Armin van Buuren

I am writing from Malaysia ! Bagaimana anda lah !! Getting back to my topic, I recently had the good fortune (read forceful convincing from my hyper energetic friends who need to be "happening" every weekend) to visit this festival in Malaysia. I love attending events and concerts, but every weekend partying takes a toll on your body and wallet. I ended up getting a free ticket from a Chinese girl and then I was more than excited to visit Armin. Let me give you a low-down: The fest boasted of names like Armin Van Burren (ASOT 600 KL), Prodigy, PSY (Gangam Style), FUN, Rita Ora, W&W, Aly & Fila, Cosmic Gate, Temper Trap amongst other artists. In short, they had a whole line up of International Trance, Electronic Dance Music, Trap , House and hit commercial music all in one! After fetching the ticket gratis and shopping for the much awaited dance music event (a longish cotton dark red pink dress, which I tucked into my panties to make it short and some hoops), we made our 2 hours traffic laden journey from KL to Sepang International circuit. Hoards of chic girls and hot bod guys flocked to the gates like ants to sugar syrup. Outside the gate, people with a sense of impromptu business opportunity were selling cheap beer and whiskey shots to the ever horny crowd. My friends and I were all geared up to dance the night away, hoping to score some weed in between too :P . After multiple checkpoints , we reached the massive venue with a giant Ferris wheel dotting the east end of the sky. Food stalls serving yummy kebabs, pizzas, Nasi Goreng, lamb chops and other meat-treats took home the western side of the venue. A contest area after a few steps away with some water games, photo stand and other paraphernalia adorned the center of the huge circuit. This circuit which is mostly used for Moto GP events is an idle venue to many such fests and events. A huge beer stall serving beer and other drinks was the main attraction with some serious shoving going on for the alcoholic thirst quenching fans. It was already past 10 pm and we were nervous wrecks, expecting Armin Van Burren to make his trademark appearance on stage and start with his psychedelic trance. Well he did appear! with his cute nonchalant smile and a roar of hoots and shouts went across the entire crowd. He started playing his ASOT600 tracks and we went mad dancing, laughing, whirling, drinking, jumping, ..ah the jazz! My resourceful friend even managed to score us some weed from some youngsters for an exorbitant price; but we pigs were without a care in the world and dancing to the tunes of probably the greatest Trance artist in the world (my friends words verbatim). After 3-4 hours of continuous spin of spirit lifting music, we decided to call it a night, eat some late night brunch and head home to KL. The experience was beyond compare : I for one was sweating to the core dancing and grooving to the music and didn't realize till late that I need water to refuel my system. I wanted to attend the second day of the music fest with artists like PSY and Prodigy. But that may happen next time round :). Hydrated and Gay, we hitched a taxi to get back home for a relaxed weekend. Armin with his ASOT600KL tracks and unassuming good looks was in our body, heart and soul!

Armin has definitely earned his place as the #1 voted DJ in the world. He came to LA this past weekend to Create Nightclub, in a surprise show announcement in support of his new album Intense (and also probably as a planned alternative for LA residents who couldn't make it to EDC in Vegas). Of course, ticket prices skyrocketed since Armin is one of the most demanded and well-known global DJs. His performance at Create definitely lived up to my expectations! Just from knowing that he mixes the A State Of Trance series, you know he has a vast knowledge of music to pull from for his live sets, and it's very obvious that he loves what he does with a passion, and it shows in his onstage presence. Armin has really headed an empire of dance music, and beyond his own tracks and mixing, I think one of the most important contributions he's made is seeking to unite the world through music on one theoretical dance floor, a concept he directly states in his ASOT mixes and live sets when they get streamed around the world. Armin has clearly shown all the traits that the #1 DJ in the world should be expected to have: production abilities, mixing abilities, longevity, charisma, passion, worldwide impact, and musical vision on a personal and broad scale. I hope he continues his career well into the future like the DJ legends before him have, and I definitely hope he returns to LA sometime again soon... wouldn't miss it!

It the last night of Ultra 2013 and all the stages are packed and me and my friends had been standing and dancing all day enjoying the warm and breezy Miami weather. All the sudden the fire chutes at the front of the stage shoot up flames as Armin Van Buuren starts playing playing enchanting and addicting music. He was the perfect closing dj to the weekend. Although I didn't want the music to end his songs were perfect. My favorite song was "Not Giving Up On Love" because you could not only feel the energy that the crowd had but Armin Van Buuren was going crazy on stage, completely giving himself up to the music he created and loves. He was an amazing DJ and now I completely understand why people go out of their way to see him live more than once. A fete of music that you will never want to stop dancing to!

Armin Van Buuren is an absolute legend in my eyes and I would go so far as to say he is the "God of Trance Music". Even though he's gone a bit mainstream, his musical genius and talent still shows in his new songs. A class apart from the rest of the DJ's, he has deservedly picked up the Best DJ award four times in the last five years. I never thought I would be addicted to a radio show but every Thursday you will see me with my gigantic headphones on, completely tuned out, listening to his show called 'A State of Trance' and trying to maneuver few dance moves on my chair while at work and I think I do my best work while listening to his music. I think his best contribution is the unification of people all around the world in the name of Music. I hope he comes to LA soon and I can get to see him live.

Anyone who is remotely even into electronic music would be able to spell his name out with extreme respect and awe for the man who has continually redefined himself and topped the charts in the list of most popular DJ's. I am a huge fan of his "A State of Trance (ASOT)" show and it has been my companion through preparing for exams, working, in tense situations, in calm situations, sleeping - you get the point, in practically every aspect of my life the music that he churns out has helped me get through the day. I hope to one day share the stage with him and can't wait to see him live this year which will hopefully be in Ibiza!!!