Musical prodigy Martin Garrix is continuing to make an impression in the Electronic Music scene, including being named the MTV European Music Award’s Electronic Act of the Year.

If his being 19-years-old causes you to think he’s undeserving, I’m going to tell you that’s stupid and to consider the time he’s already given. He discovered his infatuation for EDM watching Tiesto’s Olympic Opening ceremony in 2004, so that’s a tender 8-years-old. Performing live gigs by 13, he already has an earlier starting point than most of the nominees he beat out. Young does not necessarily mean inexperienced and he proved it when he got picked up after ghost-producing a track for Spinnin’ Records according to DJ Mag.

Garrix is now following in the footsteps of other legendary EMA winners such as The Prodigy, Madonna and The Gorrilaz. He beat out Major Lazer, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, and former winner, Avicii for the honor. He doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down. His dark, energetic style and creative use of effects has appealed to a wide fan base. He’s even gotten to collaborate with the man who started his passion with 2015s “The Only Way is Up” featuring Tiesto.

If you’re not impressed by the overplayed “Animals” take a listen to some of his earlier stuff like “Proxy” and “Torrent”, both a reference to his illegal downloading of FL studio, the DAW program he started his career on. On the latter track is a vocal sample saying “prove it” as if flipping the bird to anyone threatening legal action for his underage piracy. Or you can listen to some of his collaborations like “Set Me Free” featuring Dillon Francis or “Turn Up the Speakers” with fellow Dutch Producer Afrojack.

Garrix is bound to be here for a while. His age gives us more to expect and more time for him to prove.