[Dynagroove] SPUNDAE: Sat., April 3rd, 2004 - Armin Van Buuren

[Brandon Brawner]

Hello Friends~ Well I must say that this DJ needs no introduction.  He
was Voted #3 DJ in the World, and his sets are nothing short of
phenominal.  I hope to see you all there.  I only have 6 spaces for
discount tickets ($30).  It is first come first serve, so e-mail me
quickly.  I also have lots of line passes available.  This event is sure
to sell out, so make sure to arrive early, and e-mail me with your first
and last name and the number of those in your party.   YOU MUST e-mail me
before Friday at 5pm, to be on the list.  Please only call me if there is
some sort of problem with the list, and you're having difficulty getting
in.  Please do not call me to put you on the list the night of the event,
as I am inside having a blast, and don't want to be taken off the dance
floor for any reason... ha ha... I hope to see you all there.  And you
know where to find me .. shakin my ass on the dance floor.  Here's a pic
too just in case you want to say hello. ;) Brandon310-497-6522  Saturday,
April 2nd
Spundae Meets Godskitchen
4 Hour Set
Armin Van Buuren
Kazell

Funky Houseroom:
Oliver Twist
Ty Tek
Pat SchooLastra  ARMIN VAN BUUREN BIO: 

With trance undergoing its much-hyped third renaissance – if you believe
it had ever died – the boy Buuren, widely credited with creating the
blueprint track for the genre, Blue Fear, at the tender age of 19, is at
the forefront of the revolution to reclaim quality dance music.

Born in Leiden, Holland (on December 25, 1976) to a musical family – his
dad had a serious penchant for a diverse range of genres including punk
and electronica "to get rid of the stress of everyday life", whilst his
brother is a prodigious guitar player – Armin indulged his passion for
music from a young age, blowing all the money from his paper round on
records. His mum won a computer when he was 10, "So as a little kid I was
writing my own Basic programmes, and learnt about the technology from
there." He progressed from making the usual tapes for his friends, put
together on a cheap set of decks that he wore out learning to mix, after
discovering his uncle experimenting with different sequences on his
computer. "I was so amazed at what he was doing, since that moment I've
been addicted to creating music!"

In the early 90s, Holland</PLACE /></CITY />'s upfront dance scene meant
that although Armin was too young to go clubbing, he knew the music
inside out from listening to the radio. "I loved dance music immediately
– this great rebellious sound that was so different to the 'beautiful'
songs of the 80s". Citing electro pioneer (famed for his awesome visuals
as well as his groundbreaking synth sounds) Jean Michel Jarre as a major
influence, as well as Dutch producer Ben</PERSONNAME /> Liebrand, who
later mentored him in his mixing and producing, Armin was soon cracking
out consistently stand-out tunes that graced compilations across the
globe, and his dj bookings were looking pretty healthy to boot. But
despite his music career taking off at such an early age, Armin thought
it was wise to have something extra in case the djing didn't work out,
and studied for a law degree. He actually got a job offer with a law firm
but says it's not really his thing, though he does acknowledge he'd look
good in a suit…

The final year of his course was inevitably stretched as he juggled his
studies with his increasingly hectic schedule; his meteoric rise to fame
included a slew of acclaimed productions and remixes, as well as playing
out to packed clubs every weekend resonating with the vibe of thousands
of happy party people. He took three years to graduate, but with typical
determination saw it out to the end.

Armin's Blue Fear, a Sasha and Digweed staple, previewed his signature
style: divine layering of sounds, lush chords and a continuous driving
beat with that intangible added extra, the unique essence that sets
quality tunes apart when you hear them in a set. His subsequent
productions and remixes (too numerous to list here – chuck him into a
google search if you've got a day to read the resulting titles…), include
Communication, Sound Of Goodbye, Burned With Desire, Touch Me, Free,
Wamdue Project's King Of My Castle, Solid Sessions' Jan</PERSONNAME />eiro,
and Madison Avenue's Don't Call Me Baby.

Whilst the remix offers now flood in, Armin only takes on tunes that he
really loves, and that "I wish I'd made myself!" His compilations strive
to follow that precedent, always comprising the cream of his current
favourite tracks and mixes. It's what keeps him one step ahead. Armin
already had a label Armind with United Recordings, which he loved, but
his desire to showcase more of the wealth of good music out there, along
with the number of people sending him tracks they wanted to release, led
him to the obvious step of starting his own label, Armada, in 2002.

"Maykel Piron</PERSONNAME /> was head of A&R for Warner Music, and we
always said we'd start a label together, though there was always an
element of bragging! I took him to Ibiza</PLACE /> for a weekend, and
during the trip we sat on the terrace and started talking. He felt like
he wanted a new challenge, and so did I". Armin and co. went the
distance, teaming up with a third partner, David Lewis</PERSONNAME />,
who'd managed Armin, and the current number #1 and #6 djs. "The market's
changed so much. What we wanted was a company that could offer everything
for an artist: representation, a booking agency, and a record company.
Artists can choose full manaagement; or to just release a record or play
out at gigs. Armada lets the artists choose what they want without
telling them what to do".

Freedom is something that Armin fully appreciates as an artist, and all
the tracks on his compilations are tried and tested, be it on the radio
show, at gigs, or in his own living room. "Production gives you more
freedom 'cos you can experiment more, it can be less obvious than djing.
Whatever - it's the best life there is! It has to do with taste. I don't
often get to hear other djs' sets, but I like that I'm not particularly
influenced by anyone else. Some of my sets have influences of house or
breaks, but I still have a certain sound that's my own".

His three year old radio show, A State Of Trance, goes out every
Thursday, 8-10pm</TIME /> on ID&T. Armin modestly puts this obviously
successful venture down to a happy accident. "A friend of

mine [Jaydee, of Plastic Dreams fame] was radio director and he asked me
to have my own show. I was stunned! I went to the studio to talk about it
and took some records to do a demo; that became my first show! It was
great, it's given me a chance to experiment with stuff, and it's all
about a universal party feeling, a warm up for your weekend, as opposed
to being about me… I want people to enjoy the show without thinking it's
some sort of Armin love-in..."

Add to that his current status as No. 3 in DJ Mag's Top 100 Poll - behind
Paul Van Dyk and Tiesto, with whom he regularly shares the bill at
clubnights around the world - and it seems things couldn't be looking
rosier for the trance scene or its young protégée.

Armin refuses to be constrained by the labels of genres, and says the
spirit behind his brand of trance has stayed true to its origins – "I was
playing proper trance before it became diluted and commercialised, before
it became a dirty word!" It's this total commitment to his music and
making sure everyone has the best clubbing experience possible that make
him a leading force in this exciting and burgeoning scene.

"Trance for me as a genre refers to the old Oakenfold sound, the warm
melodic driving music, not the euphoric cheese with vocals, predictable
breaks and drumrolls that you hear now in the charts. There are a lot of
different definitions of the genre, but to me it's just warm electronic
dance music, anything from progressive to techno. Don't be a prisoner of
your own style, is what I always say; don't get caught up in the bullshit
of your own creativity!"

Armin honed his sound on his debut artist album, 76, for which he's just
scored a prestigious Dancestar Award 2004 nomination (Best New Artist
Album). "I'd always wanted to do an album, but there'd never been the
time or the money. Scoring the number five position in DJ's Top 100 poll
the previous year helped to get labels interested, and I finally got to
go into the studio. Now basically everything I've learned in the past 10
years fiddling around in my bedroom with equipment has culminated in this
album – it's a great feeling!" Undaunted by the stir that his first
offering caused, he's keen to start on his next one; you can expect the
'difficult' second album to drop in 2005... 

This nomination will do nothing to harm his already huge following in the
States, where he recently spent three weeks rocking sold out clubnights.
Another landmark on the road to stardom is his first official global
residency with Godskitchen for 2004, playing parties all over the world
as well as monthly at Air in Birmingham</CITY />, UK</COUNTRY-REGION
/></PLACE />, all fitted in b etween his international touring, radio
show, and label. Not that he's likely to get intimidated or burnt out by
his initial success, mind. 

"This is just what I want," says Armin. "It's not love for music, it's a
passion, and it goes beyond liking, and beyond a hobby, it's about a way
of living. Music is essential for my life".

[IMAGE]

 Saturday, April 10th
Renaissance Tour
Dave Seamen
Phil K
Brett King Saturday, April 17th
Harry "Choo Choo" Romero
Eddie Halliwell
Todd Prophet
Saturday, April 24th
Gabriel and Dresden
Angel Alanis
Rebecca Sin

Confirmed acts in coming months:May 22 - Bad Boy Bill
May 29 - Marco V     

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