Armin van Buuren Releases First Acoustic Album, Piano

Friday, November 7, 2025 — Today, renowned electronic artist Armin van Buuren shares his first-ever acoustic album, Piano, out now via Armada Music. The 15-track album features ‘Sonic Samba’ and brand-new songs like ‘Be My Lighthouse’ and ‘Fathers And Sons’. To complement the album, Armin has produced a unique DJ mix featuring tracks from Piano alongside works by composers such as Hans Zimmer, Jon Hopkins and Ludovico Einaudi, bridging the gap between the classical and electronic worlds. The hour-long mix is available exclusively on Apple Music from today.

Stream Armin van Buuren – Piano

Stream Classical DJ Mix by Armin van Buuren

Critical Acclaim

Early reactions to Piano have praised its emotional depth and artistic bravery. Zane Lowe called it “a beautiful album,” while Jack Pepper of Magic Classical, UK described it as “a classical curveball.” EDM Nomad hailed it as “deeply human, born from reflection,” and “an invitation to experience Armin van Buuren’s quietest and most sincere moments”. EDM.com said: “The compositions move with a cinematic sense of pacing and purpose.” 

An Exclusive Prelude on Apple Music

Ahead of the album’s wide release, Piano launched exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical as part of a unique partnership. The announcement was celebrated with a surprise in-store performance at Apple’s Leidseplein store in Amsterdam, followed by a panel and playback session at Dolby Atmos House, both held during Amsterdam Dance Event. The reflective tone of the album was first introduced during Armin’s in-depth conversation with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, where he described Piano as “a return to stillness.” Watch the full interview here.

A Journey from Heart, to Keys, to Ears

Far from being a departure from his electronic roots, Piano emphasizes the classical influences that have long shaped Armin’s sound. His music is deeply rooted in a lifelong connection to classical tradition —nurtured by a piano-playing father and an early immersion in composers whose works instilled in him a lasting respect for melody, harmony, and structure.

What began as a decade-long pursuit to learn piano—initially intended to enrich his electronic work and support his mental well-being—evolved into a creative journey of its own. Growing bored of playing existing scores, Armin began composing his own melodies, which later developed into fully realized pieces under the mentorship of classically trained composer Geronimo Snijtsheuvel.

Armin van Buuren says:  “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.”

Recorded in One Take

Recorded and filmed at ConcertLab — the world’s first purpose-built filming studio dedicated to Fine Arts Music — in Utrecht in early 2025, Piano was captured over seven days, with each performance recorded in a single take and mixed in Dolby Atmos®. The album features van Buuren performing both solo and with guest musicians, including cellist collaborators and a chamber orchestra led by renowned violinist Lisa Jacobs.

Watch ‘Be My Lighthouse’ performance (official video) HERE.

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In addition to original compositions, Armin revisits one of his all-time favorite trance classics — ‘Children’ by Robert Miles — reimagined as a solo piano piece that bridges his electronic roots with his classical sensibilities.

Each Note Tells a Story

Each composition on Piano is inspired by a feeling, emotion, moment, or person(s) deeply important to Armin, including his family — his wife, Erika, his father, his brother — as well as the natural world. The album translates these memories and emotions into piano-driven narratives. The first piece Armin composed for the project, ‘Fathers & Sons’, set the tone for the album and inspired him to continue in a similar emotional vein.

Tracklist:

1. Here For You
2. Longing 
3. Sonic Samba
4. Fathers And Sons
5. Be My Lighthouse
6. Waltz 
7. Temporality 
8. Setting Sail  
9. Autumn Leaves 
10. Equanimity  
11. Ballerina 
12. Synchronicity 
13. Clouded Window 
14. Soaring Kite 
15. Children 

Notes to editor:

For imagery please click here.

For promotional enquiries please contact Arabella via arabella@armadamusic.com 

About Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren has been a global ambassador for electronic music for over thirty years, with a Grammy nomination, five #1 spots in the DJ Mag Top 100, and nine full-length artist albums to his name. Through his exemplary productions, groundbreaking live shows (e.g. his new ‘THE ORB’ world tour) and his weekly A State of Trance radio show (44 million listeners from over 80 different countries), event series and album series, he cultivates a massive global following.   

 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. Berlin) and Tomorrowland (Belgium, Brazil), plus residencies in Ibiza and in Las Vegas, and his own A State of Trance events in Rotterdam, London, Mexico and beyond. As a producer, Armin van Buuren has joined forces with the biggest artists in dance music and beyond, from Hardwell, David Guetta and Martin Garrix, to Moby and Jon Bon Jovi. In June 2025, he released his ninth studio album, ‘Breathe’. 

Armin van Buuren is also the co-founder of Armada Music, the world’s biggest independent dance music label.

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