Renowned electronic music artist Armin van Buuren has announced his first-ever acoustic album, Piano, set to arrive on October 31 via Armada Music. In a special partnership, the album will be available exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical for one week before its global release across all major streaming platforms on November 7. The first track, “Sonic Samba,” is out now on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical.
The announcement coincided with a surprise in-store performance by Armin van Buuren at Apple’s Leidseplein store in Amsterdam, followed by a panel and playback session at Dolby Atmos House, both held earlier today during Amsterdam Dance Event.
Far from a departure from his electronic roots, Piano celebrates the classical influences that have long shaped Armin’s sound. Deeply inspired by his upbringing — with a piano-playing father and an early fascination with classical composers — the album represents a deeply personal journey rooted in melody, harmony, and structure.
What began as a decade-long effort to learn piano, initially meant to enrich his electronic compositions and nurture his mental well-being, evolved into a creative exploration of its own. Growing tired of playing existing works, Armin began writing his own pieces under the mentorship of classically trained composer Geronimo Snijtsheuvel, eventually crafting a collection of original piano compositions.
Each track on Piano captures a feeling, moment, or person significant to Armin’s life — from his wife Erika, to his father and brother, to the natural world around him. The first piece he composed for the project, “Fathers & Sons,” became the emotional cornerstone of the album, inspiring its intimate and reflective tone.
“Creating melodies behind the piano has always been the foundation of my music,” says Armin van Buuren. “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 and filmed at ConcertLab in Utrecht — the world’s first purpose-built filming studio dedicated to fine arts music — Piano was captured over seven days, each performance recorded in a single take and mixed in Dolby Atmos®. The album features Armin van Buuren on piano, joined by a cellist, chamber orchestra, and renowned violinist Lisa Jacobs.
Alongside its original compositions, Piano includes a moving reinterpretation of Robert Miles’ timeless classic “Children,” reimagined as a piano interpolation that beautifully bridges Armin’s trance legacy with his classical sensibilities.
Piano will be available on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical exclusively on October 31, presented in Dolby Atmos®, before its worldwide release across all major streaming services on November 7.