Armin Van Buuren
Style: Trance/Progressive
Best known for: A State of Trance
Gig of 2009: Armin Only: ‘Imagine’, Los Angeles Sports Arena
Tune of 2009: Neptune Project ‘Aztec’ (FSOE)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Jerome Isma-Ae (DJ); Cosmic Gate (Producer)
The track that changed your life: 3 Phase ‘Der Klang Der Family’ on Tresor in 1992. How the hell did they make those sounds?!
What makes a good DJ great: Timing and character.
Most underrated DJ: Ben Liebrand. He’s been Holland best kept secret since the ’80s and plays technically advanced sets with four DVJs.
Biggest challenge this year: Doing a non-stop 72-hour live marathon radio show, in April, with video stream from three different countries, with three massive parties and loads of guest DJs to celebrate the 400th episode of A State of Trance.
Top tech toy: Pioneer CDJ-2000. It can do a lot that a laptop can but it’s actually built for clubs.

Tiësto
Style: A bit of everything
Best known for: Not sure, but I can tell you that I never drank 31 cans of Red Bull in 24 hours!
Gig of 2009: Victoria Park, London
Tune of 2009: Basement Jaxx ‘Raindrops (Robbie Rivera Remix)’ (XL)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Avicci
The track that changed your life: Cygnus X ‘The Orange Theme’ after I heard this track I wanted to play trance music.
What makes a good DJ great: A great DJ can adjust to the crowd, make them go crazy but still be able to do his own thing.
Most underrated DJ: Dada Life. They should be much bigger then they are at the moment.
Biggest challenge this year: Finishing the production on my album ?Kaleidoscope?. With all the artists? busy schedules, including mine, it was a challenge finalising all the songs.
Top tech toy: My new MacBook Pro 17

David Guetta
Style: From house to techno – any good music.
Best known for: Getting people’s hands in the air!
Gig of 2009: The whole year has been magic.
Tune of 2009: David Guetta feat Kelly Rowland ‘When Love Takes Over’ (Virgin)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Afrojack
The track that changed your life: Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ – it was the first track that I beatmatched when I was a child.
What makes a good DJ great: A great crowd.
Most underrated DJ: James Zabiela – he’s big but he should be even bigger.
Biggest challenge this year: To make a bridge between electronic music from Europe and urban culture from America.
Top tech toy: UAD – I just bought it last week for my laptop.

Above & Beyond
Style: Uplifting electronic dance music
Best known for: Anthems like ‘On A Good Day’, ‘Alone Tonight’, ‘Good For Me’ and our label Anjunabeats.
Gig of 2009: Our first full live show in Beirut, Lebanon.
Tune of 2009: Super8 & Tab ‘Irufushi’ (Anjunabeats)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Mat Zo. He’s just 19, but has a seriously big future ahead of him.
The track that changed your life: Chakra ‘Home’
What makes a good DJ great: Good taste in music, an open mind and experience.
Most underrated DJ: Boom Jinx from Norway. The guy’s a genius.
Biggest challenge this year: Time management!
Top tech toy: Flight Control on the iPhone

Paul Van Dyk
Style: Trance, electronic dance music.
Best known for: His label Vandit and ‘For An Angel’.
Gig of 2009: Central Park, New York
Tune of 2009: Barry Jay ‘Infused’ (Perfecto)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Alex Morph
The track that changed your life: The Smiths ‘Hand In Glove’ (Rough Trade)
What makes a good DJ great: The confidence of knowing what your own sound is. And not being a snobby ass and playing for yourself.
Most underrated DJ: Tyler Michaud
Biggest challenge this year: Restructuring my company and fine-tuning things.
Top tech toy: My iPod. I play with it all the time.

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