Leader of A State of Trance - Armin van Buuren

By: Suzan Perin Eraslan for JIVE Magazine

quote:

As Armin van Buuren approaches me in the lobby of the Buckhead Westin in Atlanta, I notice that his eyes and nose are a bit red. He sniffles as he shyly extends his hand. I’m not surprised. After all, he’s the number 3 DJ in the world, playing to huge crowds every night until early in the morning, he’s 27, tall, slender, and boyishly handsome—how could he avoid such things? Vodka tonic in hand, I offer the party boy a drink. And then he does something that does surprise me: he doesn’t ask for a shot of tequila or a pint of lager, but a glass of orange juice. Armin isn’t hungover from all night drug binges with supermodels; he’s got jet lag and a cold. This touch of the human in a rising trance demigod makes him instantly endearing. "Sorry about the cold,” he says, “It’s from the airplanes. I don't like airplanes."...

read the rest of the interview

“I think dance music is a beautiful thing, it's a great thing, and that's what I want to show the world: dance music can really bring people together. We're living in a very tough time, and tough times have always been. Its just about showing people we should not be sitting at home being scared for whoever we should be scared for, its about going out, its about meeting people, having a great time with your friends-- that's what life is about. It’s not about bullshit or whatever. So I challenge people to come to my shows, see what happens, not to me, but to your friends, to all the people in the club.”

Just plain gorgeous.

quote:

“I’ll tell you a secret,” he says, leaning toward me conspiratorially, “A State of Trance was killed almost three times already, but survived. People wanted to throw it off the station. Its even more important for me to stress that I don't get paid for a State of Trance, I don't get money, nothing, I don't even get money for gas when I have to drive to Amsterdam. I really do it just out of love for the music and to give something back to the people who don't have money to buy all the vinyl, like me, like I was five, six years ago, seven years ago.”

the people's dj has spoken.

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This is trance...
Jose Amnesia - The Eternal (Pulser Remix) / Chicane - Saltwater / Photon Project - Illumination / Gouryella - Tenshi / Altitude - Altitude (SHOKK Remix) / Rank 1 - Airwave / The Thrillseekers - Synaesthesia (En Motion Mix)

Armin seems like a classy guy. He hosts an amazing mix program, not for financial gain, but for the pure love of music.

Another classy move - take note guys - he doesn't opt for alcohol when offered a drink by his female interviewer. How can you use this example to your advantage? Whenever on a date, I say never have more than two drinks the entire night. The girl will be impressed by your confidence; that you don't have to get drunk to carry a normal conversation with her. Though fun to hang out with at first, ultimately, no one really likes a drunk, they get tiresome and obnoxious very quickly.

Thank you Jewels for starting this discussion.

One of the most entertaining and interesting interviews on a DJ i've read so far...

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When I turn on my mixer, drop the needle, and put on my headphones... nothing else matters.

I am a DJ.

quote:

"Why? I think trance nowadays is a dirty word. If you play trance, then you play predictable breaks, large drum rolls, cheesy vocals. And that is so ridiculous. Trance for me has a totally different definition. I'm not afraid to call my music trance-- its not cheesy, its not predictable, and it doesn't have vocal cheesy break downs. It’s just good music. I had a discussion about it with Pete Tong. I said ‘Pete, now be honest. I mean, we all agree that pure progressive tribal is boring. And trance is cheesy. But still, most of the people listen to either progressive or trance, and a little bit of techno. So what's the ideal music? Apparently a combination of the three!’ And that's what I want to do"

Interesting point...

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Breaks/Prog Mix 3-15-04

I think he's trying to stress his love for music too hard... Dunno what it's all about but it seems like he's just telling the fans what they want to hear. I mean: wtf is the 'oh i dont get paid for ASOT, NOT EVEN FOR THE GAS!!!11!1' thingy all about? What's he trying to prove? If he did it for the music only and not to become more famous & loved, he wouldn't go on braggin' about it so god damn much.

my 2 cents

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www.doehetzelver.be

quote:

Originally posted by Wildfir3 I think he's trying to stress his love for music too hard... Dunno what it's all about but it seems like he's just telling the fans what they want to hear. I mean: wtf is the 'oh i dont get paid for ASOT, NOT EVEN FOR THE GAS!!!11!1' thingy all about? What's he trying to prove? If he did it for the music only and not to become more famous & loved, he wouldn't go on braggin' about it so god damn much. my 2 cents

Hey... Just something to talk about. lol

It's ok if he mentions it in his interviews... but seems like every time he gets the chance he starts going on about it... or maybe i'm just reading the wrong interviews or something.

anyway, i think this is too much: "Its even more important for me to stress that I don't get paid for a State of Trance, I don't get money, nothing, I don't even get money for gas when I have to drive to Amsterdam. I really do it just out of love for the music"

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www.doehetzelver.be

well he is human too. and we all know doing ASOT is a pain in the ass for him. so he says. but he does it anyway because people love it, and to a certain extent he gets more recognition. so he's still doing it even when it's free. he has to lvoe the music if he can do this for so long. whether it is mentioned a lot or not

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tech house/techno addict

quote:

Originally posted by Wildfir3 or maybe i'm just reading the wrong interviews or something.

that's probably it

besides, it's only text. we don't have a clue in what way he said it. the tone is also important..

i don't think he's trying to be super famous or anything, he's a very down to earth guy.

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quote:

Originally texted by Jakhira Out with the dog at the moment. Chicks love him, and I love chicks... The world is in harmony

He mentions that he spends an entire day of the week working on ASOT... He probably gets the impression that a lot of people believe that he's paid for his weekly show.