Armin van Buuren reveals his most personal project yet with first acoustic album, Piano
In a move that bridges decades of melody-driven electronic mastery with his lifelong passion for classical music, Armin van Buuren has announced the release of his first-ever acoustic album, Piano, arriving October 31 via Armada Music.
The 15-track record, composed and performed entirely by Armin himself, strips away the synths and beats to reveal the melodic heart that has guided his career for more than twenty years. The project marks a rare moment of stillness from one of dance music’s most prolific figures, offering fans an intimate glimpse into the roots of his creative world.
A moment of reflection, a lifetime in melody
Recorded and filmed earlier this year at ConcertLab in Utrecht, the world’s first purpose-built Fine Arts Music studio, the album was captured over seven days, each track performed in a single take and mixed in Dolby Atmos®. The record features Armin on piano, joined at times by cellists, a chamber orchestra, and violinist Lisa Jacobs, creating a soundscape that is both cinematic and deeply personal.
The album’s first single, “Sonic Samba,” is out now on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical, offering a taste of what’s to come before the album’s wide release on November 7. Piano will be available exclusively on Apple Music for one week before streaming across all major platforms.
To celebrate the announcement, Armin surprised fans with an in-store performance at Apple’s Leidseplein store in Amsterdam, followed by an exclusive panel and playback session at Dolby Atmos House during Amsterdam Dance Event.
An album born from stillness
Far from being a departure from electronic music, Piano highlights the classical influences that have long underscored Armin’s work. Raised in a musically inclined family, with his father a pianist and his brother an artist, Armin grew up immersed in composers and sounds that shaped his sense of melody, harmony, and emotional storytelling.
What began as a personal journey to learn piano over a decade ago soon evolved into something more profound. Encouraged by his mentor, the classically trained composer Geronimo Snijtsheuvel, Armin began writing his own pieces inspired by his family, memories, and the natural world. The first composition, “Fathers & Sons,” became the emotional blueprint for the rest of the album.
Armin van Buuren explains:
“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.”
Among the fifteen compositions, Armin also pays homage to one of his all-time inspirations with a reimagined piano rendition of Robert Miles’ “Children,” bridging trance nostalgia with neoclassical emotion.
With Piano, Armin van Buuren steps into a new chapter of his artistic evolution, one that honors the past while offering something profoundly human, honest, and timeless.
Release details:
Piano available October 31 exclusively on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical in Dolby Atmos®
Wide release across all major streaming platforms on November 7
