30 October 2025
Marco Gandolfi
Armin van Buuren joins Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to celebrate a landmark moment in his artistic evolution: the debut of his first-ever classical album, Piano, due out October 31, exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical for one week before its wide release. In the conversation, the renowned electronic artist talks about his lifelong connection to classical music, the challenge of learning piano from scratch, and how creating this album has opened a new chapter in his creative journey.
Piano will be released exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical with exclusive content including behind-the-scenes videos of Armin learning piano and composing for strings, a Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos listening experience, and playlists bridging dance and classical worlds.
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about vulnerability and imposter syndrome
Playing the piano, I feel more naked than on the cover of Men’s Health magazine... If people will dislike this or be critical of this, because it’s so personal, that will hit me harder than when I do release another dance track. But I feel I’m looking for that vulnerability right now in my life and this is exactly where I need to be.
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about hitting rock bottom and rediscovering himself
The cave you fear holds the treasure you seek... really looking that animal in the face was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Who is Armin van Buuren? Who am I? What do I want to achieve? What kind of person do I want to be? And yeah, I’ve hurt a lot of people… but most of all, I was hurting myself... During COVID, it was a relief, because all of a sudden, I didn’t have to play anymore. And that’s when I seriously considered quitting music.
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about learning to play piano
I started piano lessons in 2018, already when I was in my dark period... But in 2020, I had a new teacher. I found this guy called Geronimo Snyder… and I wanted to read scores, and it was a bit hard. So, what I did, I started composing. When he came in, I said, ‘Hey, look, listen to this, man. I created this and I love this.’ And instead of us playing more sheet music, he said, ‘Well, I actually really like what you’ve done here.’
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about recording Piano in one take
Every track on the album is a one-taker... The track starts, the camera starts moving. Imagine this, we had a perfect take with the orchestra, 12 people playing beautiful music. I played the piano, I made no mistake. We had it. And then I heard, ‘Focus error.’ We had to do the entire take... The entire album is one-taker. That is the radical departure from everything I’ve done before.
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about the pressure and emotion of recording live
There was one track, it’s called ‘Soaring Kites’ on the album, and I couldn’t record it without mistakes... I felt like the biggest loser on the planet. I went to bed panicking, and I only had five hours of sleep. I woke up the next morning, sat behind my Steinway, and I played it flawlessly... That was the biggest reward, that piece was recorded without mistakes. And then I knew, ‘Yes, I did it.’
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about discovering the power of breath
What happens if you strip away all that? What remains?... I feel a freedom behind the piano that I don’t feel behind the sequencer... What I learned mostly recording all these pieces is the power of breath. There’s music without any note being played. And that’s something I didn’t understand being a DJ... Now I understand how fundamental that is and how all the composers already knew that, the power of breathing.
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about letting go of control
It’s a serenity prayer. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference... I’m no longer the driver in my car. I got out of the car and I took a backseat... If anything, I feel more grateful than ever. Gratitude is the attitude for me.
Armin van Buuren talks with Apple Music about what Piano means to him
At this point, there’s no plan... Everybody’s asking me, ‘Are you going to do the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam?’ I have no idea. The only thing I can tell you is that it’s genuine. It comes straight from the heart and it’s in one take... It’s the most honest music I’ve ever made.
