Martin Garrix
Martijn Gerard Garritsen (Dutch: [mɑrˈtɛin ɣəˈrɑrt ˈxɑrɪtsə(n)];[a] born 14 May 1996), known professionally as Martin Garrix and also as Ytram and GRX, is a Dutch DJ and record producer who was ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list for three consecutive years—2016, 2017, and 2018. He is best known for his singles "Animals", "In the Name of Love", and "Scared to Be Lonely".
Martin Garrix
Martijn Gerard Garritsen
14 May 1996
Amstelveen, Netherlands
- DJ
- music producer
2012–present
- Stmpd
- Musical Freedom
- Wall
- Republic
- School Boy
- Casablanca
- Universal
- Epic Amsterdam
- RCA (United States) (2016–present)
- Columbia (United Kingdom) (2016–present)
- Sony (2016–present)[7]
Garrix has performed at music festivals such as Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, Tomorrowland, and Creamfields. In 2014, he headlined the first edition of Ultra South Africa, making this his first major festival. In the same year, he became the youngest DJ to headline 2014 Ultra Music Festival at the age of 17. He was a resident DJ at Spain's Hï Ibiza (2017) and Ushuaïa Ibiza (2016 and 2018). He founded the label Stmpd Rcrds in 2016, months after leaving Spinnin' Records and before signing with Sony Music.
Early life
Garrix was born as Martijn Gerard Garritsen on 14 May 1996 in Amstelveen, the son of Gerard and Karin Garritsen. He has a younger sister named Laura.[8][9][10] He showed musical interest at an early age and learned to play the guitar at the age of 8.[11]
In 2004, he expressed interest in becoming a DJ after seeing Dutch DJ Tiësto perform at that year's Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Athens.[12] He took particular inspiration from the track "Traffic", prompting him to download the specialist digital audio workstation FL Studio, enabling him to start producing.
In 2013, he graduated from the Herman Brood Academy, a production school in Utrecht.[13][14]
Brand endorsement and modelling
In October 2015, Garrix was an ambassador for Swiss brand TAG Heuer.[131]
In 2017, Garrix was an ambassador for Italian brand Armani Exchange's "Fall Winter 2017" campaign. The announcement was made in July 2017, along with the release of the promotional photographs on social media.[132] The promotional video, featuring Garrix wearing the brand's clothing and eyewear line, was released in August 2017.[133]
In 2018, Garrix was once again an ambassador for Armani Exchange. The promotional video for the brand's "Fall Winter 2018" campaign was released in August 2018, featuring Garrix wearing the brand's new clothing line. His collaboration track with Loopers, "Game Over", was used for the video.[134] The behind-the-scenes footage during the filming was also released by Armani Exchange.[135]
Garrix became an ambassador for Axe, and launched a limited-edition Martin Garrix body spray on 14 September 2018. To promote the partnership and the product launch, Axe and Garrix released his music video for "Burn Out" in collaboration with the brand and created by AXE's global creative agency 72andSunny Amsterdam.[136]
Garrix was again an ambassador for Axe in 2019. The song "These Are the Times" was released on 18 July to help promote the partnership.[137]
Philanthropy
In May 2016, Garrix headlined an event in Los Angeles[138] with all proceeds going to the non-profit organisation Fuck Cancer, dedicated to early detection, prevention and providing support to those affected by cancer.[139][140]
In November 2016, Garrix started his India tour with a special charity show in Mumbai with over 62,000 in attendance.[141] Hosted at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, the charity event's purpose was to educate Indian children, with the proceeds from the show being donated to Magic Bus, who will be supporting the education of 10,000 children across the country.[141]
On 24 February 2017, Garrix was announced as an "international friend" for SOS Children's Village in South Africa, a non-profit organisation that "builds families for orphaned, abandoned, and other vulnerable children around the world".[142] Speaking to Billboard, he said "it is awful that so many children around the world don't have the support of a caring family". Following the Mexico earthquake in 2017, Garrix donated $10,000 of his fee as Ultra Mexico line up.[143]
On 28 February 2019, Garrix visited the SOS Children's Village in South Africa while on tour for Ultra South Africa. During his visit Garrix performed a one-hour DJ set to an excited crowd of 100 children and young people, some aged just three years old and accompanied by their SOS mothers.
In September 2019, Garrix held a show in his home country the Netherlands with all proceeds going towards the War Child Holland Charity. During the show he raised more than €270,000.[144] In June 2020, he appeared in a public service announcement alongside other celebrities for War Child, an organisation that supports and empowers the most vulnerable communities, focusing on children and their families.[145]
Book
On 23 August 2018, Garrix posted a picture of the cover of his then-upcoming book Martin Garrix Life = Crazy, containing photographs of his career and personal life. The photographs featured in the book were taken by Louis van Baar. The book was released in October 2018.[146]