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The track was called 'We Are Here To Make Some Noise', an abrasive electro house tune that emerged after messing about with a vocoder in the studio. It wasn't even supposed to be released under his name, but a track-listing error on a compilation album blew his cover. "My radio station in the Netherlands, Radio 538, was looking for a track to promote the European Championships and the Dutchteam," he says. "I was afraid of what people would think. But people seemed to love it. It was Top 20 in Holland and a few other countries."But it's van Buuren's other major project that is most anticipated; the follow-up to his 2010 album 'Mirage'. He says he's about 70% of the way through it, and he's aiming to release it in May 2013, but the fine details he can't yet reveal. Contracts with otherproducers and vocalists are still under discussion, but the project appears to be forging ahead at a solid pace. Those expecting van Buuren classics might want to brace themselves, however. And if you're a die-hard fan, it's possible that you've already heard some of it without knowing."I'm really curious how my fans are going to react because it's very different," he says. "There are a few more safetracks, and I've been road testing a few of the more trancey tracks off the new album, but making an artist album always allows you to experiment a little bit more. It's the best thing about my job."Meanwhile, things are already ramping up for the celebrations around A State Of Trance 600, the 600th episode of his radio show. A quick search online finds countless Twitter accounts set up to tryand lobby Armin to bring his travelling show - more like a festival, in fact - to their city next year. Minsk, Zagreb, Dublin, Mexico City, the Baltic States in Latvia, Sydney, Moldova, Chicago, Istanbul... the list seems endless. For whoever misses out, the shows will be streamed live on YouTube for free. Whether or not house music is taking a bite of the trance cherry, he still packed out thesprawling Privilege in Ibiza every Monday through the summer. The closing party was broadcast live, and trended as a worldwide topic on Twitter for four hours. "We had 120,000 people tuning in - in Argentina alone!" he says. By the time DJ Mag goes to press, he will have confirmed ASOT 600 shows in Mexico, Holland, Miami and Beirut.This level of hysteria should be nothing new to him. But still, heseems to find it bewildering. "2012 opened new doors," he says. "David being No.1 last year, the popularity of Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Afrojack, for dance music, it's amazing. It was great that David got it last year, to show dance music is evolving and it's still exciting." But for now, the king is dead. Long live the king.Words: Ben Arnold

Comments "Meanwhile, things are already rampingup for the celebrations around A State Of Trance 600, the 600th episode of his radio show. A quick search online finds countless Twitter accounts set up to try and lobby Armin to bring his travelling show - more like a festival, in fact - to their city next year. Minsk, Zagreb, Dublin, Mexico City, the Baltic States in Latvia, Sydney, Moldova, Chicago, Istanbul... the list seems endless. Forwhoever misses out, the shows will be streamed live on YouTube for free. Whether or not house music is taking a bite of the trance cherry, he still packed out the sprawling Privilege in Ibiza every Monday through the summer. The closing party was broadcast live, and trended as a worldwide topic on Twitter for four hours. "We had 120,000 people tuning in - in Argentina alone!" he says. By the time DJMag goes to press, he will have confirmed ASOT 600 shows in Mexico, Holland, Miami and Beirut.This level of hysteria should be nothing new to him. But still, he seems to find it bewildering. "2012 opened new doors," he says. "David being No.1 last year, the popularity of Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Afrojack, for dance music, it's amazing. It was great that David got it last year, to show dance...