Martin Garrix
Artist Facts
Active: 2013- present
Name: Martijn Gerard Garritsen AKA Martin Garrix
Genre: Progressive House, big room house, electro house
Birth date: May 14, 1996
Place of Birth: Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands
We know tons of artists from the scene. We know the tracks, the performances and see interviews, but what do we really know about our edm heroes? We are diving into the depth and investigate one of today’s biggest dj. Who is he, where does he come from and how did he get to where he is today?
This week we are talking about Martin Garrix, the young Dutch DJ who first hit ‘Animals’ came out when he was only seventeen years of age. Many fans, as well as producers and DJs, view Garrix as the new number one DJ in the world. The big question is only: Who is Martin Garrix actually?
Artist Background
Martijn Garritsen was born on May 14, 1996, in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. After watching Tiësto perform at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, he knew he wanted to become a DJ and producer because the performance made a lasting impression. Inspired especially by Tiësto’s track “Traffic,” he downloaded music production software, FL Studio, and began experimenting with his own sound.
As he became more serious about developing his skills, he adopted the stage name Martin Garrix and committed fully to building his craft. This dedication later led him to enroll at the Herman Brood Academy in Utrecht, one of the Netherlands’ most respected music production schools, where he could sharpen his production abilities in a professional setting.
In 2012, Garrix began gaining early industry attention, and the momentum built quickly. He released “BFAM” with Julian Jordan, earned recognition including SLAM! FM DJ Talent of the Year, signed to Spinnin’ Records, and reached a major milestone when his remix work appeared on Christina Aguilera’s album Lotus (Deluxe Edition). Therefore, 2012 became a breakthrough year that laid the groundwork for his rapid international rise soon after.
Musical Career
Things started to look good for Garrix, he had a label, his first official release and a first award. Now the real work could begin and in 2013 he released a song called ‘Torrent’ which was Tiesto’s own label, Musical Freedom Records, which Garrix produced together with Sidney Samson. Garrix probably did not know what to expect at that moment, but it turned out to be his big breakthrough. On June 16, 2013, the dj released a track called ‘Animals’, which catapulted him into the spotlight. This hit record, which now is pretty old, peaked at No. 1 in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, and went platinum in the U.S.
After the success of his major new hit record, he continued to surprise his fans with amazing new tracks. He releases a remix of ‘Project T’ by Sander van Doorn and DVLM which became number one on beatport. The track received a spot in the Dutch Top 40 at number seventeen and in Belgium at number six.
After that, together with Firebeatz Garrix made ‘Helicopter’, which then stood at number one on Beatport for two weeks. It was a great start for 2014 and the results were experienced at Ultra Miami. Garrix played a lot of new tracks, including a collaboration with Afrojack. ‘Tun Up The Speakers’ which became another big hit for Garrix and at that moment we knew for sure: we have a new world artist from the Netherlands.
After all these successful years it was time for a bit of change. Martijn started to change and his tracks became a bit different. The producer started to develop his own sound that would fit better with progressive house than with electro house or big room. On February 6 2015 Martijn distributed a track to celebrate 10 million Facebook likes, ‘Forbidden Voices’ was free to download. The track went pretty well, but not as good as ‘Do not Look Down’ that he made with Usher, this track showed the new sound of Martin Garrix in one go. The track was recorded in 24 charts and was sold more than 25 thousand times in Italy, which gave the two a golden records.
The producer also had a hit with Avicii, ‘Waiting For Love’. Even Though, his name is not in the title, he did participate in the track.
Martin Garrix’s Collaborations
A major reason Martin Garrix has stayed at the top of electronic music for over a decade is his ability to collaborate across genres—bridging pop radio, festival main stages, and underground-inspired club records without losing his signature melodic identity. From global vocal anthems to progressive dance releases and label-driven experiments, his collaborations show both range and consistency in production quality.
Pop & crossover collaborations
Garrix has repeatedly proven his versatility by partnering with major vocalists and songwriters to create crossover hits that connect dance music to mainstream audiences. These collaborations blend emotional toplines with polished production, helping expand the reach of electronic music far beyond clubs and festivals.
In this space, his catalog includes collaborations with internationally recognized artists such as Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Khalid, Usher, Macklemore, and Bono & The Edge (U2)—projects that demonstrate his ability to adapt his sound while keeping it instantly recognizable as Martin Garrix.
Progressive / festival collaborations
For fans of big-stage dance music, Garrix’s collaborative tracks have become festival staples, known for their uplifting builds, powerful drops, and euphoric melodies. This category includes many of the records that defined his live sets and helped shape modern festival EDM.
Notable collaborations include tracks with artists such as David Guetta, Tiësto, Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Matisse & Sadko, and Third Party—names synonymous with peak-time energy and main stage moments. These releases remain some of the most replayed and anticipated highlights during his performances.
STMPD family collaborations
Beyond global chart success, Garrix has also used his platform to collaborate with and elevate the next generation of dance producers through his label STMPD RCRDS. These collaborations often have a more forward-thinking edge—designed for club impact, DJ sets, and fans who follow the label’s evolving sound.
Within the STMPD ecosystem, his partnerships reflect both mentorship and shared creative vision, connecting his name to new talent and fresh production ideas while reinforcing STMPD’s role as one of the most influential modern dance labels.
Artist Major Works and Achievements
Martin Garrix won the ‘2013 Dance Music Awards’ for ‘Best Electro / Progressive Track’, ‘DJ of the Year’, and ‘Newcomer of the Year’. Furthermore, In 2014, he was granted ‘The Buma Award’ for ‘Best International Song’ and ‘MTV Clubland Award’ for his hit single ‘Animals’. After that, Garrix also received the ‘MTV Millennial Award’ for ‘Beat Guru’, ‘MTV Europe Music Award’ for ‘Best Electronic’ and ‘Best Word Stage Performance,’ and ‘NRJ Music Awards’ for ‘Best International DJ’ and ‘Best Live Performance’.
Upcoming Tours & Live Tours Scheduled For 2026
Martin Garrix’s career has always been built as much on live performance as it has on studio releases. Over the years, his shows have evolved into high-energy, story-driven experiences—mixing festival anthems, exclusive edits, and unreleased IDs with visuals designed to match the emotional peaks of his signature progressive sound.
In the current era, Garrix continues to headline some of the world’s most influential stages, from major EDM festivals to large-scale solo events. Fans can expect a setlist that blends classic crowd favorites with newer releases and fresh collaborations, often premiering music live before it drops officially.
As touring schedules change throughout the year, new dates are announced regularly across key regions including Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Whether it’s a main stage festival slot or a standout solo performance, Garrix remains one of the most consistently in-demand live artists in electronic music.
For the latest confirmed dates, venues, and ticket information, fans should always check the official Martin Garrix tour schedule and verified channels for announcements.
