Trance Review: Armin van Buuren Enlists Rob Swire for Big Room Progressive Trance Track ‘Sound of You’ out on Armada Music

10.0

Overall Score

At the forefront of the big room progressive house resurgence Armin van Buuren delivers ‘Sound of You,’ featuring the unmistakable vocals of Pendulum's Rob Swire—marking Swire’s first feature in several years. Premiered at Ultra Miami 2024, the track blends a powerful vocal with a heart-racing build and an explosive drop to create a shimmering, modern anthem.

Armin van Buuren said: "Seeing this sound make a comeback is really exciting because it blends the best of both worlds—massive festival anthems with deep, emotional melodies. ‘Sound of You’ was made for the biggest stages, and I can’t wait to keep playing it and see where it goes next. From the moment I wrote this track, I knew Rob Swire was the perfect voice for it, and I’m so glad he said yes!”

Rob Swire, frontman of Pendulum, reflected on the collaboration: “Armin and I had talked about working together for a while. When he played me the ‘Sound of You,’ instrumental, I knew instantly I wanted to sing on it. We recorded it in early-2024 and it was amazing to see Armin unveil it at Ultra Miami.”

Lyrics
Find myself in the eye of a hurricane
another wounded soul
Through the dust I've been trying to call your name
Come and take me home

'Cause no matter the noise
You're bringing peace to my mind
Being drawn to your voice
Even when you're out of sight

Wish I could find all the words
'Cause I've been trying to describe
The look in your eyes

The sound of you
When my world was going down
All I needed was the sound of you

When my head was spinning round
All I needed was the sound of you
You
The sound of you

When my head was spinning round
All I needed was the sound of you

Felt the pulse of your heart in the shadows
You got me wanting more

A dream at night shows a line as the story goes
That's all I'm asking for

'Cause no matter the noise
You bring peace to my mind
Being drawn to your voice
Even when you're out of sight

Wish I could follow the words
'Cause I've been trying to describe
The look in your eyes

The sound of you
When my world was going down
All I needed was the sound of you
When my head was spinning round
All I needed was the sound of you
You
The sound of you

When my head was spinning round
All I needed was the sound of you

Sound of you
You

The sound of you
When my head was spinning round
All I needed was the sound of you

Discover 'Sound of You' on your favorite streaming service ➡️ HERE

Dimitris Kechagias Review:

Armin van Buuren & Rob Swire - Sound of You 10

Summary

Armin van Buuren & Rob Swire's collaboration on "Sound of You" emerges as a quintessential club anthem, meticulously crafted to energize dancefloors worldwide. The track is anchored by Rob Swire's compelling vocal performance, which is not only the emotional backbone but also an expertly processed element that stands out amidst the dense, dynamic instrumentation. The vocals are treated with subtle reverb and delay effects, enhancing their spatial presence without overshadowing the track's rhythmic intensity. From a production standpoint, "Sound of You" thrives on its robust low-end foundation. The energetic basslines are likely synthesized using analog emulations or digital wavetable synths, offering a rich, warm texture that complements the track’s aggressive tonality. The bass is meticulously side-chained to the kick drum, a common technique in dance music that ensures both elements coexist harmoniously, maintaining clarity and punch. The thumping kicks are crafted with precision, possibly layered with multiple samples to achieve a full-bodied impact that cuts through the mix. Paired with punchy drums, including crisp snares and sharp hi-hats, the rhythm section provides an irresistible groove. The drum programming showcases intricate patterns that balance between syncopation and straight-driven beats, ensuring both complexity and accessibility. Euphoric melodies soar over this rhythmic bed, crafted with lush synth pads and arpeggiated leads. These melodic elements are rich in harmonic content, likely achieved through the use of wide stereo imaging and modulation effects such as chorus and phaser. The melodies are arranged to build tension and release, a hallmark of Armin van Buuren's trance influences, creating an emotional journey for the listener. Operating at 128 BPM, "Sound of You" is tailored for mainstage performances, its tempo ideal for maintaining a high-energy atmosphere. The track's arrangement features strategic breakdowns and build-ups, employing risers, sweeps, and dynamic filtering to manipulate energy levels and keep the audience engaged. Anticipation builds for the upcoming remix by Pendulum, an electrifying Drum and Bass rendition, set for release on 11th April, 2025, which promises to reinterpret the track’s elements with a faster tempo and more intricate breakbeat patterns. "Sound of You" is pure adrenaline, a masterclass in electronic music production, and a testament to the synergy between Armin van Buuren and Rob Swire. #PureGold Love iT

10.0

Overall Score

Beat and Rhythm10

Basslines and Groove10

Melody 10

Synths 10

Breakdown10

Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment10

Intensity, Drive and Energy10

Sound-design and Arrangement10

Overall Atmosphere10

Goosebumps / Shivers moments10

Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments10

Originality and Inventiveness10

Radio Friendly10

Vocals & lyrics10

You can’t get this memorable track out of your head10

It has potential to become an anthem or a classic10

Coming Soon

About Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren has long been a global ambassador for electronic music. He currently has nine full-length artist albums to his name — ‘Breathe In’ included — and continues to cultivate a massive worldwide following through his weekly A State of Trance radio show, event series and album series, reaching 44 million listeners from more than 80 different countries on a weekly basis. Armin van Buuren headlines tens to hundreds of shows per year at leading festivals and venues around the world, including Electric Daisy Carnival (Las Vegas, New York), Ultra Music Festival (Miami), Lollapalooza (Chicago) and Tomorrowland (Belgium) plus residencies on Ibiza and in Las Vegas. Past summer alone, he reconnected with fans through over thirty shows, including the ‘Feel Again’ shows in the Ziggo Dome, Ultra Europe, Tomorrowland, Parookaville, Creamfields, Electric Zoo and his summer residencies at Hï Ibiza and Ushuaïa.

About Rob Swire

Robert Swire-Thompson is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and DJ, best known as the founder and vocalist of the Australian drum and bass and electronic rock band Pendulum, as well as DJ and co-founder of electro house duo Knife Party formed of Swire and Gareth McGrillen.

As well as being part of two massive international touring acts, Swire has also lent his vocal talents to the likes of Deadmau5 for the multi-platinum single ‘Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff’ as well as ‘Monophobia’, and Eric Prydz on ‘Breathe’, as well as writing and production credits with Rihanna.