Armin van Buuren goes acoustic with new album ‘Piano’
Inspired by his classical background, the project features 15 piano compositions recorded in one take at ConcertLab
Armin van Buuren has announced his first acoustic album, ‘Piano’, set for release on October 31 through Armada Music.
The 15-track, self-composed project is performed entirely on piano and will be available exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical for one week before its wider release on November 7.
With a career spanning more than three decades in electronic music, van Buuren has established himself as one of the genre’s most recognised figures—particularly in trance.
In addition to headlining international festivals such as Tomorrowland, Ultra, and Electric Daisy Carnival, he continues to reach over 44 million listeners worldwide through his A State of Trance radio show.
For an artist whose career has long revolved around precision-engineered trance and large-scale productions, ‘Piano’ offers a more introspective side that reflects a decade of piano study.
Recorded in one take at ConcertLab in Utrecht, ‘Piano’ was mixed in Dolby Atmos® and features contributions from cellists and a chamber ensemble, with violinist Lisa Jacobs appearing on several tracks.
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The album highlights van Buuren’s classical roots, shaped by a piano-playing father and early exposure to composers who influenced his melodic sensibility.
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“Creating melodies behind the piano has always been the foundation of my music. Together with my teacher Geronimo, sketches grew into fifteen pure pieces, free from beats. This project shows another side of me: intimate, honest, direct. My roots lie in a home filled with classical, rock, and electronic music, shaped by my father, brother, and artists like Vangelis and The Orb. After decades of trance and festivals, I longed for music without pressure — just fingers on keys. In 2025, I recorded everything in one take at ConcertLab. This album is my most personal work: from heart, to keys, to ears,” he says.
Among the pieces is a piano reinterpretation of Robert Miles’ ‘Children’, a nod to one of trance’s most enduring melodies.
Pre-save the album here.
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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