PSY TRANCE ● Armin Van Buuren: The Trance Titan

Armin van Buuren is a Dutch DJ, record producer, and radio personality who has become a global ambassador for trance and progressive house music. Hailing from Leiden, Netherlands, his most significant achievement is his long-running reign atop the DJ Mag Top 100 poll, which he has won a record-tying five times.

Early career

Born in 1976, Armin van Buuren developed a passion for electronic music in his teens, inspired by the work of French composer Jean-Michel Jarre. He began producing his own tracks while studying law at university, leading to his first major release, "Blue Fear," on the UK label Cyber Records in 1996.

Breakthrough

Van Buuren's international breakthrough arrived in the early 2000s, propelled by his own A State of Trance radio show, launched in 2001, and a string of anthemic productions. His 2003 track Communication became a clubland staple, solidifying his signature sound and paving the way for his debut artist album, "76," released the same year on his own Armada Music label, co-founded with Maykel Piron and David Lewis.

Key tracks

Communication — This 2003 instrumental is a foundational track in modern trance, known for its iconic melody and driving rhythm.

This Is What It Feels Like — Featuring Trevor Guthrie, this 2013 global hit brought van Buuren massive crossover success, earning platinum certifications in multiple countries.

Blah Blah Blah — A 2018 big room house track that showcased his ability to adapt to evolving dance music trends while reaching a new, younger audience.

In And Out Of Love — The 2008 vocal anthem with singer Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation remains a centerpiece in his live sets and a fan favorite.

Great Spirit — This 2016 collaboration with Vini Vici highlighted his foray into and influence on the modern psytrance genre.

Armin van Buuren's career is marked by relentless productivity, including eight studio albums and countless compilations under his A State of Trance banner. His collaborations span the electronic spectrum, from working with trance stalwart Paul van Dyk to pop artist Moby and rock band Kensington.

Beyond production, his A State of Trance radio show is a global institution, broadcast to millions of listeners in over 80 countries, and his Armin Only and ASOT festival events sell out arenas worldwide. His label empire, Armada Music, has grown into one of the world's leading independent dance music companies.

For fans of Armin van Buuren's high-energy melodic trance and psytrance explorations, other leading Dutch artists in the genre include Tiësto who also evolved from trance to mainstream dance dominance. Ferry Corsten shares a similar pedigree in crafting euphoric, melodic trance anthems. The driving psytrance influence in his later work connects to artists like Vini Vici who are pivotal to the modern psytrance movement.

The music of Armin van Buuren maintains heavy rotation on dedicated electronic dance music stations, trance-focused online radio streams, and mainstream festival radio stations across our network. His anthems are staples in sets that define the genre.

Listeners can explore the vast catalog of Armin van Buuren and experience the power of his trance and psytrance productions through the electronic music radio stations featured on onairium.com, where his tracks are a permanent fixture in the rotation.