Martin Garrix Hopes 'Dreamer' Collaboration With Mike Yung is 'Extra Push of Motivation'
Creamfields, the premier dance music festival from the U.K., returned to Hong Kong for a second installation in 2018, and with it, came a star-studded lineup of all the who's who in EDM.
No name better exemplifies this exclusive list than the man who has topped the Top 100 DJs poll for the three years in a row, Martin Garrix, who sat down for a one-on-one interview with Billboard Radio China to discuss his methodology in the studio, a particularly special collaboration, and his new book.
Similar to many EDM artists, Martin Garrix does not rely on preconceived notions of what he should or shouldn't do in the studio when it comes to his musical approach. Instead, Garrix relies on his instinct and whatever feels good to him.
"That's the fun thing to me about music: There are no rules, there's no certain approach, you just do it. That's the fun part," Garrix shared.
He describes his studio vibe as "fun", and says that it is a direct result of the people with whom he work: "I can't work with someone if I don't connect with them. I have to be on the same frequency with them in the way that I think, and the energy that we bring. It has to be very positive because if I don't connect, the music won't be good. Whenever I am in session, it's just good vibes."
One collaborator with whom this connection was very strong was Mike Yung. Having spent much of his life as a New York City subway busker before a run on made him a household name, Yung has an inspiring story. Purity and raw emotion can be found not only Yung's voice, but also within his character, and that, Martin says, makes him special as an artist. It's something that he feels is missing in music, and something he wants to bring back.
Garrix said of Yung: "I wanted to combine my music with his old soul voice. It was interesting to find a balance between both our sounds, and even though we have such a big difference in the music we make, there were so many things we were on the exact same page on. I could really relate to him because of the passion he has. He's been doing it for so long, and he never gave up. This guy is just a ball of passion, carries a love for music, and whenever he sees someone smile, it makes him smile, and that's how I feel as well."
Born of the partnership between the two artists is the song "Dreamer," a song that was written for everybody because, as Garrix explains, "Everybody is a dreamer, everybody has dreams, and we wanted to make a song that in 20 years, 30 years, 50 years from now, people will still put on be able to relate to. Everybody has hope and a goal, and we want this song to be a little extra push of motivation."
For many, it has taken some getting used to, but the "no rules" approach to his music is exactly what enabled this collaboration, and the response he has received is exactly what he likes so much about it.
Fans of Garrix will now be able to get an idea of what life as the top DJ in the world is like in detail via his new book, LIFE = CRAZY. The book is a compilation of photographs by photographer Louis van Baar that chronicle Garrix's life and career through a camera viewfinder.
"Of course people see the moments when I'm onstage or DJing, but they don't see what's happening behind the scenes, how I feel seconds before going onstage, or the adrenaline after I come off-stage going from 50,000 people at a show to just by myself in my hotel room. Those balances, the crazy part of touring, [Louis] captured, and we put them in the book. It's a lot of photos. I'm really stoked, and the feedback has been amazing."
Fans can also anticipate more music on the horizon. Garrix is anxious to share his new music with the world, and says he has been in the studio with many of his favorite artists. He describes the amount of unreleased music he has lying in wait as "crazy." His team has also confirmed many new shows, so keep an eye out for more details.