van Helden grew up in an Air Force family, eventually settling in Boston in 1988. There he started work as a DJ and began producing in 1991 while in college studying law. His 1994 breakthrough, "The Witch Doktor" (now his nickname), established his reputation as one of the premier East Coast producers. Subsequently he was recruited to translate popular tracks into house form for club consumption. He profitably remixed Dee-Lite, Ace of Base, The Real McCoy, and countless others while maintaining his dark voodoo house style.

In 1996 his mix of Tori Amos in "Professional Widow" went to the top slot in the UK, where he also had strong influence in the origins of UK Garage. Commercial success under his own name in the US came in the form of "2Future4U", released in 1999: an exceptional album highlighted by "U Don't Even Know Me" and "Flowerz". The next year "Killing Puritans" was similarly successful, featuring a bizarrely addictive remix of Gary Numan's "Cars".

Armand got his start in Boston spinning in venues like the Paradise in Saugus. He frequently returns to spin for an enthusiastic hometown crowd.

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