than purely aggressive hardstyle. Cederhäll departed the project in February 2020 for personal reasons, after which Bergman continued Wasted Penguinz as a solo act, still producing and touring under the same name.
Across more than fifteen years, Wasted Penguinz has remained closely tied to the Scantraxx and Dirty Workz rosters that define much of the modern Dutch hardstyle scene, with Bergman continuing to perform on the strength of the act's earlier chart run and back catalog of festival anthems.