Trance icon Armin van Buuren now makes Afro-House
Since this year at the latest, Afro-House is suddenly everywhere. Acts like Keinemusik and Hugel are enjoying great success with it. Afro-House is played all over the clubs on Ibiza. It is clear that with the breakthrough, various players want a piece of the pie. Apparently, this includes the Dutch (trance?) luminary Armin van Buuren with his recently released single “Part Of Me”, although this is a long way from trance.
It’s like with any hype: once it’s really going and bringing in cash, it’s exploited to the detriment of the original actors of a previously (at least in Europe) rather niche existence? At least that’s the impression you might get when you hear that Armin van Buuren, actually regarded as a trance icon par excellence, repeating fifth place in the DJ Mag Top 100 in 2023, is now jumping on the bandwagon. Jumping on the bandwagon is probably a pretty good description. After all, the Afro-House hype is in full swing. The only question is when the next exit will come, or even the derailment. New Afro-House imitators are getting on at every station. OK, you could say that van Buuren isn’t one of those people who jump on the hype. You could also interpret it as artistic freedom, the joy of experimenting or staying up to date. Van Buuren himself said: “Don’t be a prisoner of your own style.” The Dutch top producer and DJ made this statement 15 years ago in an interview, as stated in the news report from Armin van Buuren’s label Armada Music. It says that Armin was inspired by the Afro-House genre.
The question of cultural adaptation also arises, as Afro-House was mostly sung in African languages. Van Buuren’s new track, on the other hand, was sung in English by London singer-songwriter Louis III and is called “Part Of Me”. In recent years, Louis III has worked with well-known producers such as YouNotUs, Tobtok, Wankelmut, Sigma and Tujamo. An added benefit for Afro-House by increasing its popularity, or a Eurocentric sell-out in the form of cultural adaptation in post-colonial times that harms the original artists? This is a question that could be asked in general with regard to the current hype. After all, more and more European acts have recently been producing Afro-House or releasing Afro-House remakes of their biggest hits, most recently Nalin & Kane, Hugel, Bob Sinclar and even the Eurodance act Corona.
But you could just as well ask yourself whether van Buuren doesn’t already have enough money to follow such a trend, which is a long way from his actual style. After all, in van Buuren’s artist entry on the DJ Mag Top 100 website, the style is described as “trance and progressive” and van Buuren is praised as best known for “A State of Trance”. What is certain is that Armin has experimented with various styles of electronic music in recent years. However, the fact that he is jumping on the bandwagon during the biggest boom phase of Afro-House has a strange aftertaste that could easily be accused of commercial interests. It will also be interesting to see how van Buuren wants to incorporate the track smoothly into his sets. One thing is also certain: Armin van Buuren doesn’t care, he can afford it. In the end, what counts is how the listeners respond to the result. And if it doesn’t work, the track will probably just disappear and the next one will come – maybe again with a trance release, after all Armin van Buuren has just announced on social media that he is currently working with British producer Ben Hemsley on the anthem for A State of Trance 2025. Whether you like the current Afro-House single “Part Of Me” is up to each individual to decide:
“Part Of Me” by Armin van Buuren feat. Louis III was released on September 20, 2024 via Armada Music.
You might also be interested in:
Armin Van Buuren: Remake of one of the greatest 90s club classics
