In a world full of mainstream pop, you may have come from a place where all dance music was simply called 'techno' -- no one seemed to understand the art form, and no one seemed to care. Perhaps in a previous time, you weren't even a lover of music, because what you were hearing on the radio simply didn't do anything for you... For many of us, we can distinctly recall a moment where our ears were opened -- where we first discovered that music could be so much more than what it had been. For millions of people, artists like Armin van Buuren, BT, Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond, and Chicane opened the door to a world of sound that had never existed. Great songs will always remain great songs, but what about that first time you put on headphones and learned that sound design and synthesizers could make an experience far more visceral and poignant than any acoustic instrument? The songs on this album were chosen by ASOT listeners from around the world. Armin van Buuren asked his 20 million strong listener base, coming from over 74 countries, to send suggestions for their favorite classics of all time. From this list, this album was born! The 'A State of Trance' Classics series is a chance to remember just how life-changing the art form has been and will continue to be. Volume 9 contains four discs worth of groundbreaking content, spanning the most influential years of trance music. Remember that trance isn't a genre, it's a way of looking at music and life!

We all feel lost and disconnected at times. Its only human. But what if these moments of uncertainty actually guide us to brighter futures? What if the barriers that exist within us are merely the ones we created ourselves. Its the same with music. Its human nature to categorize the sounds we hear and label them in a way that makes sense. But these barriers too can be broken down. And they have been, in the twenty-first installment of the annual year mix series: A State of Trance Year Mix 2024 (Mixed by Armin van Buuren).Starting with an inspirational intro narrated by none other than Moby, this 113-track, year-culminating mix is designed to push boundaries, weaving together the sounds that share a soul. Comprising productions from scene favorites such as Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, and Ben Gold, as well as those of Ferry Corsten, KI/KI and Ben Hemsley, the year mix upholds its trance legacy whilst embracing the sounds that were once given a different label.Dont let the barriers dictate the limit. Lean into them till they break, for the world beyond may add some color to yours. All together, in A State of Trance.