Martin Garrix
Biography
Martijn Gerard Garritsen, known professionally as Martin Garrix, is a Dutch DJ and record producer born on May 14, 1996, in Amstelveen. His passion for music began at an early age, learning to play the guitar at eight years old. A pivotal moment came in 2004 when he saw DJ Tiësto's performance at the Summer Olympics in Athens, which inspired him to pursue a career as a DJ. He started by downloading specialist software, FL Studio, and began creating his own music. To hone his skills, Garrix attended the Herman Brood Academie, a music production school in Utrecht.
Career Breakthrough
Garrix's career took off in 2012 when he was signed by Spinnin' Records. His breakthrough came in 2013 with the release of his solo track "Animals". The song became a massive international hit, topping charts in several European countries and making Garrix the youngest person to reach the number one spot on Beatport. This success quickly established him as a new face in the electronic music scene. Following this, he released other successful tracks like "Wizard" with Jay Hardway and "Helicopter" with Firebeatz. In 2014, at the age of 17, he became the youngest DJ to headline the Ultra Music Festival.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his career, Martin Garrix has received numerous accolades. He was ranked the number one DJ in the world by DJ Mag for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. He has also won several MTV Europe Music Awards. His performances are a staple at major music festivals worldwide, including Coachella, Tomorrowland, and Electric Daisy Carnival. He has held residencies at prominent clubs in Ibiza like Hï Ibiza and Ushuaïa.
STMPD RCRDS and Collaborations
Founding STMPD RCRDS
In 2016, Martin Garrix founded his own record label, STMPD RCRDS. He created the label to be a platform for artists of various genres. The name was inspired by his father's stamp auctioning company. The label's first release was Garrix's own single, "Now That I've Found You". Months after launching his label, he signed a worldwide deal with Sony Music International.
Major Collaborations
Garrix is known for his collaborations with a wide range of prominent artists. He has worked with singers such as Usher on "Don't Look Down," Bebe Rexha on "In the Name of Love," Dua Lipa on "Scared to Be Lonely," and Khalid on "Ocean". He has also collaborated with U2's Bono and The Edge for the official UEFA Euro 2020 song. His collaborations extend to fellow DJs as well, including tracks with Tiësto, David Guetta, and Matisse & Sadko.
Philanthropic Efforts
Martin Garrix is also recognized for his philanthropic work. In 2016, he headlined a charity event in Los Angeles with proceeds going to Fuck Cancer and held a charity show in Mumbai to support the education of 10,000 children through Magic Bus. He has been an international friend for SOS Children's Villages since 2017, visiting their locations and raising awareness. He also supports War Child Holland, a charity for young victims of war. After the 2017 Mexico earthquake, he donated a significant portion of his performance fee.