Martin Garrix

Martijn Gerard Garritsen, known professionally as Martin Garrix, emerged as a prominent figure in electronic dance music following the 2013 release of his solo single, Animals. Born in Amstelveen in 1996, the Dutch musician and producer achieved international recognition early in his career, eventually securing the top position on DJ Mag's annual rankings on five separate occasions.

Early Development and Training

Garrix showed early musical interest and began playing the guitar at age eight. In 2004, he identified his professional ambition after viewing Tiësto at the Athens Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. He utilized the digital audio workstation FL Studio to begin his production work. He formally studied his craft at the Herman Brood Academy in Utrecht, graduating in 2013.

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Rise to Prominence

After being discovered by Tiësto, Garrix began his career with collaborations including BFAM and Just Some Loops. Upon signing with Spinnin' Records in 2012, he released Error 404. The 2013 single Animals brought him widespread commercial success, making him the youngest person to reach the top of the Beatport charts. By November 2013, he secured management with Scooter Braun Projects.

Musical Collaborations and Festival Performances

Garrix maintained a high output of releases, including the 2014 debut EP Gold Skies and the track Tremor, produced with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. He performed at major global festivals such as Ultra Music Festival, Coachella, and Tomorrowland. His production work included collaborations with Usher on Don't Look Down and Avicii on Waiting for Love.

Independence and Legal Settlements

In 2015, Garrix sought autonomy regarding his intellectual property. He departed from Spinnin' Records and MusicAllStars Management, initiating legal proceedings against manager Eelko van Kooten over ownership disputes regarding his early catalog. A settlement was reached in December 2015, where ownership rights were transferred to him, though Spinnin' Records retained licensing for tracks released prior to August 2015. He subsequently founded his own label, Stmpd Rcrds, in 2016.