Making memories with Armin van Buuren

Ahead of his landmark [UNVRS] residency in September, Armin van Buuren, DJ Mag’s current world’s number one Trance DJ, spent an afternoon at theHUB Ibiza reflecting on the journey that brought him to this point.

Held in front of an intimate audience, largely made up of fans who had secured their place through an Instagram competition, this relaxed Q&A offered us a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of dance music's most enduring figures.

Questions came from both the media and attendees, covering everything from the origins of A State Of Trance to the genre's future, Ibiza's lasting appeal and the challenges of sustaining a career spanning more than two decades.

The occasion marked an important milestone: twenty-five years after launching A State Of Trance from a Dutch radio studio, Armin is preparing to celebrate the anniversary with five exclusive five-hour sets at [UNVRS]. Each one giving fans the chance to experience the extended journeys that have become synonymous with his approach to DJing.

"It's kind of mind-blowing. I've been doing it for 25 years, and it's been a beautiful journey."

What began as a weekly radio show has evolved into one of electronic music's most recognisable brands, connecting listeners across continents and generations. Yet despite its growth, Armin remains convinced that A State Of Trance belongs as much to its audience as it does to him.

"A State Of Trance is not my radio show per se. It's a show that was curated by the fans."

Throughout the afternoon, one theme surfaced repeatedly: connection.

Whether discussing the radio show, live events or fan interactions, Armin spoke less about statistics and milestones and more about the memories the music evokes.

"People come up to me and say, 'You played this track at this festival in 2012, and it changed my life.' You're making memories."

As attention spans continue to shorten across modern entertainment, his decision to celebrate the anniversary with five-hour sets feels almost counter-cultural. For Armin, however, longer performances remain the ultimate expression of DJing.

"If you play a five-hour set, you have to really read the crowd. You can't have the energy high for five hours. You have to take people on a journey."

That philosophy stretches back to his earliest years playing in small bars in his hometown of Leiden, where learning how to hold a dancefloor required patience, adaptability and intuition.

"I love going back to that."

Of course, performing at that level for more than 25 years requires more than experience alone. Asked about longevity, van Buuren was candid about the realities of modern touring and the physical demands that come with it.

Gone are the days when he believed he could survive on little sleep, poor nutrition and late-night excess. Today, fitness, routine and sobriety play a central role in maintaining a schedule that includes international touring, radio commitments, family life and business responsibilities.

"DJing, especially above the age of 35 or 40, is top sport. I don't drink alcohol, I don't do drugs," he explained. "For me, I can't do that. I can't have two radio shows, a family, a business and still be touring around the world."

This discipline, he believes, is essential. "You need to stay fit for sure."

Having played on the island for much of the last quarter-century, Armin sees a natural connection between Trance music and Ibiza's identity. Ibiza was always going to be central to the anniversary celebrations.

"I've been coming to Ibiza for pretty much the last 25 years. We all know Ibiza and dance music have a strong connection. It's probably the place in the world where the connection is strongest."

Despite regular predictions that another destination might one day replace it, he remains unconvinced.

"People always say Ibiza is over and somewhere else is the new Ibiza," he laughed. "Guess what? It's never. It'll always be Ibiza."

The residency itself promises more than just extended sets. Armin revealed that [UNVRS] will host the first fully immersive-audio DJ experience, developed in partnership with L-Acoustics, a concept designed to push beyond traditional club production.

"You won't believe what you're going to hear. It's like sound and visuals literally flying through the room."

Our very own Armin superfan Hayley asked about the recent resurgence of the Trance genre and the renewed appetite for melodic electronic music among younger audiences.

While Armin admitted there is no single explanation, he pointed towards changing listening habits and a generation discovering classic records for the first time.

"I think what's absolutely revolutionary right now is that people don't care if a tune is new or old. There's a whole generation now dancing that has never heard Café Del Mar or Saltwater by Chicane. They're rediscovering all those tracks."

Cross-pollination between genres has also played a role.

"Techno DJs started playing melodies again. And we're doing the opposite. We're playing more Techno beats and trancey stuff."

Part of that evolution stems from a willingness to stay curious. Despite nearly three decades at the forefront of electronic music, Armin spoke candidly about the value of learning from the next generation of artists rather than relying solely on experience.

"I'm 49 now, and I've had quite a bit of touring experience in my life. But I've learned through experience that it's super important to keep an open eye, especially to the young people. I learn more now from the young people than they learn from me."

Recent collaborations with artists including Eli Brown and Hannah Laing have exposed him to new approaches in both production and performance. Whether it's discovering fresh techniques in the studio, learning new shortcuts in Ableton, or simply gaining a different perspective on what connects with audiences today, Armin sees collaboration as an opportunity to keep evolving.

"I never think I know everything - You don't know anything."

Rather than staying within the comfort of familiar sounds, he continues to seek inspiration from artists operating in different corners of electronic music, believing that growth often happens outside of your own genre.

As the session drew to a close, one message remained clear. Behind the sold-out events, global broadcasts and milestone celebrations, Armin still views the audience as the driving force behind everything A State Of Trance has become.

"The fans are the only reason why I'm sitting here."

The afternoon may have ended there, but the story didn't. As guests began filtering out of theHUB Ibiza, van Buuren had one final surprise for those in attendance.

"For all the people that are here, and just for you guys, you can join me on stage tonight at Ushuaïa Ibiza," he announced.

Several hours later, standing behind the famous DJ booth as thousands gathered below for his only outdoor Ibiza performance of the summer, it felt like a fitting end to a day built around connection.

Twenty-five years into A State Of Trance, Armin van Buuren remains focused on what started it all: bringing people together through music.

Tickets to all five A State Of Trance parties at [UNVRS] are on sale now and available to buy below or via our definitive party calendar.