Armin van Buuren is a happy man, and with good reason. Holding firm at Number 3 in the prestigious public-voted DJ Top 100, he’s making the transition from talented young upstart to leading light in the echelons of trance – and beyond. 2005 has brought two new significant awards (Best Radio Show, and Best Compilation for A State of Trance 2004 at the Miami Winter Music Conference Awards), and a stunning new artist album, Shivers, showcasing his debut as a songwriter.

Where are you now?
Home – Just got back from a small tour in South Africa

Where's Home?
Home is Leiden, just south of Amsterdam

Having played with almost every great DJ on the planet and remixing tracks for everyone, who do you like to work with the most? Why?
The best thing about being a solo artist is that you can collaborate with any DJ or artist you wish. The variety of working with so many different kinds of artists is the best learning experience you can have. On a vocal level, I learned much from working with artists like Ray Wilson, Justine Suissa, Nadia Ali & Martijn Hagens. Learning to work with these artists actually learned me much about song writing as well.

If you were to create a tune with ANY MUSICIAN, presently dead or alive, in some wicked live conglomeration-- who would that be?
Enya. I’ve already approached her but she doesn’t want to. She has a voice that sits right in the middle of Synth and vocals. She would be perfect for what I want to do with music.

If you were to have a forced choice of being only one of your 3 great talents, would it be being DJ live, being Radio Star or being Producer?
Hmmmm… very tough choice. I think I would have to say Producer because that’s how I started out and you don’t have to take the atmosphere of the night into account. But then again, ALL DJ’s are producers nowadays. I guess the two don’t go without each other anymore…

Can you tell Perth a little bit about the sound of your last album “Shivers”?
Shivers is my latest artist album which features tracks with Markus Schulz, Justine Suissa, Ray Wilson, Susana, Gabriel & Dresden, Jan Vayne and many others. It is a journey through all the different styles of trance. I think it’s an album that you can listen to wherever you are. Not all tracks are necessarily made for the dance floor. The sound is very diverse and I focussed more on songs than ever before.
The album was voted best album at the release dance awards during the Amsterdam dance event and now nominated for a Dutch ‘Edison’ (like the Grammies).

Who would you site as a musical influence on you in the early years?
Ben Liebrand, the big Dutch master mixer from the ’80 and ‘90’s. Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What is in your CD stack these days?
I buy a lot of cd’s. I’m trying to get hold of as much classic albums before the whole CD medium will die out. I’ll buy anything from Mahler to Jamiroquai, from Coldplay to Oakenfold and from Vangelis to Cuban music.

Could you share with us a favourite Tour Story?
That has to be my trip to Beirut last November. I just did a performance on Nov 12, 2005 in Ahoy’ Rotterdam for 12.000 people. I flew to Beirut, expecting to see a country at war. It was the opposite! A perfect example of how the media can cloud your vision on the world. The room where I played was almost as big as where I played before and the show had the same energy and amount of people as in Ahoy! It’s a great country and I’d love to go back.

What do you do for fun or what is your FAVORITE ADRENALINE RUSH, outside of playing, producing & promoting music, that is?
Diving & skiing.

What’s your favourite big-boy toy?? Car?  ?? Are you driving your dream car yet?
No not yet. I’m not much of a car freak but I must say… an Austin Martin… wow!

Which of the 7 deadly sins is your ultimate favourite?
Lust.

Why?
In the end, we’re all human.

What would you like to be re-incarnated as, if it could be anything at all?
A cat. God if I could sleep the whole day.

What’s next for you…Touring?
The Miami Winter Music Conference. I’m playing a 5-hour set at space.

Another Album in the works?
I’ll be releasing a new double album in August with some new tracks, but mostly rare, unreleased and remixed tracks. Then in 2007 I hope to release my 3rd artist album.

Final words to your Perth fans?
I’m really excited to come. I’ve never had a bad experience. In fact, if this show will be half as good as the atmosphere during the last one… it will be not to be missed!!!!

Catch him @ TWO TRIBES 06 - Sunday 5 March @ Supreme Court Gardens, 12noon - 10pm