Miguel Ramirez
“The Aussie crowds give me so much energy, they genuinely make me feel happy to be alive,” says Armin van Buuren ahead of his return to Australia’s festival scene.
Armin van Buuren is absolutely thrilled to be back in Australia for the debut of Festival X, and is set to supercharge the mainstage with his entrancing sound and immerse party-goers in euphoria and excitement. His festival performances always guarantee a mind-blowing mainstage experience the way it’s meant to be and will have you reeling for more.
“In Australia, it’s mostly a unique mix of eagerness to go wild and a genuine love for all things dance music. And I got to say, that mix is very addictive, which is why I love playing at Aussie festivals!” Armin van Buuren says.
Ahead of Festival X, which lands in Brisbane (Nov 29), Sydney (Nov 30) and Melbourne (Dec 1), Trance Project caught up with the legend to find out more about his new artist album ‘Balance’, his love for Australia and he revealed some of his most favourite Trance tracks of 2019! See the full interview below…
We’re very excited for your return to Australia for Festival X this week! What is the overriding emotion you feel when playing to Aussie crowds?
The Aussie crowds give me so much energy. They genuinely make me feel happy to be alive, which only pushes me further to give them the best of the best every single time!
You’re an integral part of most major music festivals around the world, but is there an aspect of Australia’s music festival scene that stands out to you as making it more unique?
It’s hard to describe, but each music festival scene has something unique to them, whether it’s the crowd, a certain vibe or just the scale of it all. In Australia, it’s mostly a unique mix of eagerness to go wild and a genuine love for all things dance music. And I got to say, that mix is very addictive, which is why I love playing at Aussie festivals!
There’s no doubt your Festival X sets will be filled with gems from your new album, ‘Balance’, which encompasses quite are a few different musical styles. What was influencing you when you were producing ‘Balance’?
A few years ago, I decided to focus less on the recognition I might get for the outcome and more on what I want to create myself. That notion is at the core of ‘Balance’. I felt that I could finally be free in the studio to do whatever inspired me the most, and that’s why the album features so many different musical styles.
Is there a track or melody on the album that really sticks out to you?
I’ve always got a few songs I like best. If I’d have to choose one at this time, it would have to be ‘Runaway’. Candace Sosa’s vocals are insane! I also loved working with NE-YO on ‘Unlove You’, by the way! That guy is so ridiculously talented.
You’ve collaborated with amazing artists on ‘Balance’ including BT, Tempo Giusto, HALIENE, Ne-Yo, Candace Sosa, Josh Cumbee, just to name a few. When selecting either a vocalist or a featuring artist, how do you decide who you will work with?
There has to be a click on a musical level. Other than that, I’m willing to work with anyone as long as they’ve got a cool idea and bring something special to the table. That’s why you often see me collaborate with talented artists who aren’t that well-known yet. It’s their unique perspective that matters, not the size of their profile or fan base.
As we approach the end of the year, what is your Trance Tune Of 2019 and what are you most excited about what’s to come in 2020? Between shows, releases, collaborations, or anything else, what is the most exciting Armin van Buuren news in the works?
You’ve probably already heard, but I’m launching a brand-new live show in 2020 called ‘This Is Me’. It’s set to be my most personal, all-encompassing live show ever, so I’m really looking forward to that. As for my Trance Tune Of 2019, I haven’t yet decided. There are just so many amazing tracks to choose from, such as Chris Schweizer’s ‘Near The End’, MaRLo & Feenixpawl’s ‘Lighter Than Air’, Artento Divini & Davey Asprey’s ‘A.D.D.A.’ and many others.
What’s the best thing about being Armin van Buuren?
That’s a question I find really hard to answer. There are always things that can be done or handled better, and I truly am a perfectionist. But all things considered, the best thing about being Armin van Buuren is having so many people around me I can count on, because they help me be the best version of myself every day.
Do you have any final words for all your die-hard Aussie fans?
You are the reason why I love coming back to Australia. Don’t you ever change!
