For many years, Armin van Buuren, a well-known Dutch DJ and record producer, has influenced the electronic dance music (EDM) landscape. He is renowned for his distinctive approach to fusing various EDM genres to provide his audience with something novel and captivating.
Armin van Buuren's philosophy as an entertainer and artist is reflected in the quote you mentioned. Consider a DJ at a party with a crowd of passionate music lovers, each with their own tastes. The DJ wants to stay true to their artistic vision while simultaneously accommodating these diverse tastes. Armin strives for this equilibrium in his performances.
Van Buuren likens himself to an artist who listens to and takes into account the wishes of people around him while still upholding his own creative integrity, rather than a jukebox. Van Buuren adjusts his set in response to audience requests, much like a chef might modify recipes based on feedback from patrons. However, he never loses sight of what makes his music special and pleasurable for both himself and his fans.
Understanding that the audience pays for the experience and arrives anticipating something unique is at the core of this concept. An artist runs the risk of becoming boring and uninteresting if they only play what the majority wants to hear without incorporating any ideas from their own creative process. Conversely, performing music just for one's own pleasure could turn off the audience. Thus, it's critical to strike a balance between crowd satisfaction and creativity.
In conclusion, Armin van Buuren's philosophy implies that, although it's critical to honor your audience by taking into account their preferences, you also need to remain loyal to yourself as an artist and keep pushing the boundaries of your craft. His music appeals to so many people worldwide because of this delicate balancing act between fulfilling one's own artistic goals and pleasing the listener.