Armin van Buuren and the New World Punx take over MSG for ASOT 600 Words:DANIELLE DESMONDPhotos:ANDREW RAUNER
“The bigger you get, the more humble you get,” says Armin van Buuren, arguably the most worshipped DJ/producer in dance music. Does it get any bigger for the #1 DJ in the world to perform at the world’s most famous arena? For God’s sake, even if you don’t know the difference between Zedd and Zed’s Dead, you know who Armin is. The 36-year-old Dutch demigod goes on, “You begin to really appreciate every little thing people do for you.”
It’s nice to hear such gracious words coming from the man who was newly re-crowned the people’s DJ in 2013. And rightfully so. He co-owns the extremely successful music label Armada Records, has an endless touring schedule, playing just about every single electronic dance music festival across the globe, was named DJ of the year five out of the last six years in the Top 100 DJs poll, is the founder of the most popular dance radio show on the planet and still finds the time to play the rolls of father and husband.
Sir van Buuren is a walking paradigm of his aural discography, exuding intensity, euphoria and good vibes amidst a smooth exterior. AvB sits high above the narrow cobblestoned streets of the Meatpacking District on the roof of the posh Dream Hotel Downtown in New York City. He wears plain jeans and a t-shirt, and listening to the musical legend talk about his craft as he prepares to play a show most only dream of, is incredibly surreal. After all, he is a father figure to trance.
Somewhere in between Bob Dylan and Ray Charles status, van Buuren has made a profound statement for trance throughout his career. Now, he sees it his responsibility to foster and promote the genre. “I’m in a position now where I can actually showcase new talent to people,” he says. “Tomas Heredia, Andrew Rayel, Orjan Nilsen and all
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the new guys - I can give them a stage. I can introduce these people to new fans and they can really grow and help the sound further. This is my mission and what I want to do.“
Every DJ in the business has a radio show at the moment. As millions can attest, ASOT is not just another weekly radio show. ASOT takes you out of your head and introduces you to a state of timeless perfection that is all about the present moment. For the 25 million listeners that tune in on the regular, ASOT is as customary to Thursday afternoon as showering, putting on deodorant and getting oneself out the front door in the morning.
It would appear that there was a brilliant marketing plan behind ASOT from the start. But there really wasn’t. In 2001 when Armin was invited by ID&T to come to the studio to discuss a possible radio show, he actually debuted his first broadcast. “I thought I’d have to play some records to show them what my idea behind the show was. But that was actually episode 1. I was literally thrown in the deep having no experience in making a radio show at all,” he laughs.
Behind the show’s content and expertise set construction, van Buuren is fascinated by the power of radio. The continued success and real beauty of ASOT is that harvesting and showcasing talents has always been an important part of the show. “I try to challenge myself and I try to do something that I find interesting musically. I try to put on DJs that I think deserve to really grow.”
It is a well-known fact that every 50th episode of the radio show has been celebrated through a live show. So when the famed DJ sat down to decide which cities would
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