My stage name has always been 'Armin van Buuren.' When I really started DJ'ing professionally, I already had a few U.K. hits under my belt under the name 'Armin', so I couldn't really change that anymore.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
My stage name is actually my nickname given to me by my dad when I was a baby.
Out of all the R&B artists that have come out, I think my name has been used most in hip-hop songs.
I was never in the business of trying to put my name out there - I was really focused on music and records and being in the studio.
Drumming is my middle name.
Having a stage name is like having a Superman complex. I go into the telephone booth as Eric Bishop and come out as Jamie Foxx.
I don't ever use my name for anything in terms of getting the music heard.
The stage calls my name.
When I started producing, I was just making music under all different names. 'Black Afro.' 'Super Grandmaster.' 'Mister Bull.' Like, the most stupid, idiotic names. 'Afrojack' was one of those idiotic names.
I made my name and reputation DJing in hip-hop clubs in New York. 'Celebrity DJ' is a term that I hated. To me a celebrity DJ is someone that's on 'Big Brother' or in some kind of B-movie who gets a gig to DJ even though they're not talented enough to do it.
I knew I didn't have the right name for a singer. Having a name that nobody could pronounce was hardly an asset.