Saturday Night Session 015: Armin van Buuren discusses how his heart will always be with trance music and teases a return of his ‘classical’ Armin sound later this year
Few moments are more sacred than the reprieve Saturday night supplies from the daily grind of work and school. Its importance is meant to be emphasized, and so, a feature dedicated to “doing the night right” was born. Saturday Night Sessions are put around energizing mixes meant to get the party started. New or old, every episode has one cornerstone thing in similarity: they serve as the perfect backdrop for your weekend pregame.
Dutch DJ and producer Armin van Buuren has been called many things. ‘Trance legend,’ a ‘godfather’ of modern day electronic music, and ‘musical star ’ are a few of the numerous descriptors that he has amassed throughout his 20 year career. The artists that do end up getting global headliners typically ride the wave of being at the top before they either burn out or the upcoming new act comes and takes their place. Van Buuren has found a way to keep his stature in the industry over the long term while also balancing teaching a masterclass, touring, releasing copious amounts of new music, and most of all, having a family in the home.
Those who have been fans of the manufacturer for the longer term know he has continued to innovate sonically and push the boundaries of what is considered ‘his style. ’ While Trance is the genre van Buuren is most closely associated with historically, his releases over the last couple of years have become increasingly varied. In 2019 alone, the manufacturer has released hardstyle, DnB, Trance, and Big Room singles.
While it may seem that van Buuren’s increasing sonic diversity and musical experimentation are a purposeful and strategic decision, the artist clarifies otherwise. Van Buuren says, “As an artist, I’m constantly looking to reinvent myself, to try new things and get creative. I don’t want to be a prisoner of my own style. Sometimes, that means I create music that some people may not expect or even promote. ” He proceeds, “But it’s not even about wanting to change it up. It’s not as if I decide to make a certain style of music even before I set foot in the studio. Instead, I simply let inspiration take me into the direction that it wants to. My heart will always be with Trance, but I need it to explore my boundaries to innovate. ”
Van Buuren recently released a new single, “Turn It Up,” and he explains that the track was made for the sole purpose of inciting energy in a crowd during a live performance. When asked if fans could expect to hear new music coming out this is a closer listen to the ‘old school’ Armin style versus the ‘new college ’ releases for example “Turn It Up,” he explains that the answer to this question would entirely depend on one’s definition of his ‘old school’ style.
He notes, “Music is constantly evolving, so to reach back to that classic sound of, say, the ancient ‘90s or early 2000s may not even work in today’s landscape. That being said however, I still love Trance music as much as I did back when I first started out, and I still love creating it. So I’m certainly up for it. That’s later this season you may hear more “classic” Armin sounds coming out of my studio. Let’s just see what happens! ”
While the prospect of this ‘classic’ Armin sound returning makes it almost impossible to be patient for his new music coming later this year, van Buuren’s Saturday Night Session throws the listener straight into A State of Trance set, showcasing his best and most energetic Trance work.
When asked what sort of a night his Saturday Night Session is getting listener’s prepared for, he notes, “A Saturday night you won’t forget for the rest of your lives! All funny business aside though, it’s a really energetic mix perfect for the bigger stages. Could be a mainstage place for an A State Of Trance occasion! Hope you guys like it! ”
Photo Credit: Bart Heemskerk
___________________________________________________________________________
The music you’ve been putting out is becoming increasingly diverse in genre. What made you want to start changing it up?
As an artist, I’m constantly looking to reinvent myself, to try new things and get creative. I don’t want to be a prisoner of my own style. Sometimes, that means I create music that some people may not expect or even promote. However, it’s not about wanting to change it up. It’s not as if I decide to make a certain style of music even before I set foot in the studio. Instead, I simply let inspiration take me into the direction that it wants to. My heart will always be with trance, but I need it to explore my boundaries to innovate.
Can you tell us more about your new song?
“Turn It Up” is a genuine club/festival track made for the sole purpose of making a crowd go crazy. And, judging from the response of the ASOT Utrecht 900 audience when I played it, it does it’s job quite well. You could say it’s a followup to “Blah Blah Blah,” but I also feel it’s a good mainstage banger in its own right.
Can we expect to hear any more ‘Old School’ Armin Trance releases in the near future?
That would mostly depend on your definition of ‘Old School’. Music is constantly evolving, so to get back to that classic sound of, say, the ancient ‘90s or early 2000s may not even work in today’s landscape. That being said however, I still love Trance music as much as I did back when I first started out, and I still love creating it. So I’m certainly up for it. That’s later this season you may hear more “classic” Armin sounds coming out of my studio. Let’s just see what happens!
Are there any up and coming artists that you feel are rising superstars?
I really like what Fatum are doing, but also Avao and Maarten de Jong.
The quantity of music you have been releasing is impressive, particularly when considering you’re instructing a masterclass, touring, and you have a family at home among the many different things you do. How do you manage to do it all?
It’s quite a difficult act to balance, that’s for sure. Luckily, I’m surrounded by wonderful people and an amazing group, all of whom look out for me. I also have a wonderful wife who helps me keep both feet on the ground. It’s safe to say I wouldn’t be able to do all of this without them.
What are you listening to right now? Outside of your own music, of course.
It largely depends on the mood I’m in. I tend to enjoy many diverse kinds of music and always try to keep an open mind. For instance, some of my favorite all-time dance tracks range from Jules Verne’s blend of L.S.G.’s “Netherworld” to The Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up” — I still can’t believe we lost Keith Flint so suddenly — to the Ben Liebrand remix of Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight. ” So there’s not a specific artist or genre I’m listening to at the moment, but instead a great deal of different tracks and fashions that I simply find very enjoyable right now. If a record strikes a chord in me, I like it, no matter which genre or style is. Currently I’m listening to Derelicts by Carbon Based Lifeforms.
Did you grow up listening to electronic music? What spurred your love for it and made you want to create this a career?
I actually grew up listening to lots of different types of music. My mother and my dad loved different styles of music, from Jazz to Classical music to The Beatles. Electronic music was barely a thing back when I grew up. The first time I heard dance music was once a friend of mine gave me a cassette tape with a miniature mix from Ben Liebrand on it. I was sold ever since. I spent all of the money I earned with my paper route on purchasing new records and experimented a whole lot with mixing and sequencing on a computer my mother had won when I was ten years old. That was the start of it all for me.
Have you got a favorite year or era of electronic music?
Not really. One of the things I truly love about electronic music is that it changes so often. There are genres which unite, styles that evolve, and new musical waves which just seem to come out of nowhere every couple of months or so. I really like it. It’s what make this whole scene so unique. And that’s also why I don’t have a favorite. Each “age ” has its own modest wonders.
Are any of your kids interested in being a music producer like you? Would you encourage them to do so if this is what they wanted?
I don’t believe they’re interested in being a music producer as of yet, but they’re also still fairly young. And, as any dad, I just want them to be as happy as they can possible be throughout their lives. If that means they want to follow a career in music, I’m fine with this and are likely to teach them a whole lot about the lifestyle and all. If they’d rather pick something different, I’m perfectly fine with this as well. I’ll encourage them no matter what.
What type of a Saturday Night is your mix getting us prepared for?
A Saturday night you won’t forget for the rest of your lives! All funny business aside though, it’s a really energetic mix perfect for the bigger stages. Could be a mainstage place for an A State Of Trance occasion! Hope you guys like it!
Buy Tickets for every event – Sports, Concerts, Festivals and more buytickets.com
