FROM SET TO SOUND | ARMIN VAN BUUREN

Festival season continues on and one of our favorite DJ's that we have enjoyed for years has been Armin van Buuren! We caught up with him right before he headed to EZoo to perform here in NY. We wanted to know more about his label, his performances at festivals and his B2B set with David Guetta.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Why was it important for you to launch your independent label, Armada Music and what do you look for in terms of artists that are available on it?

ARMIN VAN BUUREN: Before I started Armada, I worked with United Recordings. They gave me a label (Armind) but refused to sign the tracks I wanted to release on there because they didn’t believe in those tracks. I got all these demos because I started a weekly radio show “A State of Trance” which was highly successful. I understood that the best way to release those tracks and get exclusive stuff for my sets and radio shows was to have my own label.

AM: You perform at a number of festivals as a headliner, from Tomorrowland, Zouk Out Dec 3rd in Singapore etc. do you have any routines that you do prior to hitting the stage to get ready for your set?

AVB: Mostly, I have already prepared my set weeks in advance but I never pre-program my set to the minute. I always leave room for last-minute additions or change the sound of my set if I feel the crowd is actually up for a different sound or isn’t feeling my sound at that moment. I always try to work out, eat healthy and sleep before a show. Then I take a shower and try to be on time before a show so I’m not stressed about traffic or something.

AM: This summer you played a B2B set with David Guetta at Ushuaїa in Ibiza, which was the first time that has happened! What was that like and do you have other people on your list that you would want to do a B2B with that you have yet to do?

AVB: It was incredible and I didn’t expect the crowd to go crazy like that!! We have the crowd to go crazy like that!! We have been friends for a long time but never really worked together. We came up with the idea when I met David in Los Angeles when we were both working there. It was also a success because it was a one-off show and we made special edits and mash-ups before the show. Earlier this year, I played B2B with Reinier Zonneveld at Ultra Music Festival which was also very inspiring. I don’t really have a list of names I want to go B2B with but I will always consider one if I feel we can find common ground in our sound.

IG @arminvanbuuren

PHOTOGRAPHY | PG 108 Bart Heemskerk | PG 111 Alive Coverage | 9DRIP PG 92 + 95 Bart Heemskerk | 9DRIP PG 95 Floris Heuer |

Read the SEP ISSUE #81 of Athleisure Mag and see FROM SET TO SOUND | Armin van Buuren in mag.

GET HYPED WITH WILL SPARKS

It's always fun to check in with those that we enjoy listening to their songs when we're working out, getting work done or simply passing the time. As we begin to add more events to our schedules from music festivals, concerts of our favorite artists and those that we can still enjoy virtually, it's exciting to see how we're continuing to transition into a new normal about the past 18 months that we have navigated.

We caught up with EDM DJ/Producer, Will Sparks to talk about the Melbourne Bounce, how he connected with music and made it his career, his upcoming EP and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

WILL SPARKS: I became properly obsessed with heavy metal at around 14, then Dance music at 16.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to produce/DJ?

WS: Back then, many songs were unattainable. I was so fixated on the Melbourne Underground sound, that I figured, if I can't have them, then i'll make my own.

As a DJ, experimenting on my friend's set of decks. After a while I finally beat matched and transitioned a song perfectly. That's when I knew.

AM: You’re known for pioneering the “Melbourne Bounce” sound. Can you tell us more about what this is?

WS: Melbourne had it's own nightlife community. It was a family. There were so many clubs, none which tried to compete. The DJ's made their own music, unique to them. The sound was like nothing else in the world, ahead of it's time. The guys I look up to Kalus, Orkestrated, Stevie Mink, Joel Fletcher, Chardy & Heath Renata just to name a few. They influenced me to how I approached my sound. They were the real creators and pioneers of the original Melbourne underground. You can identify it as a 'kick & low bass, driving leads and large builds' but you have to hear to fall in love with it. I was in love with it - but I also had my own taste and swing on what it then evolved toward. I was placed in the perfect timing when the Melbourne sound became global and tracks i was making were getting played by the biggest DJs in the world.

AM: What’s it like when you are producing? How do you approach creating and ultimately creating a new sound? Where does your inspiration come from?

WS: What’s it like? There isn't a better feeling in the world when you're onto something you're absolutely loving.

I tend to blur out anything else that's going on, i don't listen to any music. I have my original hero's & always reminisce on my favourite records. This allows me to always create something that no one else is doing because it organically comes directly from within. People are so distracted by 'whats working' and therefore make what everyone else is making.

AM: We all have our COVID stories in terms of what we did while we had quite a lot of time to focus on various areas of our lives, what did you do during this time musically as well as staying in contact with your fans?

WS: I made an EP. I changed my sound completely. It was grounding having so much time instead of being away constantly. I always respond to as many fans as i can on Instagram but in terms of live streams, I like to keep them at a low. As I said, I don't really listen to any one else's music, so my sets are very unique and mostly full of ID's. I'd rather save it for the live shows to come.

AM: You released “Nothing More, Nothing Less” via Armada Music – tell us about this EP and what we can expect from it?

WS: As I said, I changed my sound. You would call it very techno inspired. I love the genre, but I also love being different to the genre, but I also love being different to the pack. If you like getting hyped, than expect some energy.

AM: Do you have any projects that you’re working on that you can share with us?

WS: So many, it's an endless roll out of records when you make music every day. It's too bad releases have to be a minimum of 4 weeks apart. If you see my catalogue you'd notice I don't collaborate much. I've decided to change that.

AM: What’s your schedule look like in terms of hitting the road as there’s nothing like being able to play live with an audience?

WS: I'm in Australia. It's never a certainty of what's ahead. I am so over it. shows come up and are then ruined by lockdowns. I just hope the whole world is back to normality as a whole ASAP.

AM: When you’re not making music, clearly you’re in great shape, what are you go-to workouts that you enjoy doing?

WS: Lifting heavy & eating like a freak. To be honest, I've had some injuries lately due to working out too much! I have too much time on my hands these days. My go to work outs are strength training but I tend to enjoy the odd HIIT.

IG: @Will_Sparks

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Will Sparks

Read the AUG ISSUE #68 of Athleisure Mag and see Get Hyped with Will Sparks in mag.