Artist Spotlight: Armin van Buuren
‘Breathe Out’ completes the two-part Breathe project, following 2024’s ‘Breathe In’. How does this second album reflect your personal growth and artistic evolution over the past year?
‘Breathe Out’ reflects the second half of a very personal journey for me. After years of nonstop movement, I’m happy to have found more balance in life, both as a person and as a producer. This new album taps into some of that calmness and clarity. It’s still full of energy, but the decisions behind the songs come from a more grounded place.
Were there any particular tracks on ‘Breathe Out’ that challenged you creatively or pushed you out of your comfort zone during production?
Some of the collaborations on ‘Breathe Out’ really pushed me creatively, like ‘Dragon’ with Indira Paganotto, but I approached this album with a much more fluid mindset. Instead of feeling boxed in or overwhelmed, I was able to embrace the process and enjoy the experimentation. That shift made even the most unexpected tracks feel natural and I’m excited to let the results speak for themselves.
How has the process of creating ‘Breathe’ impacted your perspective on music production and your role in the electronic music scene?
The creation of ‘Breathe’ really made me choose purpose over pattern. I’ve never been one to chase trends, but this album helped me zoom in on what truly drives me. It made me realize that music has to feel intentional and that the creative process doesn’t need to be rushed. It will get done, one breath at a time.