Trance pioneer Armin van Buuren and Ben Hemsley, a leading figure in the modern trance movement, have released their highly anticipated debut collaboration: ‘Is It Beautiful?’ featuring iconic trance vocalist Lucy Pullin. Written during a live-streamed session in 2024, the track culminates in a growing creative partnership between the two frontrunners and their shared passion for pushing trance music forward.
Doubling as the official anthem for A State of Trance Rotterdam 2025—a yearly tradition since 2010, releasing around the time of each annual A State of Trance event in February—’Is It Beautiful?’ captures this year’s event’s Transformation theme, which celebrates innovation and evolution within the genre. The track features a melodic, nostalgia-inducing production layered with Lucy Pullin’s emotive vocals, creating a powerful and anthemic listening experience. Following a teaser appearance on the ‘A State of Trance Year Mix 2024’ mix album, the full release has already generated excitement among fans.
As the pair prepare for their debut back-to-back set at the annual A State of Trance Festival in Ahoy, Rotterdam, Ben Hemsley shared his excitement about the collaboration: “Working with Armin has been a dream come true. He’s been a massive influence on me, and his support has meant the world. When we started this track, I had Lucy Pullin’s voice in mind from the beginning. Vocals are such an essential part of trance music, and Lucy captured the heart and soul of this track perfectly.”
Lucy Pullin, known for her work on iconic trance tracks such as Simon Patterson’s ‘Blink’ and ‘Now I Can Breathe Again,’ delivers a stirring performance that elevates ‘Is It Beautiful?’ to a transcendent level.
Armin van Buuren praised Hemsley’s contributions to the genre: “Ben is bringing trance to the forefront for a new generation. It’s inspiring to see how he’s breathing new life into the genre while staying true to its core. We should celebrate and appreciate these fresh takes on the music we love, which is what A State of Trance is all about.”
‘Is It Beautiful?’ is out now on Armada Music here.
