When Armin van Buuren agreed to an interview with LoudLife at Ultra Europe, we couldn’t have been more excited. After all, we were about to meet one of the most influential names in electronic music, a perfectionist whose relentless passion for music has kept him at the very top of the scene for more than two decades, yet someone who has always remained remarkably down-to-earth. As the interview got closer, excitement quickly turned into nerves, especially for me. I had all my questions prepared, but the moment Armin walked into the room, smiled, and shook my hand, my mind almost went completely blank. Thankfully, those nerves disappeared within minutes, and what followed was a relaxed and inspiring conversation with one of dance music’s true icons.
Interview With Armin Van Buuren:
We’re here at Ultra Europe with the one and only Armin van Buuren. How are you?
I’m good! What’s up?
Every festival has its own personality. How would you describe the personality of Ultra Europe?
Ultra Europe is definitely different from the one in Miami or the one in Argentina. But every Ultra event has a special energy. There’s always that rave vibe. I also think this is the pinnacle of the summer season. So many people come here on holiday, making Ultra Europe a true destination festival. You meet people from all over Europe, so it feels very international—more European than just Croatian.
You recently released your Piano album, and in our previous interview you mentioned how personal this project was for you. Do you think it will influence your future music?
It already has. Funnily enough, most of my songs actually start on the piano. I’m just used to translating those ideas into the computer and using a sequencer to express the emotions. But I started wondering: what if I simply played the piano for my fans, exactly as it is? It has been an incredibly rewarding experience. On July 21st, I’m performing a special concert in the Netherlands—just me and the piano. No CDJs, no production… just the piano. It’s crazy!
You’ve been hosting A State of Trance for over 25 years. If an aspiring producer wants to release music on your label, what is the one thing in a track that immediately catches your attention?
Heart. Sorry, it’s a very short answer. I can’t really explain why one track stands out over another. It’s all about emotion—you just feel it. Usually, within the first ten seconds, I know if there’s something special. Not always, but most of the time. That’s really what I’m looking for.
