Armin van Buuren voted the world’s #1 DJ for a record 5th time.
A fan base that spans every corner of the globe shared a collective smile when Armin van Buuren was re-appointed to the top position in the DJ Mag Top 100 poll this year. It is impossible to deny the incredible success this man has reached; all while staying true to his fans. 2012 was quite the year for Armin van Buuren. The yearly anniversary of his global phenomenon radio show A State of Trance has become a truly global event with massive parties in a handful of countries and live radio broadcasts so that those who are unable to attend can still be part of the event. This collective family of fans serves as proof that Armin is no longer just a DJ but an icon. Those who were privileged enough to attend one of his residency nights this summer in Ibiza got to see the power of trance in its full glory at one of the most spectacular clubs in the world. Privilege was surely the best location on the island to hold the weekly ASOT parties—from the incredible lighting, to the endless space, to the earth shattering sound. It was a sensory overload that will not soon be forgotten by the clubbers who made the pilgrimage to the white isle this year. The question now is what does 2013 have in store? How can something already so massive get even bigger? The wheels are in motion for the ASOT 600 world tour appropriately named ‘The Expedition.’ With 7 dates already on the roster and possibly more to come, it already surpasses previous years in the number of events. Another testament to the loyalty of Armin’s followers is the time and effort that fans around the world have taken in campaigning to have one of the ASOT 600 events touch down in their home countries. This common goal creates a unique opportunity for like-minded people to bond and share ideas. In an industry which is plagued by people arguing over genres, artists, and other nonsensical things—this is a more valuable experience than most would realize. Our friends at Different Levels productions put together this campaign video to try and entice Armin to include Toronto on his ASOT 600 expedition. It features some incredible footage from Armin’s recent show at The Guvernment, show your support by using hashtag #ehsot600. The other video we’ve included is a recent release from Armin himself, showcasing his experience at the Top 100 awards ceremony in Amsterdam and commenting on the legendary poll. So kudos to the king for reclaiming the throne he undoubtedly deserves. To say that we are excited to see what 2013 holds for Armin, A State of Trance, and the Armada empire would be an understatement. There are no signs of slowing down for the man whose career is quickly approaching the 2 decade mark and is destined to go down in history as one of the greatest to ever grace electronic dance music. From the productions, to the live sets, to the worldwide community—the man is unstoppable.
CHELSEE COOK 14 www.djmag.ca Robert Philippe-Masse