Martin Garrix
Who was Martin Garrix?
Dutch DJ and producer who became the youngest artist to headline Ultra Music Festival and is known for hits like "Animals" and "In the Name of Love."
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Martin Garrix (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Martijn Gerard Garritsen, better known as Martin Garrix, was born on May 14, 1996, in Amstelveen, Netherlands. He became one of the biggest names in electronic dance music during the 2010s, gaining worldwide fame while still a teenager. His name became linked to progressive house and big room house music, which were hugely popular at festivals as he rose to fame.
Garrix made a big splash in 2013 with the release of "Animals," a track that became a key anthem of the EDM boom. The single topped charts in several countries and established him as a major player in electronic music. After that, he continued to release hit songs like "In the Name of Love" featuring Bebe Rexha and "Scared to Be Lonely" with Dua Lipa, showing his knack for mixing electronic beats with mainstream pop.
At Herman Brood Academy, he received training in music production and sound engineering, skills that showed in his polished approach to creating electronic music. His technical skill and natural feel for festival crowds helped him produce tracks that were hits in clubs and on radio.
Garrix's career has been full of groundbreaking achievements in the electronic music world. He became the youngest DJ to headline Ultra Music Festival in 2014 at just 17, challenging the norm in an industry usually led by older artists. He consistently ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list for several years, confirming his status as a global leader in electronic music. In 2016, he launched his own record label, Stmpd Rcrds, after leaving Spinnin' Records, giving him more creative freedom and a chance to nurture new artists.
His success goes beyond just commercial wins, including major industry awards. He received the Popprijs in 2016 as a nod to his impact on Dutch popular music. The International Dance Music Awards honored him in 2019, and MTV recognized his talent with the Europe Music Award for Best World Stage Performance in 2016. His performances at major festivals like Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Tomorrowland, and Creamfields have marked him as a top live electronic music performer, capable of drawing large crowds around the world.
Before Fame
Growing up in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam, Garrix was surrounded by electronic music during the late 2000s and early 2010s, a peak time for dance music in the Netherlands. The Dutch scene, known for stars like Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Hardwell, was a great place for new talent. At the Herman Brood Academy, named after the famous Dutch musician, he had access to top equipment and learned music production techniques.
The early 2010s were a time when electronic dance music was becoming popular around the world, especially in the U.S., with festivals like Ultra Music Festival growing quickly. This was great for Garrix, as his music career developed while there was more industry investment in electronic music and streaming platforms that spread dance music to global listeners. His early work with big room house and progressive house fit well with what the festival crowd loved during this time.
Key Achievements
- Youngest DJ to headline Ultra Music Festival at age 17 in 2014
- Ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list for five separate years
- Founded successful record label Stmpd Rcrds in 2016
- Created global hit "Animals" which reached number one in multiple countries
- Recipient of Popprijs (2016), International Dance Music Awards (2019), and MTV Europe Music Award (2016)
Did You Know?
- 01.He performs under multiple aliases including Ytram (Martin spelled backwards) and GRX for different musical styles
- 02."Animals" was initially rejected by multiple record labels before becoming a global hit
- 03.He was a resident DJ at two different Ibiza superclubs: Ushuaïa Ibiza in 2016 and 2018, and Hï Ibiza in 2017
- 04.His record label Stmpd Rcrds was founded when he was just 20 years old
- 05.He has been ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list five times: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Popprijs | 2016 | — |
| International Dance Music Awards | 2019 | — |
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best World Stage Performance | 2016 | — |