MARTIN GARRIX

For me, having a balance between work and personal life is very important.

When I was nine, ten, I was super young, but I installed a program on my computer so I could start producing music. I just started messing around. Then, after a couple of years, I got better. I actually learned some tricks, so I knew what I was doing instead of just messing.

When 'Animals' released, I still had one year left in school, so it was, like, super weird. I had number one in the U.K., and I would still go to school five days a week. They made, like, a schedule when I could tour and when I had to be home for tests. But my team made it happen. My parents, they helped as well.

I think it's difficult to say what exactly made me become a successful DJ. It depends on so many different things. If I were given an award, I would thank my family, friends, Tiesto and the great team behind me for all their support and hard work. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Using social media to hurt and destroy is callous, acted out by cowards hiding behind computers. My advice is to ignore negativity. Focus on the love around.

Food-wise, I'm trying to eat a lot of fruits. I take vitamin pills. For me, that's helpful. Luckily, if I don't go to the gym for two weeks, I'm not feeling it yet, but everybody is warning me, 'Just wait a few more years. You'll feel it.'

For me, I don't feel all the pressure. I make music, and I release it because I like it myself and I want my friends to hear it from me.

I wanted to have a label to not only release my own stuff but to also give young talent a chance to release their music without signing away their life. I had a great time with Spinnin', and the people I worked with were amazing, but the contract wasn't really for me. It wasn't what I wanted.

When I come up with a melody in my head, it could be anywhere: in the shower, on the plane, in bed - often when I'm on the go. I'll record it on my phone with my own voice, humming. When I get to the studio, I check which melodies work.

I would love to work with Pharrell one day. Like, my biggest dream.

I want to produce more number one hits but not follow trends blindly! What I really hope to achieve in the long-term is to get that cross-over status such as Calvin Harris and Avicii. I'd love to be a household name in pop music.

The first day I'm back from a tour, I have dinner with my parents. I sleep in my old bed. It's amazing.

I'm not sure if I'll make the Europeans feel bad, but I'll say it like this: The U.S. crowd is even better than the European crowd.

I'm just having fun. I go in the studio, and I have no idea what I'm going to do, what I'm going to make. I'm going to make whatever I feel like making.

I'm always excited to see the reaction of the crowd when I'm playing a new song.

It's great to surprise people. If you do the same thing all over again, which people expect you to do, they're going to get bored.

I think Dutch people are very sober. I don't know if it's the right word. Like, you have the most famous person walk by some Dutch people, and they're like, 'Oh, hello.' And they maybe take a photo, but most of the time, they'll respect you and leave you alone. And if you go to some other countries they will literally mob you, go crazy.

I will never, never ever sing on stage, but when I'm in the studio, I do sing melody lines. When I'm working with singer-songwriters, and I hear melodies, I can guide them. I will be like, 'Oh no, do this this this.' But you will never hear my voice on a Martin Garrix track.

It doesn't matter how tired I am; I will always still be happy. As soon as you go onstage, you get adrenaline. You hear the crowd: they're screaming your name. They have posters. The energy gives you energy.

Lately, I love creating ideas on my acoustic guitar. I sit in my living room for hours trying different chords.

I love Disclosure. Dillon Francis. Bauuer. Flosstradamus. I listen to a lot of different genres.

Education is a cause very close to me. What matters is encouraging my fans to focus on their education, because only an educated generation can ensure a better future. Even when I was on tour, I did my homework and studied.

Of course I party. Of course I go chase girls. Again, for me, balance is important. One hundred per cent, my work goes first. Martin Garrix is my main priority. But to maintain Martin Garrix, I have to enjoy my downtime.

I get to travel the world doing what I love to do - making other people happy... They might not even understand my words, but the one thing everybody understands is music.

Of course I would love to have another track as big as 'Animals,' but 'Animals' became big also because of luck, the timing, and hype.