Next Gen Noise: How Martin Garrix made his mark on Miami in 2014
Next Gen Noise: How Martin Garrix made his mark on Miami Music Week in 2014
For many, Martin Garrix has become the poster boy of aspirations for the next generation of electronic dance stardom. Rallying hits, unprecedented global exposure and a plethora of industrious accomplishments at the tender age of 17-years-old, the Spinnin Records breakout-turned-Scooter Braun protégé took to Miami with a lot of expectations rallied against him. Some questioned whether the young Dutch talent could extend the reign already attributed to his ascending name, others speculated that the peak of his 12-month spate was still to come. Whichever way you look at it, Garrix dominated Miami in 2014, asserting what looks to be another affirmative run for an artist who against all odds has achieved more than the majority of his elders in a significantly short period of time. Dancing Astronaut traces the key moments of his run during WMC.
Triple IDMA Action
For an award ceremony more often dominated by large and long serving names, the young Dutchman tidied up considerably well at the International Dance Music Awards for such a relative Youngblood. Taking home home ‘Best Electro / Progressive track’ for “Animals,” as well as best break-through DJ and Best break-through Artist, Garrix shared the limelight with Spinnin Records and peers Armin Van Buuren and Hardwell in something of a Dutch takeover for the annual event. A trio of IDMA’s would later be followed by his first Edison Award, scooping ‘Best Dance Track’ for “Animals” and adding a national seal of approval to the trophy cabinet for 2014.
Garrix shares the love
With a captive audience of both fans and industry peers at his mercy, Miami Music Week was a time for reflection as well as affirmative action at camp Garrix. Alongside initial mentor and Spinnin Records founder Eelko van Kooten and current manager Scooter Braun, the trio traced Martin’s whirlwind journey to a select run of media guests at the Red Bull Guest House, recounting the journey from bedroom DJ to developing festival headliner. Garrix spent a further day with the Overtown Youth Centre coaching a host of young attendees on the basics of DJing and his own interpretations of forming a career in dance music. Referring to the event as “fun and inspiring” on his Facebook, one certainly couldn’t accuse Garrix of being ‘all-take’ amid his year in the spotlight.
Martin Garrix conquers the Ultra Mainstage
As the youngest artist to ever play the main stage of Ultra Music Festival, all eyes fell on Garrix for his inauguration to the summit of Miami Music Week. Just 12-months prior, he attended as a mere spectator, most likely with little indication of the prominence his inaugural run at the festival would take. Test running new material alongside Sander Van Doorn (“Gold Skies”,) Afrojack (“Turn Up Your Speakers,”) and the powerful “Tremor” alongside Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, the balance between exclusive material and immediate crowd pleasers kept Ultra’s center stage and the millions of streaming fans engrossed from start to finish. He’s still got Coachella to conquer, but the 165,000 plus crowd in downtown Miami seemed as strong of an indicator as any that Garrix’s festival etiquette has been primed for the big league here in 2014.
’Animals’ Goes Platinum
In the wake of his most prolific North American run to date, the final nod of approval came in the form of platinum stature for “Animals” within the US market. Racking more than £1m digital sales and £1.5m paid-downloads, unprecedented UK chart success was matched by an undisputable affirmation that Garrix’s breakthrough hit had become an international bestseller. Still in abundance in club and festival sets across the globe, prior UK top ten success for Jay Hardway collaboration “Wizard” just 24-hours after his main stage Ultra set saw the Spinnin protégé juggling some considerable tangible success on the digital market.
Garrix checks in with his national peers
In spite of his tender age, Garrix has never suffered from a strong network of peers, both local and international. Throughout his time in Miami, new material played a huge part in teasing the true extent of the young Spinnin star’s shining conglomerate. Whilst his Ultra set spotlighted collaborations alongside Afrojack, Sander Van Doorn and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, there was further speculation that some of the most exclusive cuts were still being crafted behind the scenes. Cue a cheeky snap of Garrix alongside national icon Tiësto in the studio, taken during an impromptu session matching the old and the new of Dutch dance infamy amid their respective American tirades. Garrix has no shortage of collaborations on the table, but with activity like this emerging one can only imagine what the bigger picture for the next to the throne is looking like behind the scenes. A further appearance alongside Dyro, Dannic and Hardwell at Wall did not go unnoticed, adding further speculation that with a network like his and some serious momentum building behind him at the outset of the year, an affirmative takeover of Miami may just be the tip of the iceberg for the young Dutchman in 2014.