Have there ever been back-to-back singles in one week that had as much hype around them as Martin Garrix‘s newest releases from Sentio? Not in recent memory at least. Just three days after Garrix and Matisse & Sadko cashed in on their Ultra introduction with the former’s sixth album branch, the STMPD RCRDS boss is continuing to emphasize why he’ll have a seat at the eventual album of the year debate table, partnering up with both DubVision and Shaun Farrugia to finally deliver what’s arguably prevailed as his most requested ID throughout the past few months and Sentio‘s newest cut—joining “Follow,” “Limitless,” “Reboot,” “Quantum,” and “Good Morning”—”Starlight (Keep Me Afloat).”

Garrix and DubVision have an incredibly well-documented history together since the “Backlash” edit nearly eight years ago, with countless reworks from the latter of “Scared To Be Lonely,” “Ocean,” “No Sleep,” and more. But the trio had never actually linked on a formal collaboration. And while “Vergif”—their other unreleased union from Garrix’s Dutch Waters set is still in waiting—”Starlight (Keep Me Afloat)” steps in as Garrix and DubVision’s first-ever release with their names side by side. The track itself came out of absolutely nowhere, with Garrix unexpectedly posting an Instagram story from his set at Andorra Mountain Music Festival in mid-February with no information other than the eyes emoji. Just a few minutes later, DubVision had reposted that same story, all but confirming that the then-instrumental ID was in fact a joint effort between them.

And in the weeks leading up to both Lollapalooza Chile and Ultra, Garrix had randomly stumbled upon a TikTok from an unknown talent by the name of Shaun Farrugia, immediately falling in love with his voice and inviting him out to Amsterdam so they could not only attach him to the Andorra ID but to also work on “The Way We Love,” which is Garrix’s Ultra outro. Everyone had already been wondering whether or not Garrix and DubVision’s instrumental mix of “Starlight (Keep Me Afloat)” would have lyrics at the end, and Farrugia’s contribution is anything other than a set of run-of-the-mill dance music lyricism. While it was already a progressive house blockbuster that holds just the right ingredients of both Garrix and DubVision, Farrugia helps take “Starlight (Keep Me Afloat)” to an entirely different stratosphere of perfection, possibly pushing it out in front of the current track of the year marathon with the addition of his genuine vocals that would send chills down anyone’s spine and opening the artistic door of what’s to come for him.

With exactly two weeks to go until Sentio‘s exhaustive arrival on April 29, Garrix has now crossed seven IDs off the board since “Follow,” leaving the Julian Jordan ID, the Dutch Waters ID with DubVision, “Find You” with Justin Mylo and Dewain Whitmore, the DallasK ID, the Blinders ID, and Garrix’s second Shaun Farrugia meeting as possible tracklist candidates.

Featured image: Louis van Baar

Tags: DubVision, Martin garrix, sentio, shaun farrugia, stmpd rcrds

Categories: Music