Gatecrasher Catch up with Armin Van Buuren ahead of the 15th Birthday event in Sheffield
Posted by on Aug 5, 2008 - 3:50:55 PM
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"Gatecrasher is the mother of all trance clubs. It's one of the first places on earth where trance got big. They have an extremely loyal following and still manage to create such an amazing vibe every time"
Gatecrasher catch up with the world¹s #1 DJ, Armin Van Buuren ahead of his set at their 15th Birthday party.
GC: You were recently voted the DJ Mag¹s #1 DJ in the world, after being in the top 10 for the past 6 years. How does it feel to finally reach the #1 spot?
AVB: What can I say? It was a dream coming true. The biggest honour you can get as a DJ. Like winning an oscar when you've been making movies all your life.
It simply doesn't get any bigger than that!
GC: Your album ’Imagine¹ recently secured the number one spot in the Dutch charts, which is the first time that a dance producer has accomplished this. Can you tell us a bit about the album and what went into the making of it?
AVB: I just feel an artist album is something different than a mixed compilation. I heard a lot of albums of colleagues of mine and I was always a bit let down because it was basically just a collection of their released 12". An album in my definition has several different chapters, like stories in a book. It's something that you can put on at home when you're relaxing and something with songs. I sometimes just sing myself, completely rubbish over an instrumental. That's how you can get ideas for melodies of a lyric. There's never a standard way of creating new tracks. Every track came about in a different way. I like that it prevents your music from becoming formulaic. My English is pretty good so I have no problem writing lyrics. I wrote about 20 tracks, sometimes even 2 or 3 tracks with one artist but then we came to the point of selecting the tracks for the album and I just found these tracks had a certain flow together. In the end, all that matters for me is the music and the song, not who it's sung by.
GC: You also DJ on your own weekly radio show, A State of Trance. Can you tell us a bit about this show?
AVB: I started the show in June 2001 when there was no radio show that basically just played the latest in trance and progressive in a two hour non stop mix. I'm now at episode 363 and the show is now on over 40 FM and online stations around the world, reaching over 10 million people every week. When you listen to ASOT, you're sure you'll hear at least 80 or 90% of all that's hot and new.
GC: With such a hectic schedule, how does Armin Van Buuren unwind and relax?
AVB: Spending time with friends and family, watching movies, working out, and when i get the chance I love to go diving.
GC: What¹s your favourite track to play and which is your favourite to listen to in your own time?
AVB: L.S.G. - Netherworld. I listen to a lot of different music when I have time off. I love the Orb, Biosphere, Future Sound of London etc
GC: What piece of advice would you give to any DJ aspiring to be the next AVB?
AVB: A) Make your own tracks. It's the quickest way to the top
B) Be unique. Look at other DJ's and learn from them but don't copy.
GC: Which DJs do you predict to be hot for 2008 /09?
AVB: Blake Jarrell, Aly & Fila
GC: You have played for Gatecrasher quite a few times, most recently at GatecrasherLovesNottingham and before that at one of our legendary Boxing Day event at Magna. You will be back to headline their 15th Birthday Event back in their spiritual home of Sheffield. Why do you think Gatecrasher have continued to be successful after so many years?
AVB: A lot has to do with the fact that Gatecrasher is the mother of all trance clubs. It's one of the first places on earth where trance got big. They have an extremely loyal following and still manage to create such an amazing vibe every time.
GC: What can the Gatecrasher crowd expect from you at the 15th Birthday event?
AVB: A journey through the latest in trance and progressive. I look at the crowd and then decide. It can go anywhere from banging to uplifting, from electro to classics. It depends on the vibe.
GC: What is Armin Van Buuren up to for the rest of 2008 and moving into the New Year?
AVB: New compilation (ASOT 2008), new single (In and out of Love), new DVD (Armin Only 2008, new Armin Only's (Poland, Belgium and Los Angeles). Plus, I've build a new studio and I'm moving houses.
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