Armin van Buuren has entered a new creative era with the announcement of his first-ever classical album, Piano, arriving October 31 exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical for one week before its wide release. In a new conversation with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, the trance legend discusses vulnerability, rediscovery, and the power of letting go — marking one of the most personal chapters of his career.
The full interview is available now on Apple Music and YouTube, alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes videos documenting Armin’s piano journey, composing sessions with string ensembles, and a Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos version of the album.
A New Chapter in Armin’s Creative Evolution
After decades of defining the sound of modern trance, Armin began piano lessons in 2018, turning to the instrument as a form of introspection. During the pandemic, that practice became the foundation for what would evolve into Piano. Each track was recorded live in a single take with orchestra — a bold creative shift from the precision of electronic production.
“Every track on the album is a one-taker,” Armin told Lowe. “We had this perfect take with the orchestra — 12 people playing beautiful music — and I made no mistake. Then I heard, ‘Focus error.’ We had to do it again. That’s when I knew this was something different. A radical departure from everything I’ve done before.”
Vulnerability, Breath, and Rediscovery
Speaking openly, Armin reflected on how Piano grew from a period of self-doubt and personal reckoning. “Playing the piano, I feel more naked than on the cover of Men’s Health. If people dislike this, it will hit me harder than any dance track. But I’m looking for that vulnerability right now in my life — that’s exactly where I need to be.”
He also shared how the album taught him to embrace silence and imperfection: “There’s music without any note being played. That’s something I never understood as a DJ. Now I understand how fundamental that is — the power of breathing.”
The Meaning Behind Piano
During the conversation, Armin described Piano as a deeply personal body of work, free from the structure and expectations that often define his electronic projects. “At this point, there’s no plan. It comes straight from the heart and it’s in one take. It’s the most honest music I’ve ever made.”
Fans can listen to the first track, “Sonic Samba,” and explore Armin’s full catalog now on Apple Music. Piano will be available worldwide on October 31, with exclusive content streaming on Apple Music Classical for one week before its general release.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
