Armin Van Buuren is one of the most popular DJs in Holland. He started as a DJ at a nightclub in Leiden called Nexus. In 1995 he graduated from school and enrolled in college to study law. At the same time his team went in his room where he produced the hits Van Buuren Touch Me and Communication. Armin would fit in the same league as other producers’ trance DJs like Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk. That is, part of the star system more expensive DJs. The first success of van Buuren Blue Fear was single that was released with the label Cyber ??Records. This single, whose gender was defined as Euro trance, was very popular in the UK. The comment and Communication was his second hit, also released under the same label and became popular in Ibiza in the summer of 1999. In June 2001, premiered on radio show called A State Of Trance ASOT aka the Dutch ID & T radio station, which was hosted by Armin van Buuren. A State Of Trance becomes a two-hour program very popular with young people around the world that broadcasts the major developments in trance and progressive music.

Productions

Armin’s own productions have all made a huge impact and quickly gain worldwide acclaim; his third artist album titled ‘Imagine’ entered the Dutch Album Top 100 Chart at number one; this is the first time a dance producer has ever accomplished such a feat in the history of Dutch music. The ‘Armin Only – Imagine DVD’ was also released and reached the acclaimed number one spot in its second week. The music video of ‘In & Out of Love’, the hit-single with singer Sharon den Adel, received more than 88 million views on YouTube, holding the first position on the Dutch Top 10 of most viewed videos all-time. Armin’s back catalogue includes Blue Fear, Communication, Sound of Goodbye, Shivers, Rush Hour, Burned With Desire, Exhale, Love You More, This World Is Watching Me, and Yet Another Day. While the remix offers flood in, Armin only takes on tracks that he really loves. He uses exactly the same criteria for his compilations, meaning that every release from Armin or his long-running Armind label is a bone fide stormer that’s earned its place. His output includes tracks for the cult TV series 24 and the likes of Motorcycle, The Killers, Faithless, BT and Kerli.

But, as a true artist befits, Armin keeps creating new music and has released his fourth artist album, ‘Mirage’, in September 2010. For the album, Armin collaborated with the likes of BT, Christian Burns, Ferry Corsten, Adam Young and Nadia Ali. ‘Mirage’ reached golden status in The Netherlands only 3 months after its release, selling more than 25.000 copies. After the first single, the instrumental, powerful trance track ‘Full Focus’, the second release of the album was a collaboration with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, ‘Not Giving Up On Love’. The music video for the track was shot on party island Ibiza, including shots of Club Amnesia, where Armin holds his residency. ‘This Light Between Us’, featuring Christian Burns, and ‘Drowning’ with singer Laura V, are the follow-up singles.

A State of Trance & ASOT 500

But aside from recognition and ever-going fan support, it’s the music that means most to Armin. The perfect example of that given fact, is his weekly 2-hour radioshow ‘A State of Trance’. Listened to by 15 million EDM lovers, he continues to deliver his fans a selection of the best in trance and progressive, no matter how busy his tour schedule might be. The 400th and therefore 8th birthday of the show was celebrated in style with a cross-country 72-hour live broadcast, with three events in Germany, UK and the Netherlands. ASOT 450 was even bigger, with 5 events in 4 different countries. A State of Trance 500, the 10th anniversary of the show, was celebrated in 5 different countries on 5 different continents; South-Africa, the Netherlands, USA, Argentina and Australia. All A State Of Trance 500 events were broadcast live.

ASOT Podcast and A State of Sundays

In addition to the weekly show, Armin also started the weekly ASOT podcasts, which contain highlights and Armin’s favourite tracks from the previous episode, to ensure that trance lovers across the world will never miss another episode. Every Sunday, Armin van Buuren hosts a 24 hour radio day called ‘A State of Sunday’, broadcasted on one of the biggest radiostations of the US, Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Next to the A State of Trance shows, the show also introduces its listeners to special sets of other popular DJ’s and talented artists.

Markus Schulz is a German trance music DJ and producer who resides in Miami, Florida, USA. He is best-known for his weekly radio show titled Global DJ Broadcast that airs on Digitally Imported radio.He is also the founder of the EDM label Coldharbour Recordings.

Schulz has released six mix compilations and three artist albums under his own name. He has also released productions and an album, Thoughts Become Things, under the alias Dakota. Through his work with remixing tracks, he has had the opportunity to work with such artists as: Depeche Mode, Madonna, Everything But The Girl, Jewel, Oceanlab, Gabriel & Dresden, Télépopmusik, Fat Boy Slim, Miro, Book Of Love, Blue Amazon, and PQM.His remixes of “Intuition” and “Stand” by Jewel both hit #1 on the Billboard club chart.

Performing

When not in the studio working on new mixes, Schulz maintains an extensive international touring schedule. He originally held a seven-year residency at The Works in Phoenix, Arizona, where he developed his style. Since then, he has performed at clubs all over the world and has DJ’ed at some of the laregest festivals and events, including: Electric Daisy Carnival, Electric Zoo, Monster Massive, Together As One, Ultra Music Festival, Amsterdam Dance Event, Nature One, Dance Valley, Love Parade, Global Gathering, ETD Pop, Trance Energy 2010, Bang Music Festival, Future Music Festival, Bal en Blanc and at the Episodes 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 of A State Of Trance.
On October 28, 2010, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, placing Schulz at #8 DJ in the world.