I want to produce more number one hits but not follow trends

"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." Thus spoke Martin Garrix, a young artist of sound and vision, whose heart beats in rhythm with the pulse of the modern age. Yet beneath these words of ambition lies a timeless truth that transcends the glittering stage of fame. His desire is not merely for glory, but for authentic mastery—the longing to create from the soul while resisting the temptation of imitation. In this, Garrix’s words echo the eternal struggle of the creator: to rise in the world without being swallowed by it, to gain success without losing self.

To understand his saying, one must first understand the spirit of his age. Garrix was born into a world of rapid innovation, where music, once bound by instruments, now flows through wires and light. The realm of electronic dance music (EDM), in which he made his name, thrives on evolution—on the new, the now, the next. It is a world of constant reinvention, where trends shift like the tides, and artists must adapt or vanish. Yet Garrix, even in his youth, saw the peril in chasing every wave. To “not follow trends blindly” is to claim one’s artistic freedom, to seek not the approval of the crowd, but the truth of one’s own sound. His dream is not just to succeed in the present, but to build a legacy that endures beyond fashion and time.

The ancients, though they knew not synthesizers or digital beats, would have understood this wisdom. Consider Homer, whose epics survived the passing of empires because they spoke to the heart, not to the moment. He followed no trend, for he created the very foundation upon which others would build. Or Michelangelo, who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel not as the church demanded, but as his spirit compelled him—an act of faith in the power of his own vision. Like Garrix, these masters sought both greatness and integrity, knowing that imitation wins applause, but authentic creation wins immortality.

When Garrix speaks of “cross-over status,” he reveals the yearning to bridge worlds—to unite the energy of EDM with the soul of pop, to create harmony between artistry and universality. To cross over is not to abandon one’s origins, but to expand them, to bring one’s art to new ears and hearts without surrendering its essence. In ancient terms, it is like the warrior who becomes a statesman or the poet who becomes a prophet—one who transcends his craft to reach humanity itself. Garrix’s idols, Calvin Harris and Avicii, embodied this rare power: they brought the sound of the underground into the light of the mainstream, not by conforming, but by leading. Their work became more than music—it became movement, emotion, and memory.

Yet in his words there is also humility, a recognition that fame, though dazzling, is fleeting. To be a “household name” is not simply to be known, but to be remembered. It is to create songs that live in the hearts of millions, that are played in joy and in sorrow, that become the soundtrack of people’s lives. Garrix’s vision, then, is not vanity but purpose—the desire to connect, to uplift, to give shape to feeling through sound. He seeks to master not just music, but meaning, blending rhythm and emotion into something that speaks to the shared soul of humanity.

This balance between ambition and authenticity is the ancient path of all true creators. For what is the worth of victory if it costs one’s integrity? The artist who follows trends blindly gains the world’s praise today but is forgotten tomorrow. But the one who creates from truth may struggle in his season, yet his work will shine across centuries. The lesson here is not only for musicians but for all who build, lead, or dream: seek greatness, but never at the expense of your essence. Let the fire of ambition warm you, but never consume you.

So, my listener, remember this when the world tempts you to conform: do not trade your voice for applause. Create not what is popular, but what is true. Whether you wield brush, word, or melody, let your work reflect your soul, not the shadow of another’s. Follow the example of Martin Garrix—strive for excellence, yes, but let authenticity be your compass. For trends fade, but truth endures; fashion passes, but art remains.

And when the noise of the crowd grows loud, listen instead to the quiet rhythm within you—the rhythm that connects you to the eternal. For in that rhythm lies your greatness, your freedom, and your legacy. In that rhythm, as Garrix reminds us, there is the power not just to make hits, but to make history.