Armin Van Buuren’s recent post reminds fans of the historic collaboration in EDM

On August 20, 2025, legendary trance DJ Armin van Buuren took to social media to share a throwback photo alongside fellow Dutch icon Martin Garrix. The image, featuring the two artists in a candid behind-the-scenes moment, was paired with a heartfelt caption:

“Dove into the archives and found some pics of me and @martingarrix! 🙏 Can’t believe it took us this long to finally collab!”

Though their track Sleepless Nights had already dropped earlier in the year, this nostalgic post reignited global conversations, sparking viral discussions across social media platforms. Fans flooded the comments within minutes, celebrating not just the release—but the journey that brought these two giants of electronic dance music together.

It was more than a throwback. It was A Post That Rekindled the Hype.

The Moment EDM Fans Had Waited For

The highly anticipated debut of Sleepless Nights took place on March 30, 2025, during Ultra Music Festival Miami. As Martin Garrix closed his main stage set, the crowd erupted when Armin van Buuren stepped onto the stage beside him.

Together, they premiered their first-ever EDM collaboration, blending euphoric trance elements with modern big-room energy. It was an emotional and explosive moment—two generations of Dutch EDM legends finally delivering a track fans had dreamed about for years.

The surprise appearance and live premiere sent shockwaves through the festival and beyond. Within hours, the performance became one of the most talked-about moments of Ultra 2025.

Two Legends, Decades in the Making

Armin van Buuren

With a career spanning over two decades, Armin van Buuren is often referred to as the “King of Trance.” He’s best known for timeless anthems like In and Out of Love, Shivers, and This Is What It Feels Like. His weekly radio show, A State of Trance, reaches over 40 million listeners across more than 80 countries.

Despite his long-standing success, Armin continues to evolve, collaborating with younger talent while remaining true to his roots in melodic and emotional trance.

Martin Garrix

Martin Garrix burst into the spotlight at just 17 years old with his global smash hit Animals. Since then, he’s headlined nearly every major festival, launched his own label (STMPD RCRDS), and collaborated with artists like Dua Lipa, Usher, and Khalid.

Now 29, Garrix is no longer just the young prodigy of EDM—he’s a seasoned producer who bridges mainstream appeal with underground credibility. His work continues to push boundaries while remaining rooted in the dancefloor energy that made him a household name.

Despite sharing Dutch roots and appearing at the same major festivals like Tomorrowland, ADE, and Ultra, the two had never collaborated—until now.

Why It Took So Long to Happen

Behind the scenes, the delay wasn’t due to a lack of interest or ideas. In multiple interviews, both Armin van Buuren and Martin Garrix expressed mutual admiration and a strong desire to work together. The challenge was timing.

Both artists manage demanding global touring schedules, operate their own record labels, and juggle numerous collaborations each year. It wasn’t until early 2025 that their calendars and creative visions finally aligned.

The result? A collaboration born not from industry pressure, but from genuine creative connection and respect.

What ‘Sleepless Nights’ Brings to the Table

Released officially on August 8, 2025, via Armada Music and STMPD RCRDS, Sleepless Nights features the ethereal vocals of Libby Whitehouse. The track showcases the finest qualities of each artist:

• Armin van Buuren delivers rich, melodic textures, uplifting trance breakdowns, and emotional dynamics.

• Martin Garrix adds modern production power, crisp percussion, and massive drops designed for festival main stages.

• Libby Whitehouse brings emotional resonance with her vocal performance, adding depth and vulnerability.

The track’s structure takes listeners on a journey—starting with dreamy vocal intros, building into soaring synths, and finally peaking in explosive, dancefloor-ready energy.

This isn’t just a festival banger—it’s a genre-bridging masterpiece that resonates equally in clubs, on radio, and during sunrise sets on the world’s biggest stages.

Fans Respond: The Internet Explodes

Immediately after the release, fans took to platforms like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok to express their excitement:

“This took over a decade but was SO worth it.”
“That collab with Armin is out of this world!”
“Sleepless Nights = chills from start to finish.”

Clips from the Ultra premiere rapidly went viral, amassing millions of views within days. The surprise onstage moment—when Armin appeared mid-set—has already become iconic, widely regarded as one of the most memorable moments of the 2025 festival season.

A Symbolic Union in EDM

Beyond its musical impact, Sleepless Nights represents something greater: the fusion of generations, genres, and ideologies within electronic music.

In a scene often divided by subgenres—house vs. trance, commercial vs. underground—this collaboration bridges the gap. It sends a message that evolution and respect can coexist. That genre is less important than emotion, authenticity, and innovation.

Career Impact: A Win for Both Artists

Armin van Buuren

At 48, Armin remains one of the genre’s most respected pioneers. Sleepless Nights proves his ability to stay relevant without compromising his musical identity. Collaborating with Garrix extends his reach to younger audiences and reintroduces his melodic trance style to a new generation of festival-goers.

Martin Garrix

For Garrix, the collaboration elevates him from global superstar to cultural bridge-builder. It showcases his versatility and deep appreciation for electronic music’s roots, signaling that his career is entering a new phase—one focused not just on trends but on legacy.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

With the success of Sleepless Nights, fans and industry insiders are hopeful for more. The chemistry between the two DJs has sparked countless rumors about future projects.

Possibilities include:

• A back-to-back DJ set at festivals like Tomorrowland, EDC, or ADE

• A follow-up single, or even a full collaborative EP

• A joint tour or residency, showcasing both solo and collaborative sets

• A music video or visual storytelling series that dives deeper into the collaboration’s meaning

As one fan put it:

“The energy was unmatched. If this is the beginning, I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

No Melody Worth the Wait

In an era where tracks are often teased, previewed, and forgotten within weeks, Sleepless Nights proves that some things are worth waiting for.

This collaboration didn’t just meet expectations—it exceeded them. It delivered emotion, power, legacy, and unity. It gave fans from all walks of electronic music something to rally around. And most importantly, it reminded us all why we fell in love with dance music in the first place.

Armin van Buuren and Martin Garrix didn’t just release a song.
They created a moment.
A moment that redefined what’s possible when two generations of legends finally align.