Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren is a Dutch DJ and record producer who is one of the most prominent figures in trance and electronic dance music. Renowned for his long-running radio show A State of Trance and for topping global DJ rankings multiple times, he has been a central force in popularising trance music worldwide for more than two decades.

Early life

Armin van Buuren was born on December 25, 1976, in Leiden, Netherlands, and grew up in the nearby town of Koudekerk aan den Rijn. He developed an interest in electronic music as a teenager, inspired in part by pioneering producers of the era, and began experimenting with production and DJing while still young. He studied law at university, balancing his early music career with his academic commitments before fully dedicating himself to music.

Career

Van Buuren released early productions in the late 1990s, gaining recognition within the trance scene with tracks that became club favourites. He launched his radio show A State of Trance in 2001, which grew into one of the most influential electronic-music programmes in the world, broadcast to a large international audience each week and spawning a globally touring event series and compilation albums of the same name.

He released a series of studio albums that showcased his evolving sound, blending trance with elements of pop and other electronic styles, and produced numerous singles and collaborations. He was named the world's No. 1 DJ in a widely followed industry poll multiple times during the late 2000s and 2010s, underscoring his standing at the forefront of the genre. His live performances, often featuring extended sets, became signature events at major festivals around the world.

Recent work

Van Buuren has continued to perform at leading electronic-music festivals and to release new music, maintaining the A State of Trance brand through its radio broadcasts, live events and compilations. He has remained a fixture of the global dance-music circuit, headlining large-scale shows and contributing to the ongoing evolution of trance.

Based in the Netherlands, he has been involved in music production and label activities beyond his own releases, supporting other artists within the electronic scene. Widely respected for his consistency, work ethic and contribution to the genre, Armin van Buuren is regarded as one of the defining DJs and producers of modern trance music and a key ambassador for Dutch electronic music on the world stage. He has collaborated with a wide range of vocalists and producers across his albums, and his work has been recognised with industry awards and chart success in his home country and abroad. The A State of Trance events have become destination shows in cities around the world, reflecting the global community that has grown around the brand. After more than two decades at the forefront of the scene, he continues to evolve his sound while remaining closely identified with the trance genre he helped bring to a mass audience.