Since 1995, van Buuren has released many tracks on different labels with increasing success. His first big success was "Blue Fear" which was on Cyber Records at the age of 19. This 'Euro Trance blueprint' made it into the UK Chart. "Communication" was released on the same label, and had a huge impact on Ibiza, Spain in the summer of 1999. After being signed to AM PM Records, this track entered the UK Chart at #18 in 2000. As of September 29, 2008, Armin has won the DJ Award for "Best Trance DJ" at Ibiza along with other nominees that of Tiesto, Ferry Corsten and Paul van Dyk.
By the time of his third release, Gimmick - "Free" was signed to R&S Records, van Buuren had managed to make his label popular very quickly. Under the surname Gaia he released "4 Elements" on Captivating Sounds, a sub-label of Warner Brothers. Teaming up with DJ Tiësto, two new projects were born: Major League - "Wonder Where You Are?" was released on Black Hole Recordings and Alibi - "Eternity" was released on Armind. "Eternity" received club and chart success and was signed to Paul van Dyk's imprint Vandit Records. Another major collaboration followed this. Together with Ferry Corsten, van Buuren recorded a riff-classic titled "Exhale" for the System F. album. Released as a single, this track reached gold status in less than a month.
In 2000, van Buuren started his own AVB compilation series. He managed to find a balance between progressive, techno and trance music styles. AVB001 - "A State of Trance" (not to be confused with his weekly ASOT radio shows) sold more than 10,000 copies and contains van Buuren's well known remix of Moogwai - "Viola." AVB002 "Basic Instinct" featured a new track: Perpetuous Dreamer - "The Sound Of Goodbye". This track entered the Dutch charts in June 2001 at number 26. Later in the year the track hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. AVB003 - "In Motion" was released 6 August 2001. This album contained the real trance sound and was very popular in the US. AVB004 - "Transparence" followed in 2002.
On 17 May 2007, van Buuren began broadcasting the first of a two part series of what would become his 300th episode of A State of Trance.
He has also worked on remix projects involving tracks by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki.
On 12 January 2008, van Buuren was given the “Buma Cultuur Pop Award”, the most prestigious Dutch music award.
Steve Mac, AKA (formerly) one half of the Rhythm Masters began his career as a scratch hip-hop DJ at the age of 11 – where he spent as many hours a day he could practicing, and ultimately left school early because of his obsession with perfecting the vinyl ‘scratching’ skill and also the studio. He was first inspired by the likes of Marly Marl, Dr Dre, Grandmaster Flash and Jazzy Jeff and many other Hip-Hop DJs and initially started ‘messing around’ making Hip-Hop records. Steve’s Foray into house music first began with Rob Chetcuti in 1990, in
After three years of studio work, Steve, (along with Rob) moved back to England and spent much of the first half of the 90’s absorbing the house scene - particularly the garage sounds of the US, where his long-term fascination with Todd Terry and the US sound began. The sounds from this time can be heard subliminally through every Rhythm Masters track – especially from their album Disconnect Your Head with tracks like The Ghetto and Underground (feat. The vocals of Diane Charlemagne) on Black and Blue. And, amongst others, 22 releases on their own label – Disfunktional Recordings.
Steve and Rob formed Disfunktional in 1996 and have since, seen releases from Junior Sanchez, Yousef, Richard Grey, Paul Woolford, Lottie, Mutiny, Kashmir, DJ Triple A and the mighty Danny Tenaglia and gorgieo moroders (from here to eternity) It wasn’t until 1996 and their remixes of Todd Terry’s Jumping’ and Plastic Dreams that it really took off for the Rhythm Masters. Their DJing took Steve and Rob all over the world and the
The beginning of 2002 saw an amicable split of the Rhythm Masters as they both decided to take a break and pursue solo projects – whilst still keeping their record label going together. Steve has since completed projects with Lottie, Mark Knight, Nic Fancuili, Mutiny, Joe Mills, Yousef, Paul Woolford and Pete Tong. In 2008 Steve has been working on his new label called ‘sMACk’ with the first release a track that he made with Pete Tong called ‘Serendipity’. He has five releases ready including tracks he did with Paul Woolford and Yousef. In Steve's own words he describes the label as his ‘Underground Offshoot’; “I’m well known for all the remixes I did last year such as Jamiroquai, Charlotte Church, Simply Red, etc but my label is raw dirty and filthy, the type of music I like to DJ with.”
Steve is also working on his solo album which is more of an electronic selection of music and which he describes as beautiful and very musical. This is a project that he also wants to take to the stage. DJing wise, Steve is a perfectionist and uses three decks, CD players, FX and a sampler in his live gigs – remixing every record live and ensuring he is more than a little different. Jim Mawsdley from Shindig,
The offering from Aaron is his way of saying thank you for taking the musical journey with him. The EP contains tracks that are both old and new. The tracks included are significant to various points in Aarons music career and are sentimental to him. The album contains a variety of genres from different angles from house, to ghettotech and many other influences in between. As you listen you can see how far Aaron has come since his break through in 1996. Defnitely one to check out we say.
Aaron certainly wants you to pass this along to your friend and share it as you see fit. Enjoy!
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