Audien, also known as Nathaniel Rathbun, was born in 1992 and hails from Mystic, Connecticut, a small seaport town. His musical journey began in his teenage years, where he dived into the world of music production. Audien gradually rose to fame with his piano-driven progressive trance sound that captivated audiences worldwide. Starting his music career in 2008, Rathbun initially focused on happy hardcore tracks, releasing them on Only Vibes Recordings, a digital label he co-founded with producer Naggy. Transitioning to trance music in 2009, he caught the attention of renowned artist Ferry Corsten, who released Audien’s track ‘Rise & Shine’ on his Aleph Recordings imprint.
Audien’s talent continued to shine as he released numerous singles on reputable labels like Songbird, First State Music, Enhanced Progressive, and Perceptive Deep. His unique sound attracted the attention of top DJs in the progressive house scene, including Tiësto, Above & Beyond, and Armin van Buuren. In 2011, Audien had the opportunity to perform as an opening act for Armin van Buuren at the Roseland in New York City. The following years marked significant milestones in Audien’s career, with releases on Anjunabeats, Trice Recordings, Zouk Recordings, and Spinnin’ Records. Notably, his remix of Michael Jackson’s ‘Slave to the Rhythm’ and Bastille’s ‘Pompeii’ garnered immense popularity, with the latter receiving a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.’
Audien’s success soared in 2015 as he completed his first headlining tour and signed with Astralwerks. His debut with the label, ‘Insomnia,’ topped Billboard’s dance music chart, setting the stage for more hits to come. Collaborating with country superstars Lady Antebellum on ‘Something Better’ showcased Audien’s versatility and wide-reaching appeal. Over the following years, Audien released a string of major singles, including ‘Crazy Love’ featuring Deb’s Daughter, ‘One More Weekend’ with MAX, and ‘Hot Water’ with 3LAU. Audien’s collaboration with Cecilia Gault on ‘Higher’ and Arty on ‘Never Letting Go’ further solidified his position in the music industry, culminating in the anthemic track ‘Rollercoaster’ featuring vocals by Liam O’Donnell.