Armin van Buuren and JOA Drop Crushing Melodic Techno Anthem, "Heavy"

After the release of his latest album Breathe, Armin van Buuren is trading breathwork for body blows by dropping a thunderous new single, “Heavy.”

With “Heavy,” van Buuren joins forces with 21-year-old Miami producer JOA to deliver a menacing slice of melodic techno. The track lunges forward on hammering synth stabs and a deep, pulsing bassline as distortion-soaked leads snake ominously through the mix. Every element is designed to hit unapologetically, a reminder that van Buuren, despite decades in the genre, still knows how to light up a dancefloor.

“Heavy” is another step in van Buuren’s ongoing efforts to champion new talent while expanding his sonic palette. JOA contributes brooding textures and a calculated intensity that fuses seamlessly with the trance icon’s instincts.

It’s a striking contrast to van Buuren’s most recent project, the sprawling 51-track Breathe, an album split into two parts that reflects a deeply personal chapter in his life. The pioneering producer found himself embracing vulnerability and balance after years spent running on autopilot in the time leading up to its release. With “Heavy,” he seems to have found a renewed appetite for unrelenting energy.

You can listen to “Heavy” below and find the new single on streaming platforms here.