Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie ‘This Is What It Feels Like’ turns 11 years old

Celebrating its 11th anniversary, “This Is What It Feels Like,” an anthem crafted by Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren and Canadian vocalist Trevor Guthrie, continues to resonate profoundly. Released on January 1, 2013, under Armada Music, this track marked the second single from van Buuren’s fifth studio album, Intense.

Climbing to number three on the Dutch Top 40, “This Is What It Feels Like” also made waves internationally, securing top ten spots in various countries such as Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

Crafted collaboratively by Armin van Buuren, Benno de Goeij, Jenson Vaughan, Trevor Guthrie, and John Ewbank, the song’s genesis saw van Buuren, de Goeij, and Ewbank crafting the instrumental backbone in 2012. Inspired by a neighbor’s struggle with a brain tumor, Guthrie and Vaughan penned the evocative lyrics.

Nominated for the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, the track also found a place in the opening sequence of a 2019 episode of America’s Got Talent.

Regarded as a pinnacle of the EDM era, this record stands as one of Armin‘s most significant achievements. Boasting over 320 million Spotify streams and more than 130 million YouTube views as of May 2024, its enduring popularity underscores its status as a timeless classic.

In commemoration of its 10th anniversary last year, Armin van Buuren released a documentary offering fans an intimate look into the making and impact of “This Is What It Feels Like.” Additionally, in 2023, a remix of the track further invigorated its legacy, demonstrating its enduring relevance in the electronic music scene.