Martin Garrix and Mike Yung release ‘Dreamer

Martin Garrix has released ‘Dreamer’ on Epic Amsterdam, the label he has called home since 2016. His previous release there was ‘BYLAW EP’; the follow-up, out 1 November, hands nearly all of its attention to somebody else’s voice.

That voice belongs to Mike Yung, the 58-year-old singer who has performed in the subway system for 38 years and who reached the semi-final of America’s Got Talent last year, a run that put him in front of Garrix in the first place.

Yung still sounds surprised by the call: “This guy [Martin Garrix] could work with anyone. Why he chose to work with a 60 yr old like me was always confusing. Martin thank u for the opportunity and I love you man.”

‘Dreamer’ leans on that vocal from its first bar, carried by a warm, organic groove — slap bass among the instruments — with lyrics that trace Yung’s own story.