Martijn Gerard Garritsen, known globally as Martin Garrix (and occasionally as Ytram or GRX), has ascended from a teenage bedroom producer to one of the defining stars of electronic dance music. Born on May 14, 1996, in Amstelveen, Netherlands, his journey is defined by explosive breakthroughs, high-profile collaborations, and creative independence.
Early Life and Musical Awakening
Garrix began experimenting with music at a young age, picking up guitar by age eight. In 2004, after witnessing Tiësto perform at the Athens Olympics opening ceremony, he discovered FL Studio and began producing. By 2013, he graduated from the Herman Brood Academy in Utrecht, setting the stage for a rapid climb in the EDM world.
Breakthrough with “Animals” and Early Success
In 2013, Garrix released “Animals,” an instrumental track that became a global phenomenon, reaching No. 1 in the UK, topping the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and breaking into top ten positions across Europe. At 17, he became the youngest Dutch artist to secure a UK No. 1 single.
Growing Discography and Genre Evolution
Rather than focusing on studio albums, Garrix built his discography around impactful singles and EPs. Notable early works include:
- Gold Skies (2014), EP compiling early breakout tracks
- Seven (2016), surprise EP launch during Amsterdam Dance Event
- Bylaw (2018), multi-style exploration from big-room house to melodic EDM
- IDEM (2024) and Origo (2025), later multi-track releases showing continued evolution.
His first traditional studio album, Sentio, arrived in 2022, marking a new phase in his creative output.
High-Profile Collaborations
Garrix’s catalog is rich with collaborations, blending EDM with global artists:
- Pop and vocal-centric tracks like “In the Name of Love” (Bebe Rexha), “Scared to Be Lonely” (Dua Lipa), “There for You” (Troye Sivan), “So Far Away” (David Guetta, Jamie Scott, Romy Dya), and “Ocean” (Khalid).
- Global icons: “We Are the People” with U2’s Bono and The Edge, the official UEFA Euro 2020 theme, and more recent 2026 collaborations with Madonna (“Bizarre”), U2 (“Fireflies”), and Ed Sheeran (“Repeat It”).
Festival Phenomenon and Live Milestones
After “Animals,” Garrix became a fixture at major festivals: Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival (he headlined its first South Africa edition in 2014 and became the youngest headliner at Ultra Miami at 17), Tomorrowland, and Creamfields cite. He also held Ibiza residencies at Ushuaïa (2016, 2018) and Hï Ibiza (2017).
DJ Magazine Accolades
Garrix has been voted No. 1 on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs list in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024, a total of five times, tying the all-time record.
Creative Independence: Stmpd Rcrds
In 2016, Garrix founded his own label, Stmpd Rcrds, shortly after parting ways with Spinnin’ Records. He launched it with the single “Now That I’ve Found You” and later signed a global deal with Sony Music. His label has enabled him to explore diverse sounds and launch conceptual EPs with creative control.
Recent Output and 2026 Highlights
In 2024 and 2025, Garrix continued to release rich EPs (IDEM and Origo) featuring tracks like “Set Me Free” (with Arcado and Bonn) and “Peace of Mind” (with Citadelle).
In 2026, his high-profile collaborations reached new levels with “Repeat It” (Ed Sheeran), “Fireflies” (U2), “Bizarre” (Madonna), and his solo single “This Dream of You” released October 2, 2026.
Net Worth
We do not include unverified net‑worth figures. Public sources caution that while Garrix has earned significant revenue from hits, festivals, and collaborations, no reliable, independently verified net‑worth estimate is available.
FAQ
- What is Martin Garrix’s full name and birth date? Martijn Gerard Garritsen, born May 14, 1996, in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
- What was his breakthrough track? The 2013 instrumental “Animals,” which topped charts worldwide.
- How many times has he ranked No. 1 in DJ Mag’s Top 100? Five times: in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024.
- Has he released a full album? Yes, his debut studio album, Sentio, was released in 2022.
- Does he run his own label? Yes, Stmpd Rcrds, founded in 2016.
- What are his most recent releases? In 2026: “Repeat It” (Ed Sheeran), “Fireflies” (U2), “Bizarre” (Madonna), and solo “This Dream of You” (Oct 2, 2026).
Featured image: Jasper K / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
