Armin van Buuren (born December 25, 1976) is a Dutch DJ, record producer, remixer, radio host, and record-label executive. Born in Leiden and raised in Koudekerk aan den Rijn, he became interested in electronic music during his youth and began producing tracks while still a teenager. The music of Jean-Michel Jarre and the emerging European dance scene influenced his early development, while his formal studies at Leiden University included law.
Van Buuren began attracting international attention in the late 1990s with instrumental trance releases such as "Blue Fear" and "Communication." Their melodic structures, extended arrangements, and emphasis on atmosphere established several traits that would remain central to his work. His first studio album, 76, appeared in 2003, followed by Shivers in 2005. The latter expanded his profile through vocal collaborations and helped establish him as one of trance's leading producers.
A defining part of van Buuren's career is A State of Trance, the weekly radio program he launched in June 2001. Initially a specialist show for new trance music, it developed into a global platform incorporating radio broadcasts, online streaming, compilation albums, a record label, and international events. The program helped connect listeners with emerging artists and unreleased music, while also reinforcing van Buuren's role as a curator and ambassador for trance. Its success eventually made A State of Trance one of the most recognizable brands in electronic music.
Van Buuren's album Imagine arrived in 2008 and continued his movement toward a broader, more song-oriented form of trance. Mirage (2010) and Intense (2013) further combined club-focused production with prominent vocal performances and pop-influenced songwriting. Intense produced his best-known crossover single, "This Is What It Feels Like," featuring Trevor Guthrie. The song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording and brought van Buuren's music to a wider mainstream audience without abandoning its electronic foundation.
His later albums have reflected an increasingly open approach to style. Embrace (2015) incorporated elements of rock, soul, and progressive electronic music, while Balance (2019) presented a more expansive collection shaped by contemporary dance production. The three-part Feel Again project, released in 2023, explored themes of reconnection and creative renewal through 34 tracks. His ninth studio album, Breathe, followed in 2025, with Breathe In and Breathe Out forming its central two-part concept. That same year, he released Piano, a largely instrumental album built around self-composed piano pieces and a notably restrained sound.
As a performer, van Buuren has headlined major festivals and clubs around the world. He has also ranked first in DJ Mag's annual Top 100 DJs poll five times, an indication of both his popularity and long-term influence. In 2003, he co-founded Armada Music with Maykel Piron and David Lewis. The label became an important force in electronic music, releasing work by established artists while providing a platform for new trance and dance producers.
Van Buuren's significance lies not only in his production catalog but also in the infrastructure he helped build around trance. Through his radio show, label work, event series, and consistently evolving studio albums, he has helped preserve the genre's melodic identity while adapting it to changing audiences and wider electronic music trends.
