Armin van Buuren and Chef’Special Release Inspiring Debut Collaboration: ‘Larger Than Life’

May 30, 2024 – Armin van Buuren and five-piece indie pop band Chef’Special, two of the Netherlands’ most prominent acts, just released their highly anticipated debut collaboration. Doubling as the official anthem for the Dutch men’s national football team, ‘Larger Than Life’ invokes the feeling of being able to take on the world, hoping to kick off a journey that leads to greatness.

Listen to Armin van Buuren & Chef’Special – Larger Than Life

Watch the documentary 'The Making Of Larger Than Life'

“We wrote ‘Larger Than Life’ from the desire to spark a fire,” Chef’Special explain. “It’s about the journey that hopefully leads to greatness, meaning something that’s bigger than ourselves. That process and that type of belief in one another can lift you up and make you feel larger than life. When we combine our strengths and connect as human beings, there’s nothing we’re incapable of.”

Underlining its intent to inspire, ‘Larger Than Life’ is also the first record since 1988 to feature the musical contributions of the players of the Dutch men’s national football team. Parts of the track were recorded during a writing camp held at the same time as the team’s training camp, allowing for the players, captained by Virgil van Dijk, to add to the track with claps and backing vocals. Elevated further by the uplifting vocals of Chef’Special and Armin van Buuren’s electronic propulsion, ‘Larger Than Life’ readily proves the ultimate anthem for the national football team in pursuit of triumph.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Chef’Special and the Dutch men’s national football team for ‘Larger Than Life’,” Armin van Buuren adds. “Our track embodies the faith required to make dreams come true and I hope its euphoric and positive tone will inspire everyone listening to the track. Let’s achieve greatness!”

“Back in 1988, I was an international player myself and among the many who featured on André Hazes’ classic song,” Ronald Koeman, the head coach of the Netherlands’ men’s team, adds. “Not only was it fun to do, but it also instilled a strong sense of togetherness. I heard from the players that they too enjoyed contributing to the song. I feel it’s a great track and I hope it helps to get the entire country behind the team this summer. With the support of our fans and the entire country, I believe in a successful European Championship.”

Note to editor:

For all release assets (artwork, lyrics, documentary footage), please click here.

For Armin van Buuren’s press kit please click here.

For questions and/or promotional inquiries, please contact Arabella via arabella@armadamusic.com.

About Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren has long been a global ambassador for electronic music. He currently has nine full-length artist albums to his name — ‘Breathe In’ included — and continues to cultivate a massive worldwide following through his weekly A State of Trance radio show, event series and album series, reaching 40 million listeners from eighty different countries on a weekly basis. Armin van Buuren headlines tens to hundreds of shows per year at leading festivals and venues around the world, including Electric Daisy Carnival (Las Vegas, New York), Ultra Music Festival (Miami), Lollapalooza (Chicago) and Tomorrowland (Belgium) plus residencies on Ibiza and in Las Vegas. Past summer alone, he reconnected with fans through over thirty shows, including the ‘Feel Again’ shows in the Ziggo Dome, Ultra Europe, Tomorrowland, Parookaville, Creamfields, Electric Zoo and his summer residencies at Hï Ibiza and Ushuaïa.

About Chef’Special

Chef 'Special is a five-piece popband from the Netherlands with a unique blend of hip-hop, rock and reggae. Since their formation in 2008, Dutch band Chef'Special has released four albums and toured extensively across Europe and the US.A huge part of Chef'Special's success are their already legendary live performances in which the audience is as vital to the experience as the band themselves. Whether Chef Special is touring America as support act of Twenty One Pilots, performing on the main stage at festivals like Lowlands, Pinkpop, Sziget, or in huge sold-out venues like Ziggo Dome (16.000 cap) in Amsterdam; they always convince the whole audience and turn every show in a party. After spending 2020 writing and recording in their own studio, Chef'Special returned with the single 'Afraid Of The Dark' which was a number 2 hit on the NL chart. Superstar ballerina Michaela DePrince is starring in the band's Music Video Clip, as they found each other in the message of the song and as ambassadors for War Child. By the end of the year the band released the feel good song 'Down For Love' collaborating with their Spanish friends 'La Pegatina'.