asot festival

A STATE OF TRANCE 1

FEB.212015

A STATE OF TRANCE

TOGETHER IN

A STATE OF TRANCE

FESTIVALJAARBEURSUTRECHT

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THE ARMIN INTERVIEW

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PRODUCTION Q&A

PAGE 22

AN AUSTRALIAN

ADVENTURE

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TRANCE AMBASSADORS

MAGAZINE

2 A STATE OF TRANCE A STATE OF TRANCE 3

DEAR TRANCE LOVER,

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE A STATE OF TRANCE FESTIVAL UTRECHT 2015!I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR’S EDITION.

It’s crazy to think that almost 14 years ago I started this little radio show on

a cable-only radio station in the Netherlands. A lot of people at the time told

me I was crazy for doing a two hour radio show dedicated to just one style of

music EVERY WEEK! The reason I did so was because I was a big fan of radio

growing up. I taped a lot of mixes and radio shows and listened to them on a

big yellow Walkman riding my bike to school. I always promised myself that

if I could ever get the chance, I would do my own show. I love radio. With TV

you always have to go through somebody’s front door and invade his or her

privacy. With radio, you can just call somebody. It’s much more intimate. It’s

like this little friend that’s always there, no matter if you’re happy or sad. Even

though the internet and technology is changing our everyday life, radio is still

here, pretty much in the same form! That’s really special I think.

I’ve been using a State of Trance as the centre of everything I do. I share

everything I do with the listener through my show. Whether it’s about a new

track or mix I really like, a recent DJ set, or about the fact that I just became

a dad. And the listener talks back to me through social media! It’s a two way

street now. It gives me the opportunity to use your ears to test new music.

Sometimes I’m really excited about a new track and the listener says: “Meh...”

And sometimes I’ll play a track I think is ‘ok’, but it’ll turn out to be a massive

hit with the listeners! That’s why I say: we make this radio show TOGETHER.

Without you, there would be no A State of Trance! Your help makes the show

better every week. Without your continuing support and love for Trance and

your endless debates online, there wouldn’t be such a community! This is

what I’m most proud of.

I love to have been a part of 700 weeks of ASOT. It’s wonderful to see the

development of Trance as a genre. I remember that back in the early days I

had a really, really hard time to fill a 2 hour show with new music every week.

Right now, it’s so much more easy. I guess it has to do with the fact that Trance

has so many different sub-genres now, which I absolutely love. One thing they

have in common: the melody and the beats are still there. It’s all based around

them, around that driving force. And I will continue as long as the music keeps

surprising me and the genre keeps moving forward. Because even though I

love a classic once in a while, I want to look to the future of Trance – and it is

looking very promising with all these new guys.

I can’t wait to share more ASOTs together with you.

Lots of love,

Armin van Buuren

Colophon The-ReportersEditor in chief: Maaike van der LindenDesign: Bram SchinkelLead editor: Ole ThijsEditors: Milan de Wijs, Edo van den Berg& Mark Verhoeckx

Advertisements by: Francois Maas

© 2015 Alda Events - Information from this publication may only be quoted with the acknowledgement of Alda Events as the source. No rights may be derived from the information in this publication.

Even though the A State of Trance

events have always been a string of

highlights, it seems that your team

is stepping up its game for the year

2015 and beyond. How far are you

intending to push it?

“We went from a single live broad-

cast to a number of events to a festi-

val. It’s the first time a radio show has

its own festival. But I guess the sky is

the limit! There are no boundaries to

your imagination. We have 750 com-

ing up next year... and then 1000.

Who knows where we’ll end up?”

The world is truly becoming the

dancefloor for ASOT with the ad-

dition of a livestream. Quite a chal-

lenge as well, we can imagine. How

do you succeed?

“We can only deliver the sound and

the video. The idea is that people in-

vite their friends and have a house

party looking at the live broadcast.

Radio and internet are so power-

ful now! You can literally connect

the entire world. Imagine if EVERY

single radio and laptop in the world

would be on... We’d have the biggest

dancefloor!”

The live video feed is an addition to

the radio show as well. How do they

relate to each other?

“A State of Trance is first and fore-

most a radio show. That means

the event never ends when you go

home. The idea is to bring radio to

life with the broadcast. People can

actually see and feel the music and

experience the sound of ASOT even

more Intensely!”

The kick-off took place earlier this

month in Sydney and Melbourne in

the form of a Celebration Weekend.

Was it an example of ‘well begun is

half done’?

“Well, it’s always quite scary to start

with a new concept, a new theme

and a new stage design. For months,

it’s all in our heads and on paper.

When you see it coming to life, it’s

always the most magical thing. And

I can say: the new stage design

worked! The only thing that will be

extra in Utrecht is the new Radio

Dome, which will now be in a special

room so people can see radio being

made.”

Is there a special reason why Sydney

was chosen as the starting point of

the festival concept?

“Australia has a very big dance music

scene and there was a lot of demand

for the return of ASOT after the suc-

cess of 550. It’s also summer there

now so people are extra in the party

mood. It just all came ‘together’,

haha!”

Now you’re at the point of serving

your home country with the best

trance music available once again.

How high on the excitement scale

do you find yourself at the moment?

“Very high! This is the moment that

has been in the back of my mind for

months. I collected a lot of new mu-

sic and composed 5 new tracks for

this event and my new compilation.

It’s also one of the few times I get to

play in my own home country so that

makes it extra special.”

Traveling the world must have put

things in perspective for you. To

what extent does hosting ASOT on

your own soil stick with you?

“I’m Dutch. I was born here and I

live here, this is extra special since

so many people I know will be there.

For me it’s just as big as playing To-

morrowland or Ultra. It’s also the big-

gest event of the whole tour, with 4

stages and over 30 DJs.”

Next up is a special in Miami, after

which you’ll move southwards for

Buenos Aires; every setting has its

own vibe. What is it that makes all

ARMINVAN BUUREN

these destinations so unique?

“Well, there’s a lot to say about the at-

mosphere of Miami and Buenos Aires,

but a lot of good things about these

locations you can think of yourself. For

me, the reason to go there is that it’s

the perfect meeting point for trance lov-

ers. Argentina is known for an extreme

love and passion for trance and Miami

during WMC and Ultra is just perfect,

since there are so many people from all

over the world gathered for one special

weekend.”

A wide and colorful range of trance art-

ists perform at the ASOT festivals on

various continents. On what basis are

they selected?

“We always try to have a good mix of

young and new talent and more estab-

lished names. It also depends on the

availability of the artists. And now that

we don’t have five festivals five weeks in

a row, but a more even spread through-

out the year, we can have more varied

line-ups and more to choose from.”

Are there any new found gems or ex-

clusives that you would mark as a ‘must

see’?

“I’m a real big fan of David Gravell, Mark

Sixma, MaRLo, and Bryan Kearney, to

name a few.”

“The idea is that people invite their

friends and have a house party with

the broadcast.”

A STATE OF TRANCE 5 A STATE OF TRANCE4

A STATE OF TRANCE6

TOGETHER IN A STATE OF TRANCE

What is the foundation of this year’s

theme, ‘Together in A State of

Trance’?

“I wanted to do something complete-

ly different than last year’s theme.

Celebrating 700 episodes of my ra-

dio show is a rather special moment.

I would never have been able to

do this without the community. The

show is not only made for the fans,

but most of the time also BY the fans.

Many don’t realize the importance of

their feedback on the music and the

show. We make the show ‘together’.”

It sounds like going back to the es-

sence, a return to the roots. Is that

what the concept called for?

“The concept of the radio show has

never left its origin. It’s always been

the latest and best in a two hour non-

stop mix, for almost 14 years running.

Always focusing on the new and the

young.”

It is a very inclusive motto, referring

to the multifaceted crowds and the

artists as one united entity. Is that

also what you feel and experience

when you are on stage?

“There’s something very powerful

about experiencing music together.

It’s a celebration of life. Something

happens, it’s hard to explain what,

but those who’ve experienced it will

know what I mean.”

Does togetherness in music have

boundaries?

“Only the boundaries of your imagi-

nation.”

ASOT RADIO SHOWLet’s go back to the cradle of it all:

the A State of Trance radio show.

What is it exactly that gives radio so

much potential as a medium, looking

at ASOT in particular?

“Radio is all about the here and now.

Everything that’s future (new music)

or past (classics or remixes) you can

make current because you decide to

play it. It’s also very intimate. Radio is

like your little friend that always talks

to you, no matter what mood you’re

in.”

700 episodes is a massive number,

considering that you have to bring

something new and fresh every single

time. Where does the energy start

flowing?

“It all begins and ends with music.”

Your fans and listeners fuel a signifi-

cant part of the engine. How do you

get them involved during the radio

shows?

“Through social media the people talk

back. This is what makes the show

what it is.”

The number of stations around the

globe that broadcast the show is ever

growing, even containing some ‘un-

usual’ countries, like Jamaica. What

does this say about the character of

the show and trance music in general?

“Most weeks all I do is pass on the lat-

est in trance and progressive to the lis-

tener. I guess people want to hear it!”

Could you say that every country in

the world is now a potential country

to be added?

“No, there needs to be a certain fol-

lowing for trance. I’m still on a mis-

sion to convince a lot of people!”

THE MUSIC AND THE SCENEAfter a long musical journey you’re

still active in the studio. How impor-

tant is productive output for you?

“It keeps me with my feet in the mud,

if you will. I need to hear and feel

what the people like and what works

on the dancefloor. Plus, it would be

hard to tie me down. I overflow with

ideas.”

You’re working on a new artist album

at the moment. What can we expect?

“All I can say about that is… Watch

this space, friends!”

While the electronic dance scene

has faced a certain shift during re-

cent years, ASOT and yourself have

remained close to their core. Is this a

conscious move?

“I always said I would quit the show

if I wouldn’t feel enough new sounds

and new talent coming up. I love

trance and it’s closest to my heart.”

It goes without saying that this

doesn’t imply that the music is stand-

ing still. Could you point out the cur-

rent developments within the trance

sound?

“I think the word ‘diversification’

comes closest to a description of

what’s happening. You have all

these new sounds in trance and

classic sounds, each with their own

fans. There’s the new, represented

by guys like MaRLo, Mark Sixma,

Andrew Rayel, Ørjan Nilsen, and the

more classic uplifting like Aly & Fila,

John O’Callaghan et cetera. And a

lot in between.”

Where do you think that the sound

will go in the next couple of years?

And how do you intend on steering it

in the ‘right’ direction?

“There’s no right or wrong in music. It

all depends on the people and how

they react. I keep following my heart.

I love to watch all the new sounds

coming in.”

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE GOALS

In December of 2014, you won a

4x Platinum award for the ‘A State

of Trance Year Mix 2004-2013’ se-

ries. What does this mean in a world

where the sale of CDs is on the de-

cline?

“It’s amazing to see how many people

want to listen to the mixes again and

again. It’s really what makes it all worth

it. All these long hours in the studio…”

And recently you were chosen as the

resident DJ of the brand new Omnia

Nightclub in mighty Las Vegas. Quite

the honour, isn’t it?

“Yeah. It feels a bit strange as the

only trance guy, but I guess that’s the

whole point!”

Sum it up: what is 2015 mainly going

to be about for Armin van Buuren

and ASOT?

“Together!”

A STATE OF TRANCE 7

A STATE OF TRANCE A STATE OF TRANCE 98

Armin van Buuren will soon become a

resident at Omnia Nightclub, located in

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. The resi-

dency marks the beginning of a new

partnership with exciting prospects.

As Armin explains: “The reason this whole

thing is so special for me is because, you

know, I finally get a setting in a venue

where I can bring my full show. We’ve al-

ready been working for months with the

people from Omnia to make every show

an unforgettable one. To put you in a state

of trance. The only thing I can think of is I

want rip the roof off. It’s going to be spe-

cial, you really do not want to miss out.”

So... what’s better than having a good

trance set after trying your luck in the ca-

sino? The first show will take place on Fri-

day March 27th and tickets are available

on the website of Omnia Nightclub, with

more dates to be announced.

Apart from the memories in your mind, it’s always good to take

something physical home. Something to show the world that

A State of Trance is a part of your life. Tonight you had the

opportunity to grab a wide range of ASOT products: T-shirts,

hoodies, wristbands, flags, beanies and more, including Armin

van Buuren merchandise as well.

Did your item sell out before you got a hold of it? Or did you

completely miss the stand? No need to worry, the items will be

available online at the Armada Shop after the event.

Go to astateoftrance.com and take your pick.

GET SOME ASOT IN YOUR DAILY LIFE

VIVA LAS VEGAS

NEWS

2015 IDMASThe International Dance Music Awards are coming up: a prestigious and high

standard show that is part of the Winter Music Conference taking place in

Miami, USA, from the 23rd ‘till the 28th of March. Music lovers from all around

the globe can support their favourites by voting; Armin van Buuren received

an impressive 7 nominations in 6 categories.

The categories that Armin will be competing in are ‘Best Global DJ’, ‘Best

Trance Track’, ‘Best Compilation or Full Length DJ Mix’, ‘Best Trance DJ’, ‘Best

Podcast or Radio Mixshow DJ’ and ‘Best Headphones’. And to top things off,

Armada Music has been nominated for ‘Best Global Records Label’, a title

that the label has earned for five years in a row and that will hopefully be

prolonged. Voting ends March 2nd, so you still have a chance to support

Armin and Armada Music! Go to www.armadamusic.com/idma2015 to cast

your vote.

astateoftrance.com

VOTE NOW ON ARMADAMUSIC.COM/IDMA2015

21 IDMA NOMINATIONS ARMADA MUSIC

FOLLOW ARMIN VAN BUUREN’S ASOT RADIO ON

ARMIN VAN BUUREN PRESENTSRISING STAR

FEAT. BETSIE LARKINSAFE INSIDE YOU

TAKEN FROM ASOT 2015

A STATE OF TRANCE 2015NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREEORDER ON iTUNES

RELEASE: MARCH 27TH


The fact that you were present here tonight means that you are connected to a common

core, that all of you share in a profound musical essence. Though interconnected on a deep-

er level, there were different areas where different experiences were awaiting you, repre-

senting the various layers of trance music. Did you get a taste of all of them? Or did you stay

loyal to one of the realms?

MAINSTAGE 1Even though two mainstages were installed for this special occasion, this was the biggest area.

Trance lovers as far is the eye could see, and you were one of them. In the course of the night,

you were drawn from one highlight to another. To make sure that everyone had a proper warm-

up, Armin van Buuren himself provided the first tunes of the event. He returned later on for

his main performance, making it magical as always. Other prominent faces to be found on this

stage were Cosmic Gate, Andrew Rayel and Aly & Fila. After witnessing this Major League of

trance music, a satisfied return home was guaranteed!

MAINSTAGE 2Another place for you to be was the second mainstage. Simply because there are so many

consistent-quality and talented artists around in the genre, this stage was just as vibrant as

its counterpart. A red thread of originality and next-level sounds was formed by the likes of

Audien, Arty, and none other than Gareth Emery, leading up to another set by Armin van Buuren,

who enchanted the many souls present once again. And while you reached that special yet in-

describable state, Omnia and MaRLo took you even deeper into sound, towards the end of the

story. The memories of this experience will certainly last.

TALENT ROOMA State of Trance is always looking forward, always trying to provide you with the freshest gems

around and the sounds of the future. If you set foot in the Talent Room during this amazing

night, you’ll surely understand why these guys are the ones to watch. From Rodg, who kick-

started the journey at this area, to Arisen Flame, who once again proved to be one of the big-

gest talents around, and from the melodic skills of Hazem Beltagui to the final notes from Faruk

Sabanci, they were all great. Let’s just say that the years to come are looking more than bright.

WHO’S AFRAID OF 138Well, were you? A lot of you have been spotted on the dance floor, so we guess that there were

quite some bold 138 BPM junkies among you. This area was about the faster, louder and more

energetic sounds of trance. Tonight, these phenomena were brought to you by the ones who

know exactly how to turn things up a notch. Combine the experience of Mark Sherry and RAM

with the power of guys like Jorn van Deynhoven and Sean Tyas, and you can only agree that

this has been a hell of a ride.

TOGETHER IN A STATE OF TRANCE

ALEXIS BIERNAT Poland

ANDRES VIVANCO Spain

ROLANDO BLOOMAustralia

DINA FRANIĆCroatia

JESSICA BORGES US

MIMMI KLINTHEDE Sweden

HIROAKI KAWAGUCHI Japan

DÉBORAH KELLER United Kingdom

ENRIQUE CHMexico

LAUREN MARCUS South Africa

LISELOTTE DOLMANThe Netherlands

WORLDWIDEFAMILYMeet the worldwide ASOT family! Here’s a shout-out to all these fans from all over the world. They’ve been looking forward to our night of trance in Utrecht, expressing their support and enthusiasm on one of ASOT’s online channels. Whether they’ve physically attended or lis-tened to the radio on this special night, we are connected to all of them through our love for ASOT.

A STATE OF TRANCE12 A STATE OF TRANCE 13

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

HIGH STANDARD INNOVATORSWhat you see unfolding on stage at ASOT Festival is directly or indirectly linked to what happens behind the scenes. Two of the lead figures who are in charge of the design and shows are Sander Reneman and Carlo Ruijgers. And they’re all about keeping things high standard and innovative. Read on to find out what that means.

Can you explain how you try to push yourself a little

bit more every year?

“Every year we try to create a next level experience

for the audience. We’re always trying to add some-

thing different, creating new effects in all disciplines.

With the use of light, for instance, or by creating a

new style in video. We try to get the most out of the

production possibilities.”

How would you describe the essence and feeling of

the ASOT design and show?

“A State of Trance is a world tour and our approach is

somewhat ‘technical’, due to the requirement that the

stage design should be feasible all over the world,

without looking different in terms of quality. With this

year’s ‘Together’ theme we try to embrace the audi-

ence more, making them feel more like a part of the

show.”

What special or unique elements will you use this edition?

“The main principle of A State of Trance events is

Armin’s eponymous weekly radio show. This year

we wanted to bring Armin and his show closer to the

crowd. For this, we designed a brand new radio studio

which will actually be located ‘frontstage’ so people

can now view the broadcast live and interact during

the festival.”

How is your communication with Armin van Buuren and

the rest of the team in the process?

SANDER RENEMAN 250K

“Armin has distinctive ideas on the concept of A State of

Trance and is challenging the whole team to push the

boundaries. Since we’ve worked together for several

years, I know what fits and how we can add a new creative

layer. Together with the team we set up the basics of the

tour and show. Then everyone starts working on their own

specialization, and we’ll check in regularly with each other

to make sure we’re all on the same path and in line.”

To do your job, how do you like the Jaarbeurs as a

location?

“This location is not limitless and that’s what it makes in-

teresting to create the best possible experience within the

budget. In comparison to other venues, the Jaarbeurs has

a rather low ceiling, which makes things somewhat more

complex.”

How long before the event do you really start building on site?

“The preparations take months. Because we’ve started

creating ASOT Festivals around the world we have to

make sure all the festivals have the same look and feel.

The preparations on site started on Tuesday with the build.

The actual show preparation starts only one day before the

show.”

ASOT is an international concept, of course. What are your

experiences with the differences between countries?

“Every country, every place is different. Customs and peo-

ple are different, but for me that is why this life we live and

this job we do is so much fun! If you’re open to others’

ideas and input, you can always come close to what we

believe is necessary for the quality standard for A State of

Trance. With the right amount of energy every show has its

special something, its X-factor.”


A STATE OF TRANCE16

CARLO RUIJGERSEYESUPPLY

You’ve been doing all of Armin van Buuren’s shows for al-

most five years now. What’s it like to work together with

one of Holland’s biggest artists?

“Working together with Armin is great. There’s a feeling of

mutual respect and faith. We get a lot of space to practice

our ideas and we keep each other sharp to maintain a high

standard.”

How difficult is it to come up with original ideas after such

an amount of shows? How do you keep innovating?

“We’re constantly dealing with the question how we can

make the show better, more beautiful and innovative.

Every time we try to take a step in terms of quality. This

can be through new techniques or through a different way

of thinking.”

Six years ago you decided to push Eyesupply, your pro-

duction platform, to a higher level by developing it into an

actual company. How do you keep it challenging six years

later?

“In the past years the projects always turned out to be

challenging, and we keep it exciting by looking for innova-

tion ourselves. We also try to educate young people and to

share our knowledge in order to grow as a company and to

be able to accept smaller as well as bigger projects.”

Do you work independently, or is Armin’s opinion essential

in arranging the shows?

“Armin’s opinion is essential in making a good show. I think

that every artist has an image of what he wants to expose

on stage and what story he wants to tell with his music.

These are the handles that we use in designing a fitting

visual package.”

To what extent do you adjust the show and approaches to

the venues? Do you bring the same show to every A State

of Trance edition, or do you vary?

“Each year we have a basic package of visuals that we can

use everywhere. Next to that, we make custom images for

each stage that fit perfectly and get the best out of that

particular stage.”

You use a custom made timecode system. Is this exclusive-

ly for Armin van Buuren, or do more artists use it these

days?

“That’s correct. We use this system, that was developed by

250K and Haute Technique, to sync video to Armin’s free-

style set. The system was born out of the wish that we all

had for Armin Only. In the meantime it has become a part

of Armin’s other shows as well, but there are also other

artists and events that use it, such as Hardwell, Amsterdam

Music Festival, Afrojack and Dance Valley.”

Can you compare your cooperation with Armin to any oth-

er projects, or is the bar higher here than it normally is?

“Each and every project carries the same importance for

us and we always try to get the best result out of it. Be it

Armin, Afrojack or Laidback Luke, they’re all essential to

us. The nice thing about working with Armin’s team is that

we constantly push one another and have one common

goal: a good show. You see that in the end result.”

What is the best memory you have from the projects

with Armin? Are there things that you would have done

differently, looking back on the past years?

“Last year’s Armin Only Intense tour was one never to for-

get. The shows were just crazy and the people were fan-

tastic. However, afterwards you always keep thinking that

you could have done an even better job, and that is a good

incentive to go on. It’s the drive to create new and better

shows time and time again.”

A STATE OF TRANCE 17


16.10.201517.10.2015

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A STATE OF TRANCE22 A STATE OF TRANCE 23

Every trance lover will agree that ASOT sets a stan-

dard, being one of the biggest and influential series

of events within the genre. For the edition of 2015,

‘captain’ Armin directed his trusty trance family to-

wards Australia for a Celebration Weekend. Major

innovation has been underway in the country’s elec-

tronic music scene, strengthening its appreciation

for the classic genres as well. So, what better way to

celebrate music old and new than with a kick-off show

within arm’s reach of Sydney’s iconic Opera House?

After the first Sydney night, the weekend went on in

Melbourne before coming to a close in Sydney again.

Armin played a warm-up set to tease the crowd and

then performed for two hours at primetime, releasing

mayhem on the dancefloors of both Exhibition Halls

and the Homebush grounds. And of course, he invited

many talented DJs to both cities, including David Grav-

ell, Alexander Popov and the mysterious Gaia duo.

Australia’s ASOT weekend was a major success, and if

this weekend was any indication, the upcoming world

tour is going to be one to look out for!

AN AUSTRALIAN CELEBRATION

ØRJAN NILSENØrjan Nilsen is a regular at the A State of Trance events,

but it’s always a privilege to play for him. “I started listen-

ing to ASOT shows years ago and ever since ASOT500

I’ve been offered the chance to grow along with it. I start-

ed at quite possibly the smallest stage and worked my

way up to the biggest one this year, so I’m very proud

and looking forward to it!”

Of course Armin van Buuren played a big role in Nilsen’s

career. “Without him, my musical career would’ve looked

very different. Thanks to him I’ve been given many of the

opportunities I’ve had throughout the years. To this day

he’s a good friend and an important sounding board,” and

that goes for new music too, of course! “In 2015 you can

expect more vocal tracks from me, and I’m looking forward

to making a third album this year. And maybe, just maybe,

I’ll have a special surprise for the fans at the end of the

year.”

Did you know…

Ørjan Nilsens favourite holiday destination is home?

ANDREW RAYELAndrew Rayel is a busy man. Like a certain DJ we know

all too well, he hosts his own radio show, called ‘Find

Your Harmony’. He travels the world to play at the cool-

est events worldwide, too. For 2015, his goal is to do

everything bigger and better than during previous years.

“I want to make more music, have bigger shows, make a

new show production and provide fantastic experiences

for the fans.”

The ASOT Festival feels like coming home to Rayel. “It’s

like my second family, ASOT unites the world under one

big roof. The radio show as well as the live events have

helped the scene of trance music in a massive way. It has

helped it grow and helped so many artists, that everyone

gladly comes back to play at these events. I’m truly thank-

ful for Armin’s support in ASOT. It has been, and still is, re-

ally important to me and everyone else in trance.”

Did you know…

Andrew Rayel took classical piano lessons for no less

than 7 years?

AUDIENLast year’s new trance entry in the DJ Mag Top 100,

Audien, was set to rock Mainstage 2 tonight. Though it’s

nice to be appreciated, lists like the DJ Mag Top 100 are

a bit weird according to the man himself. “It’s unusual to

rank art, in my opinion, but I’m really proud that so many

people voted for me. They are the reason I make music,”

says the 23-year old. “I’m not focusing on lists and rank-

ings. This year I just want to make hit records and travel

to some fun places I haven’t been before.”

“Playing at A State of Trance is very special to me. Armin

and the ASOT brand were meaningful to me as a fan, then

as a bedroom producer and now as a professional artist. I

have immense respect for what Armin and his team have

built and the success they’ve had launching new talent (my-

self included!) with this platform. I don’t consider myself a

100% trance artist per se, but ASOT does feel like home.”

Did you know…

Audien’s favourite animal is the ARMINdillo?

MARLOBorn in The Netherlands, but raised in Australia, coming

back to play for the Dutchies is always a strange experi-

ence for MaRLo. “It feels like coming home in a way. But

on the other hand I have been living in Australia for so

long, that it also kind of feels like I’m a guest in my own

country of birth.”

“Playing at ASOT is unique, the grand scale of things

amazes me every time. The production and the amount of

people is really overwhelming. And I have great respect

for what Armin has done. He first got me passionate about

trance with his track communication, but overall he's a

huge inspiration in how he has successfully created the

biggest label in trance, Armada, the biggest radio show for

trance, ASOT, and also the best trance events in the world.

It's truly inspiring and drives me to be passionate and work

hard at what I love.”

Did you know…

MaRLo loves the traditional Dutch snacks honingdrop,

osseworst and kroketten? (Separately, though!)


ARTIST FEATURES


NEWS

Last month it was launched into

the world of trance, a soundtrack

of unity that captures the pure

feeling that we all know by heart:

Armin van Buuren’s ‘Together (In A

State of Trance)’. The man himself

provided the energy, the build-up

and the impact that an ASOT an-

them needs and made his message

obvious.

Apart from the magical and uplifting

original version, six remixes are also

included, tailor-made by Alexander

Popov, David Gravell, Mark Sherry,

Bryan Kearney, Faruk Sabanci and

ReOrder & Standerwick pres. Sky-

Patrol. Each of them presents a

unique interpretation of the theme’s

true essence.

During the months to come, these

creations will continue their path to

other continents of the globe, where

they will touch more souls with their

energy. You can still get your digital

edition at one of your favorite digital

download platforms or grab a physi-

cal copy via the Armada Shop.

ASOT ANTHEM

& REMIXES

On the 18th of July, Electronic Family will be held for the fifth time at

the Amsterdamse Bos. Living up to the festival’s reputation, you will be

served with the best of today’s uplifting sounds. Even though the line-

up is still a secret, ALDA Events is promising you that it will be a more

than worthy anniversary.

In order to reward the loyal Electronic Family visitors and to make sure

that they will not miss this special occasion, ticket buyers of all previous

editions will get a discount on their ticket. Never attended before? Don’t

worry, you can subscribe for the event and enjoy the same discount. Out

of all subscriptions, there will be a lucky winner of a trip to one of the next

ASOT destinations.

In case you haven’t subscribed yet, you can still do so at electronicfamily.

nl. But be sure to do it right after reading this, as subscription for EF2015

will close Sunday the 22nd of February!

Electronic Family is looking forward to celebrating its anniversary with you!

ELECTRONIC FAMILY CELEBRATES ITS 5

YEAR ANNIVERSARY

MIAMINext up on the State of Trance

agenda is a special in Miami, on

the 29th of March during Ultra

Music Festival. The line-up has

not been announced yet, but

you can expect your favourites

to be there. In case you’re not

able to make it, make sure to

tune in to the live radio stream.

BUENOS AIRESOn the 11th of April, A State of

Trance will meet Latin American

passion during A State of Trance

Festival Buenos Aires. Which, by

the way, is already celebrating its

third consecutive edition. If Ar-

gentina is too hot for you, check

in with the full livestream to get a

taste of the experience.

WHERE TOTRAVEL NEXT?

ANDREW RAYELORJAN NILSEN

MARLOJOCHEN MILLERDAVID GRAVELL

RUBEN DE RONDEGo to�ummerfestival.be

DISCOVER MANY OTHERARTISTS AND STAGES

MIDDENVIJVER ANTWERP - BE

I have very high expectations of this

night. The ASOT events I’ve been to

in the past were all amazing and this

one is supposed to be even better. I’m

sure Armin won’t let me down! It’s a big

honour to meet him. I really admire his

dedication and it’ll be nice to shake

hands with the man responsible for so

many happy memories.

Music is a very big part of my life. Not

only trance, but house, techno and

progressive as well. The thing that I

really like about trance is its ability to

cause emotional responses more than

any other genre. Euphoria, happiness

and unity with the crowd surround-

ing you. I’ve shared great moments

with both my own friends, and friends

we’ve met along the way. That’s what

I love about trance and especially

about ASOT. I hope everyone has an

amazing night, see you on the dance-

floor!

Hi, my name is Jonny Murray and I’m from the United Kingdom.

I’m super-excited to be a special guest at the

best trance festival in the world! The venue

is massive and the line-up is extraordinary,

so I’m really looking forward to escape the

everyday life of work and study and party as

hard as I can with my friends.

Last year I attended A State of Trance and

got blown away. This year will be even cool-

er since I got selected as one of the ambas-

sadors. If I had to describe A State of Trance

Festival in three words I would say ‘outra-

geous’, ‘majestic’ and ‘unforgettable’.

I’ve seen Armin quite some times on TV, in-

ternet and at live shows, but I still can’t re-

ally grasp the idea of him standing in front

of me and talking to him. I hope I’ll think of

something to say when I see him, because

right now I’m still a bit overwhelmed by the

idea of meeting him. Armin is such a big in-

fluence in the world of electronic music and

I admire the fact that he’s been working on

such a high level for so long.

I have no doubt that this will be a night that

I’ll never forget!

Music festivals are a big part of my life,

over the past year I’ve attended quite

a lot of them, but A State of Trance is

always something special. You could

say that it’s an important part of my life.

If you’d ask any of my friends, they’d

tell you I’m obsessed with trance

music.

Thursday is definitely my favourite

day of the week. Ever since I started

to listen to ASOT in 2009, I’ve been

trying not to miss any episodes. It has

a special place in my heart, so be-

ing one of the ambassadors at ASOT

festival means a lot to me. I hope this

weekend will be the best weekend in

my life: trance music, my friends and

a meet & greet with the legend Armin

van Buuren. And the Netherlands of

course. I love this country!

Hey people! My name is Florian Bakker, from Amsterdam.

Hello! My name is Elwira. I’m 24 years old. I live in England, but originally I’m from Poland.

This year’s A State of Trance Festival was very special for a few of our most

creative followers on Facebook. Meet the Ambassadors! They sent a quick

and witty response when asked for a picture on which we could see

them in ‘a state of trance’. These lucky few experienced the night

of their life, including a meet and greet with Armin van Buuren.

ASOT means a lot to me because it was

how I first fell in love with trance music -

‘The Sound of Goodbye’ was one of my

first favourite trance tracks and is a tune

I still completely love. ‘A State of Trance

Year Mix 2007’ is my all time favourite mix

from Armin, the CD was never out of my

car stereo! ASOT was also the first ever

rave night I went to with my boyfriend

David. We first met in Ibiza in 2012 when

I was invited on a group holiday with

him. On the second night of our holiday

we went to ASOT at Privilege and had

an amazing night together, we danced

all night right in front of the DJ booth,

amazing memories watching Armin and

raving together! Armin was the DJ that

THE AMBASSADORSARE A TRUSTY TRANCE FAMILY

Hi everyone! My name is Charlotte Litten. I’m 30 and I’m from Suffolk.

made me first fall in love with trance

music, so meeting him will be ex-

tremely exciting for me. Trance music

has given me so many amazing mem-

ories, new friends and great experi-

ences! Plus it’s my boyfriend David’s

birthday so I’m really pleased I could

give him such an awesome birthday

present! (I know he’s very excited too!)



NEWS

FOLLOW US fb.com/astateoftrance

fb.com/ASOTFestival

FIND & TAG US

#ASOT700

#ASOTFEST

#ASOTFESTNL

#ASOTFESTAR

#ASOTFESTMIA

Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance

Playlist on Spotify has recently passed

the 200,000 followers bar. To give

you an idea of how big an achieve-

ment that is: the ASOT Playlist is now

the second most popular playlist

worldwide, just after One Direction

with 235,000 followers.

Armin was one of the first DJs to ac-

tively sink his teeth into the Spotify

platform, filling it with releases from

his label as well as episodes of the

highly anticipated radio show. Last

year this already resulted in reaching

1 million followers on his Spotify chan-

nel; now, the grand total has reached

1.2 million fans.

TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND TIMES SPOTIFY

GLOBAL BROADCASTLast year, 1.5 million people world-

wide visited the livestreams of A State

of Trance 650. This massive number

includes people from over 150 coun-

tries, spread across various conti-

nents.

The new A State of Trance com-

pilation by Armin van Buuren

is right around the corner! The

year 2015 is destined to be-

come a great year for trance

music, and even more so with

this pearl being released into

the world. It will be out on the

27th of March and is already

available as a pre-order. The

two discs contain 37 tracks in

total and each disc ends with

a continuous mix. The track-

list has been announced on-

line and includes creations by

Protoculture, Alexander Popov,

Aly & Fila, two new tracks by

Gaia and a collaboration be-

tween Armin van Buuren and

Mark Sixma.

A very special feature on this

mix compilation is a track by

Armin van Buuren’s alias Rising

Star. It’s been 13 years since

the last release, and after a fan

asked for new material, Armin

decided to team up with Betsie

Larkin, resulting in ‘Safe Inside

You’. The track is already avail-

able for purchase on iTunes, so

go grab it now.

MERCHANDISE GIVEAWAYDo you want to make all your friends jealous? This is your

lucky day! We’re giving away this awesome snapback from

the Armada Store. All you have to do is send an e-mail to

[email protected] and tell us about the first time you

got in touch with ASOT. The funniest, most moving or

strangest story gets to show off this snapback for the rest

of the summer and long after that. Or you could give it a

special place in your living room, of course!

ARMIN VAN BUUREN: A STATE OF TRANCE 2015

Dearest, loveliest Laura,

ASOT 600 Den Bosch brought us together.

Two weeks before ASOT 650, our daughter Femke

was born. Five weeks before ASOT 700, our daugh-

ter Ilse was born. And now, we are together again at

our party, which is so much more to us than just a party. I

could not imagine a better place for an occasion as special

as this one. After all we’ve been through over the past two

years, with our rather big family (6 kids, 4 from previous mar-

riages), I am 200 percent certain: I’d like to ask you…

Will you marry me?

A STATE OF TRANCE32

Monday

We received some cool videos from the ASOT Celebration

Weekend in Australia, which we want to release this week

on the ASOT Festival Facebook page, so we’re checking

to see which ones we can use. After that’s done, we’ll send

a photo briefing to the photographers for Saturday. We

want to make sure we’ve got photos of every DJ, every

stage, the Radio Dome and of course the fans. The photo-

graphers will run from stage to stage to take the best shots.

At the end of the day we’re saying goodbye to our pro-

duction colleagues who will be in the Jaarbeurs from Tues-

day until Sunday. Tomorrow they will start building up the

stages!

Tuesday

Today is all about communication. First, we had a big meet-

ing with our social media team to discuss the schedule of

the online activity on the ASOT social pages this week.

Since there will be a lot of press attending A State of

Trance, we have to send them the press tickets today.

Tuesday is also the day we’re sending the last info mail

to our visitors. With such an enormous group it’s really im-

portant to inform them well, our goal is to give them the

ultimate ASOT experience.

Last but not least we’ll do a final check for all the banners

that are being made. By using #ASOTFESTNL everywhere

we hope to make this ASOT event trending worldwide, just

like last year!

Wednesday

On Wednesday we’re preparing the ASOT livestream to-

gether with our partner Nomobo. They will help us stream

the ASOT Festival to all our friends and followers world-

wide. And there’s even more video!

We’re recording a video with Gijs & Ruben today. We

thought their first little film, of their time in Australia, was

great. Today Gijs & Ruben will get a famous ‘Broodje Mario’

in Utrecht. We’ll put the vid on Facebook afterwards.

Thursday

A meeting with Armada to discuss all updates and

ideas about A State of Trance today. By tuning into the

livestream, this year, people will be able to watch and chat

about the show as it is taking place. It also contains a few

surprises like exclusive material. Fans can see their own

questions in the broadcast, too. After several years of

using a radio studio that was used away from the audience,

we’re now finally able to bring the studio to the people.

By using a new type of design, we developed the ASOT

‘Radio Dome’. Placed among the audience, it’ll enable us

to let people listen in on the radio show, even during the

event. The Radio Dome will be first used in Utrecht, where

special headphones will be handed out to a few lucky visi-

tors.

Friday

On our way to the Jaarbeurs to see how far they’ve come

with all preparations for the festival. Really curious what

the Radio Dome looks like since it’s the first time. Hopefully

everything will look great! In the meantime, we have to stay

in touch with our ambassadors. They all won two VIP tick-

ets and a meet & greet with Armin van Buuren on Saturday.

They are flown in from all over the world so we’re help-

ing them find their way around. The radio show A State of

Trance is live on Radio 538 tonight, some ASOT DJs are

coming to the studio for a visit.

Saturday

D Day! Heading off to Utrecht because today it’s ASOT time!

Let’s make it a good one!

The organisation of a festival as big as ASOT700 is no small feat. Evelien, the

event’s Marketing Manager, and Koen, Digital Marketing Manager, open up

their diaries to give you a sneak peek into their world...

THE MANAGERS’ DIARY

A STATE OF TRANCE 33


Qpromo

USING ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS IS NEVER WITHOUT RISK

BE GENTLE FOR YOUR EARS

THINK FOR YOURSELF, CARE ABOUT OTHERS

PACE YOURSELF: EAT, SLEEP, RAVE

DON'T PUSH YOUR LIMITS. BE RESPONSIBLE

BE PREPARED FOR ANY TYPE OF WEATHER

TAKE YOUR TIME TO CHILL

SAFE SEX, ALWAYS

THE FIRST AID TEAM IS YOUR FRIEND

DON'T DRINK DO DRUGS AND DRIVEYOU ARE A GREAT RISK FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS

WWW.CELEBRATESAFE.NL

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

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A STATE OF TRANCE40

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development of trance

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dear trance lover

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