From humble beginnings to commanding crowds atop Burj Khalifa and breaking records, Armin van Buuren’s rise has been remarkable. Packed concerts, a documentary, and his landmark A State Of Trance radio show’s 20th edition have all shaped his path. He’s also claimed the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll top position five times.
After captivating Kolkata with We Are Connected, Armin returns as Sunburn Arena takes him on an India tour that will bring him back to the city on October 7 [tour details here]. My Kolkata caught up with the flag-bearer of the trance movement, and now an influential figure in the EDM scene, ahead of his visit. Edited excerpts from the conversation…
My Kolkata: 2009, 2017 and now 2023 – Kolkata is excited to have you back. Have you missed the energy of the audience here?
Armin van Buuren: Definitely. I still remember the show I did in Kolkata about six years ago for We Are Connected. The crowd was electric! There’s so much energy in the crowd when I play here, which makes me even more excited to be back.
The tour is back-to-back in four different cities; do you think you will get the time to explore India?
I sure hope so! I really want to experience the local cuisine, so I’m looking forward to hopping into some restaurants if time allows it!
Van Buuren is considered a the flag-bearer of the trance movement and is an influential figure in the EDM scene Mauricio Santana/Getty Images
Since your last visit, India's music festival scene has grown. Have you come across any recent developments in India's music scene?
I’ve yet to experience it myself, but I heard the music scene in India has gotten even crazier compared to when I was there last. Looking forward to seeing that for myself!
You recently wrapped up your performances at Tomorrowland, including both the Mainstage and Freedom stage. Having performed for the festival many times, in what way was it different, for better or for worse?
That’s a tough question. I guess every set is different in the sense that the stage design is different, you play different tracks and you’re at a different point in your life. So, every performance is unique in a way. That’s not to say it is either better or worse; it’s just different. And different is great!
Van Buuren live at Tomorrowland 2023 Armin Van Buuren
Reports suggest you showcased unreleased tracks in your Tomorrowland sets. Is this a strategy to gauge listener response before official releases?
Yes, definitely! It works in two ways. In addition to it being a good way to test new tracks, it also adds some hype and exclusivity to a live set. I’m sure people are super excited at the prospect of hearing tracks that aren’t even out yet!
Balancing energy for massive festivals compared to smaller, intimate ones — how do you maintain equilibrium to neither overwhelm nor underwhelm your audience?
I think it all comes down to reading the crowd and adjusting accordingly. And sometimes, “overpowering” the crowd within the first few tracks is a good method to get them more hyped up for the remainder of the set.
Your track Motive picked up buzz through your DJ sets, notably at EDC Las Vegas. Can you tell us a little about this track which “refers mostly to love and heartbreak in the song’s lyrics” but has a broader meaning?
The broader meaning of Motive lies in being honest with yourself and questioning why you’re doing things a certain way. If you, for instance, find yourself limited or lacking inspiration, understanding your motive can lead to a new perspective and a way out of that situation.
You released the 20th edition of your long-standing A State Of Trance mix album series in May. Did you anticipate reaching this milestone?
No, I never thought I would be here celebrating 20 years of A State of Trance. That was never a goal. I started my radio show simply because I wanted to share the music I love with the rest of the world, and it just grew from there. I never expected A State of Trance to become as big as it is now, and having 20 annual instalments of the mix album series is just the icing on the cake.
What makes this milestone special?
I think it’s special not because it’s the 20th instalment, but because it so accurately reflects the state of trance music at this time. I always considered trance music to be more related to a specific genre than to a strict definition of a genre and this mix album echoes that. There are tracks on there that don’t follow the genre’s guidelines per se, but they still feel like trance. And this mix album does a great job of homing in on that.
‘I heard the music scene in India has gotten even crazier since I was there last. Looking forward to seeing that for myself!’ Armin van Buuren
You’ve claimed the top spot in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs Poll five times. Looking back at your journey, would you do anything differently?
I don’t think I would, to be honest. There have been times in my career (and life) that were far from easy, but these situations also allowed me to grow as a person and an artiste. The whole scope of things, the good and the bad, all made it possible for me to achieve these milestones, so why change anything?
What projects or releases can fans expect from you in the future?
Nothing I can share yet, but you can expect lots of new music!