Armin Van Buuren Interview:

Greeting Armin, how is life with you at the moment?

I'm fine thank you! Just released my latest comp ASOT 2006 and touring to promote it. Getting ready for a hot summer.

You make an anticipated return to The Gallery for our big bank holiday weekend on May 26th what keeps you coming back to The Gallery time after time?

The Gallery is one of my favourite spots in the world to play. I never had a slow night and the crowd is always a little bit more open minded than anywhere else I play. I use my spots at the Gallery to test out loads of new tunes and the crowd always seems to appreciate that. But also the occasional classic goes down really well. I always feel really relaxed in the intimate atmosphere.

You are about to reach a special milestone with your A State of Trance radio show, tell us a little bit more about it and what you have planned to celebrate it?

"A State of Trance" (ASOT) is a radio show for the listener that wants to hear the latest releases in trance and progressive. I get sent loads of new music and use ASOT to test out new tunes with the chairraver society. ASOT isn't about DJ's but purely about the beautiful music from the worlds best producers. I started the formula in June 2001 and never changed it since. The 5 years since went by really fast. With ASOT 250 I want to celebrate trance music and what it has become. I want to look back on the 249 episode's we've had, but only with the fans of the show. Also, I've invited some of the world's best trance producers to play an exclusive DJ set for the show. The entrance for the event is free till 00.00 (25th of May 2006, Asta the Hague) and will be broadcasted live across several FM & online stations around the world.

You are considered to be one of the leading djs and names in trance and on your travels this year so far what are you thoughts about the scene as a whole and what’s going on?

For some reason, some people tend to be very negative about trance in particular. I think "trance" as a genre has been declared "dead" by these people and the press for the 6th time now. And yet, it remains to be the most popular genre in dance music. In fact, in my experience, trance has never been bigger as it is right now! Maybe this is because several people have very different definitions of the genre "trance". Some people consider "trance" to be similar to "commercial" or "cheese". For me trance is the only genre that isn't a prisoner of it's own style. People that like real trance, are very open minded to all kinds of dance music. For example, I play a lot of records that are labelled "progressive" or "techno" in my recordstore. Trance to me is a journey through different kinds of dance music, not the formularic crap some call "trance". Trance is part of modern day music now. Face it.

As a big supporter of talent and new music who has really impressed you in terms of production and djing this year and who you see doing really well over the coming years?

Production wise: Sander van Doorn, John O Callaghan, Jonas Steur, Jose Amnesia & Matthew Dekay.

What are your plans for the rest of the year in terms of production and general music related business?

I'm working on a lot at the moment. I want to release an Anthology album at the end of the year with a load of new and older stuff, because there's still so much demand for it. I took on a few remixes and I'm remixing a few of my own tracks for my sets as we speak. My DJ diary for the summer is very full with loads of festivals and Ibiza gigs.

You must answer so many interviews and questions so thought I would ask some slightly different questions to make a change, so when you are away from it all what normal day to day activities do you do to relax, occupy your time?

I try to spend a lot of time with my family and close friends. That's very important to me. I'm blessed with some really good friends and I'm very close with all my family members. I love to watch movies & series (I'm an addict!) and I try to work out as much as possible. I have a cat at home, he's great! And last but not least, I try to spend as much time as I can with Erika, my girlfriend.

Tell us one thing that you’ve heard people say about you that is completely untrue?
That someone else is doing my radio show for me!

What non dance music do you listen to in say your car CD or on the stereo in the kitchen?

I just got a new car and I have an iPod connection. I have a VERY varied collection of music on there. It goes from classical music, via Jazz & chill out to Ambient and more popular stuff like Jamiroquai & Keane. Anything really. :)

And finally if it all finished tomorrow and you had to go and do something different what do you think you would end up doing?
I think I would still run Armada together with Maykel & Dave. Either way I can't see myself doing anything else than music related stuff in this life.