Armin Van Buuren: ‘Pillars of Creation Takes Me To My Roots’

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by Alexandra Mansilla

Armin Van Buuren: ‘Pillars of Creation Takes Me Back To My Roots’

9 Oct 2024

https://www.instagram.com/arminvanbuuren/

You already know that on October 24th, Armin van Buuren will debut his new show, Pillars of Creation, on the golden sands of Ras Al Khaimah to kick off an epic new event series coming to the emirate in 2025 called Seven Wonders. It is being called a revolutionary experience that will set the tone for Seven Wonders next year — bringing something entirely new from Armin and his team. So, what can we expect? What sets it apart from the rest? And how long will it be? (Yes, we all remember that 7.5-hour set in Romania.) We spoke with Armin to find out.

— First, since I am always interested in names, I would like to ask: Why did you choose the name Pillars of Creation? What does it mean to you? And did you consider any other names before settling on this one?

— This concept came pretty organically because it was something I had already been playing with for a long time. It actually takes me back to my roots as a music producer, hence the title Pillars of Creation.

If you Google Pillars of Creation, you will see a cloud formation in the solar system. It looks almost like a hand and represents the origins of our galaxy — it has to do with creation, the foundation of our existence, where carbon was formed for the first time and things like that. There are all kinds of theories about it, which I thought were amazing to explore musically. Pillars of Creation stands for the foundation of where I come from, both musically and as an artist — my love for electronic music, synthesisers, and playing music with non-traditional instruments.

— We have all read the press release, which mentions that Pillars of Creation will be a completely revolutionary experience. What sets it apart from other shows?

— It is a little hard to explain without revealing all the details, but I will try! I think you can see a shift in the dance music world right now — people want to be part of the performance rather than having that clear divide between the artist on stage and the crowd listening.

I feel that both the crowd and I need to go back to the roots, where it all started and where the essence of trance came from. It is about connecting with the people around you and dancing to the music.

Music is about community. It is about connection; it is about movement. So, with Pillars of Creation, the crowd won't be separate from me; they'll be part of the experience. They will be dancing within the pillars of creation.

This will definitely create a very different experience, rather than just staring at a stage in front of you. Imagine if the stage surrounds you — if you feel like you are actually part of the experience. It is a 360-degree environment, and there is less divide between the artist and the audience.

With Pillars of Creation, I want to give people what they expect from me, but in a different way. It is going to be a bit more progressive and deeper but without alienating my fans too much. I have the chance to present multiple sides of my music. It allows me to go a little deeper and be more experimental.

I hope to take this concept to several other locations around the world. It is not just tailor-made for the UAE — it is a global premiere, starting with the Seven Wonders series in Ras Al Khaimah.

And especially because we are not aiming for tens of thousands of people like usual, but rather a smaller, more intimate crowd, I think the experience will be even more special. So, honestly, if you are not there at the event, you are going to miss out — trust me.

— How long is this set going to be?

— Right now, we are looking at a minimum set of two and a half to three hours.

Photo: Bart Heemskerk

— You are known for playing long sets; for instance, your performance at the Untold Festival in Romania was seven and a half hours! Could you please tell me how it is possible to stay and perform for that long?

— Haha, well, you have to be very fit. I don't use drugs, I don't drink alcohol, and I am in the gym almost every day. Actually, right now, I am on a diet — I just had my protein shake. You really need to stay fit, especially at my age (I am 47). And It is really about taking care of yourself — balancing sleep, rest, workouts, family, and mental health. I also meditate every day!

Last weekend, I spent time with my family at our beach house in the Netherlands. I did nothing but relax — I walked on the beach, watched movies, and helped my daughter with her math homework.

I also don’t DJ every weekend anymore. When you do 14 shows in a row, like I did for 16 years in Ibiza, you start feeling like a jukebox; your sets can lose some of their magic. That is why I prefer to focus on special projects now.

I love to compare my sets with food. No one wants to have Christmas dinner every day. You could call Pillars of Creation more like a Christmas dinner with Armin van Buuren, while a one-hour set at a big festival is more like a good burger or some nice sushi with Armin. I love the food analogy because it is kind of like I am a chef preparing a meal for you. No one wants a hamburger every day. No one wants sushi every day. And no one wants Christmas dinner every day. That is how I approach my sets these days — I am always asking myself what I would really enjoy if I were in the audience watching a DJ.

It is important that fans see you evolving. If I were a fan of DJ X or Y, and I knew two or three of their tracks, I would expect to hear them, but I would also hope the DJ would go out of their way to give me a great experience. That is what I have always aimed to do throughout my career. Sometimes, that even means doing shows for free. For instance, last week, I played a free show in my hometown of Leiden to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the city’s liberation from Spanish occupation. We set up nine different screens across the city, and I dedicated my set to Leiden. It was something I had never done before — completely unique, very special.

The show I am doing in the UAE will be completely different. Pillars of Creation is closest to my heart because it embodies the sound I fell in love with as an artist before I was even a DJ. It is the kind of music that made me want to do this in the first place.

— And I assume there will be an incredible audiovisual experience, too?

— You can take Pillars of Creation quite literally. Is that a good hint? Think of "Pillars" with a capital P!

— Okay, and since you have already performed in the UAE, could you describe the trance music scene in the UAE in a few words?

— Trance music has always been big in the Middle East. I have shared the stage with many artists from the region as well. I think electronic music — especially trance — just has a special connection with people in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. There is a lot of love for melodies, perhaps even more so than for beats or drums.

Some of my favourite artists actually come from the Middle East, like Aly & Fila. They are good friends of mine from Egypt, and they bring that unique sound, too. They also have a label called Future Sound of Egypt.

I have done many shows throughout my career, including in Lebanon, Jordan, and Wadi Rum, and I have played in the UAE many times. I have even performed in Saudi Arabia. It is always been a great experience — the venues are packed, and there is a lot of love for my sound.

— So, as you said, Pillars of Creation takes you back to your roots. My last question is about the very beginning of your career. I remember you once mentioned that you started in a small bar, where you used to play, and then had to clean the toilets after you had finished your set. Could you share the story of your very first DJ set — how did it happen, and what was it like?

— Well, my very first DJ set was actually at my high school. They always had this event around Christmas, and we were allowed to play in the gym. The whole school would be there, and a big rock band would be playing first. After that, they would let us play electronic music for an hour or two. Something really special happened that time; it was my first time DJing, and I immediately fell in love with it.

by Alexandra Mansilla

Armin Van Buuren: ‘Pillars of Creation Takes Me Back To My Roots’

9 Oct 2024

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