The Digital Maestro: Charting Martin Garrix's Ascendancy in Electronic Music

🌟 A Global EDM Phenomenon

Martijn Gerard Garritsen, professionally known as Martin Garrix, is a Dutch DJ and record producer who has achieved global recognition in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene. Born on May 14, 1996, in Amstelveen, Netherlands, Garrix quickly rose to prominence, becoming a dominant force in the industry.

🏆 Reigning DJ Mag's Top 100

Garrix's impact on the global DJ landscape is underscored by his remarkable achievement of being ranked number one on DJ Mag's prestigious Top 100 DJs list for three consecutive years: 2016, 2017, and 2018. This consistent top ranking solidified his status as one of the most influential figures in contemporary electronic music.

🎵 Signature Tracks

He is widely celebrated for a string of highly successful singles that have become anthems in the EDM world. Among his most iconic tracks are "Animals," which propelled him to international fame, "In the Name of Love," a collaboration with Bebe Rexha, and "Scared to Be Lonely," featuring Dua Lipa. These tracks exemplify his distinctive sound and production prowess.

🚀 Breakthrough with "Animals" (2012-2014)

Garrix's career began with collaborations like "BFAM" with Julian Jordan and "Just Some Loops" with TV Noise. His remix of Enrique Iglesias' "Tonight (I'm Loving You)" caught the attention of Spinnin' Records, leading to a deal in 2012. After releases like "Error 404" and "Torrent," his solo track "Animals" (2013) became a massive international hit, making him the youngest artist to reach number one on Beatport. He also signed with Scooter Braun Projects and debuted new tracks at Ultra Music Festival 2014, including his first vocal track "Gold Skies" and collaborations with Hardwell and Afrojack. He entered DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs list at number 40 in 2013, rising to number 4 in 2014.

🤝 Collaborations & Contract Disputes (2015)

In 2015, Garrix explored progressive house, releasing "Forbidden Voices" for his fans. He collaborated with major artists like Usher ("Don't Look Down"), Ed Sheeran ("Rewind, Repeat It"), and Tiësto ("The Only Way Is Up"). He also co-produced Avicii's "Waiting for Love" and released the Break Through the Silence EP with Matisse and Sadko. A significant turning point was his departure from Spinnin' Records and MusicAllStars Management due to disputes over music ownership, particularly concerning "Animals." He filed a lawsuit against his manager, Eelko van Kooten, alleging "false and misleading information." While a settlement was reached regarding ownership rights, other disagreements continued to be litigated.

👑 Label Launch & Global Recognition (2016)

The first quarter of 2016 saw Garrix launch his own record label, Stmpd Rcrds, aiming to create a platform for diverse artists. His first single on the label was "Now That I've Found You." At Ultra Music Festival, he premiered ten new tracks, including collaborations with Linkin Park and the debut of his duo Area21. He signed a worldwide contract with Sony Music International, citing their "forward thinking approach to streaming." The year culminated in the release of "In the Name of Love" with Bebe Rexha, a live performance on The Tonight Show, and a unique "Seven" EP, releasing seven songs in seven days. Most notably, he was crowned the world's top DJ by DJ Mag, a title he would hold for three consecutive years. He also won "Best Electronic Act" and "Best World Stage Performance" at the MTV European Music Awards.

⚖️ Legal Victories & New Aliases (2017)

Garrix continued his ascent in 2017, supporting Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour and securing a residency at Hï Ibiza. He released "Scared to Be Lonely" with Dua Lipa, performing it on The Tonight Show. Collaborations like "Byte" with Brooks and "There for You" with Troye Sivan further expanded his musical range. He ventured into modeling, becoming the face of Armani Exchange's Fall 2017 campaign. At Tomorrowland, he debuted his deep house alias, Ytram, and premiered "So Far Away" with David Guetta. A significant legal victory saw a Dutch judge rule in his favor, regaining the rights to his music from Spinnin' Records and permanently terminating his contract. He also released "Pizza" and, under his GRX alias, "Boomerang" with Brooks.

🏅 Olympic Stage & EP Releases (2018)

The year 2018 began with the release of "Like I Do" with David Guetta and Brooks, followed by a headline performance at the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. He continued to release new music, including "Game Over" with Loopers, "Ocean" with Khalid, and "High on Life" with Bonn, which he premiered at Tomorrowland Belgium. He maintained residencies at Ushuaia Ibiza, Hakkasan, Omnia, and Wet Republic. Under his GRX alias, he released "X's" with CMC$ featuring Icona Pop. He also launched the Bylaw EP, releasing five songs in five days, featuring collaborations with Blinders, Dyro, and Pierce Fulton (with Mike Shinoda). For the third consecutive year, he was ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list.

📉 Shifting Tides & Leaks (2019)

In 2019, Garrix released "No Sleep" with Bonn and headlined major festivals like Ultra Music Festival Australia, Tomorrowland Winter, and Ultra Music Festival Miami. He released "These Are The Times" featuring JRM. However, the year also brought challenges: he lost his number one spot on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list to Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, finishing in second place. He also announced the end of his relationship with model Charelle Schriek. A significant legal setback occurred when Spinnin' Records won an appeal, ruling that Garrix did not have the right to prematurely break his agreement. Shortly after, his computer was hacked, leading to the leak of several unreleased songs, including "Rewind, Repeat It."

🌐 Pandemic Era & Euro 2020 Anthem (2020-2021)

During the touring pause of the COVID-19 pandemic, Garrix remained active, releasing "Drown" with Clinton Kane and performing a King's Day set from an Amsterdam rooftop. He released "Higher Ground" with John Martin and "Pressure" with Tove Lo. A major highlight was the release of "We Are the People" featuring Bono and The Edge from U2, which served as the official song of UEFA Euro 2020. He performed the song at both the virtual opening and closing ceremonies of the tournament. Further collaborations included "Love Runs Out" with G-Eazy and Sasha Alex Sloan, "Diamonds" with Julian Jordan and Tinie Tempah, and "Won't Let You Go" with Matisse & Sadko and John Martin.

💿 Debut Album: Sentio (2022-Present)

In 2022, Garrix released "Follow" with Zedd and Emily Warren, followed by "Limitless" with Mesto. He then announced his highly anticipated debut album, Sentio, which was released on April 29, with all tracks listed as singles in order of their release. He continued to collaborate, releasing "Loop" with DallasK and Sasha Alex Sloan, which he had premiered at Ultra Music Festival earlier that year. In December 2022, he released "Hero," a collaboration with Jvke for the mobile card game Marvel Snap, showcasing his continued engagement with diverse projects and platforms.

🎗️ Supporting Cancer Awareness

In May 2016, Martin Garrix headlined a charity event in Los Angeles. All proceeds from this event were dedicated to Fuck Cancer, a non-profit organization focused on early detection, prevention, and providing support to individuals affected by cancer. This initiative highlighted his commitment to using his platform for significant social causes.

📚 Educating Children in India

November 2016 saw Garrix embark on an India tour, which included a special charity show in Mumbai. Attended by over 62,000 people at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, the event's primary goal was to raise funds for Magic Bus. The proceeds were used to support the education of 10,000 children across India, demonstrating his dedication to global educational initiatives.

🌍 SOS Children's Village Ambassador

On February 24, 2017, Garrix was appointed an "international friend" for SOS Children's Village in South Africa. This non-profit organization is dedicated to building families for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children worldwide. He expressed his concern about the lack of family support for many children globally. In 2019, during his Ultra South Africa tour, he visited the SOS Children's Village, performing a one-hour DJ set for 100 excited children and young people.

🤝 Aid for Mexico & War Child

Following the Mexico earthquake in 2017, Garrix demonstrated his immediate support by donating $10,000 from his fee for the Ultra Mexico lineup. In September 2019, he hosted a show in his home country, the Netherlands, with all proceeds benefiting the War Child Holland Charity, raising over €270,000. He further supported War Child in June 2020 by appearing in a public service announcement alongside other celebrities, advocating for the organization's mission to support and empower vulnerable children and families.

🎶 Studio Albums

• Sentio (2022)

💽 Extended Plays (EPs)

• Gold Skies (2014)
• Break Through the Silence (2015, with Matisse & Sadko)
• Seven (2016)
• Bylaw (2018)
• IDEM (2024)

📦 Compilations

• The Martin Garrix Collection (2017)
• The Martin Garrix Collection (Deluxe) (2018)
• The Martin Garrix Experience (2019)

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