Revolutionary drum and bass group Pendulum, known for their metal influences, and legendary trance DJ and producer Armin van Buuren have joined forces for the first time on their explosive new single, “Sound of You”, released via Armada Music. The track, a festival-ready anthem, was born out of a joint studio session earlier in 2024 and made its live debut at Tomorrowland Belgium.
The collaboration is particularly special as it marks a rare venture into the dance realm for Pendulum, who in recent years have focused heavily on their live performances.
It all began with mutual admiration between the two artists. Initially, “Sound of You” was composed as a progressive house track by Armin, featuring vocals from Rob Swire—his first vocal appearance in several years. Inspired by their creative chemistry, Armin suggested reworking the track into a drum & bass version together with Pendulum. The idea quickly took shape in the studio, blending their signature styles into a single, electrifying track.
Rob Swire, lead vocalist of Pendulum, shared:
“Armin and I had been talking about collaborating for a while. When he showed me the original version of Sound of You, I immediately knew I wanted to sing on it. Later, he proposed doing a drum & bass version—and he came up with some amazing ideas. We met up in early 2024 to fine-tune everything, and it all came together very naturally. We even tested it live at Tomorrowland Belgium, and the crowd reaction was incredible.”
Armin van Buuren described this drum & bass project as an exciting creative challenge:
“Drum & bass isn’t my usual territory, but I had a few ideas, and it just made sense to collaborate with Pendulum on this version. Being in the studio together made a huge difference—and I’m really happy with how it turned out.”
About Pendulum
Founded in 2002 by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul ‘El Hornet’ Harding, Pendulum quickly dominated the local scene in Perth, Australia, before going global with their debut album, Hold Your Colour. After relocating to the UK, the band launched a live show while El Hornet took over DJ sets. Over the past 15 years, Pendulum has played at top global festivals such as Liquicity, Let It Roll, Rampage, Dreambeach, EDC, and many others.
Their DJ sets—whether solo or as a trio—blend a wide array of genres, from drum & bass, house, and techno, to breaks, hardcore, and tech house, captivating fans across continents.
About Armin van Buuren
Armin van Buuren has long been one of the leading ambassadors of electronic music worldwide. With nine studio albums, including the recent Breathe In, he continues to inspire millions through his weekly radio show, A State of Trance, broadcast in over 80 countries and reaching an estimated 44 million listeners weekly.
He regularly headlines top-tier festivals such as EDC (Las Vegas, New York), Ultra (Miami), Lollapalooza (Chicago), and Tomorrowland (Belgium), and holds residencies in Ibiza and Las Vegas. Last summer, he reconnected with fans through over 30 live shows, including his Feel Again series at Ziggo Dome, and appearances at Ultra Europe, Parookaville, Creamfields, and Electric Zoo.
About Rob Swire
Robert Swire-Thompson is an Australian artist, musician, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is best known as the founding member and lead vocalist of Pendulum, and as co-founder of the electro house duo Knife Party, alongside Gareth McGrillen.
In addition to his global success with both projects, Swire has lent his voice to collaborations with major artists including Deadmau5 (“Ghosts ’n’ Stuff,” “Monophobia”), Eric Prydz (“Breathe”), and even Rihanna, contributing as both producer and songwriter.
