This year is the 10th anniversary of the original release of Armin Van Buuren’s pivotal “This Is What It Feels Like”. The single catapulted the trance legend to the forefront of popular culture, setting the stage for a meteoric rise and positioning Armin Van Buuren as a permanent fixture in dance music.
Who better to do a rework than widely celebrated artist &friends and vocalist Phina Asa?!
It’s an infectious groove, with melodies that swell to a powerful chorus, driven by a pounding drumbeat and Phina Asa’s soaring vocals. Frank Malloy IV is a skilled percussionist and proclaimed ‘priest of the drum’ – he lent his expertise of sound healing and the intricacies of organic drumwork to the song as well. Across the entirety of the track’s production, all organic percussion elements comprise the lifeblood of the song. Lyrically, the song sings of resilience and strength, and the sense of triumph earned from overcoming adversity. Brimming with passion and emotion, Phina Asa brings her unique energy to the cut, conveying the depth of her conviction and the power of determination.
“This record is about overcoming, triumphing despite all odds, bumps, bruises, and our deepest scars. It is a celebration, an honoring of how far we’ve come – at its core, this song speaks to the essential human need for connection and love. This song speaks to the power of love to transform us, to give us purpose and meaning, and to sustain us through the darkest of times. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, and that even in the midst of pain and loss, there is always hope for a brighter future.” – &friends / Sean Thomas
Listen below!
