Rules

Disclaimer: this is solely an artistic critique of music. I do not aim to attack any of the artists used in the examples.

Hi all, I’ve been an avid trance listener for the past 10 years. I got into electronic music through the EDM acts (Swedish house mafia, Avicii etc) but I gravitated to trance due to my brother having given me some exposure to Paul Van Dyk, Armin, and Tiesto through his collection of albums and compilations.

Like many of you, I have struggled to be fully enraptured by the modern trance (and in general electronic) sound. Sure there are some standout tracks from the past 15 years, but I do feel that in general, dance music is over saturated in terms of soundscapes. From techno to house to bass and trance, trends seem to be king, not individuality, experimentation, and authenticity.

Ever since the “golden” age of trance passed, and producers started chasing the crossover opportunities, I feel like we lost a lot of soul. Not because they were doing “commercial” sounding tracks, but because they seemed to be in it for the money, not the passion and art.

There are tons of amazing songs in every genre of music, from pop and rock to trance and techno, but I’ve noticed that many electronic artists are putting out tracks that while they are commercially successful, they are not what I would consider artful.

Let’s take for example some of the recent vocal trends in trance and techno, were the vocals sound like they were taken straight out of a children’s nursery rhyme. Basically a voice just talking or chanting in the most boring and copy paste way possible, with pitched up vocals, basic song writing, boring vocalizations with a basic rhythm. Some specific examples that come to mind are:

• freedom by AVB and Oliver Heldens

• on & on by AVB

• In the dark by AVB and guetta

• blah blah blah by AVB

• psychotek by Gabry ponte

• been there before by jooris vorn

I can see that many of the examples I mentioned are by Armin, but I want to state that this is not a trend exclusive to him, I just didn’t have enough time to track down other artists who also do this.

I’ve listened to modern sets and mixes by both trance and non trance artists and I’ve noticed that the vocals and instrumentals all sound super similar, as if they all noticed that a specific sound by an artist did well, so they all decided to incorporate it into their work in order to be radio friendly.

It’s gotten so noticeable for me that I have been gravitating towards straight up modern pop, alt, and indie, alongside revisiting classic trance sets, albums, and compilations.

Some of the standouts that I’ve really enjoyed and have helped me fall in love with trance again have been the “In Search of Sunrise” and “magik” series by OG Tiesto (including Nyana), “the politics of dancing” compilation by PVD, some albums like “reflections” and “out there and back” by PVD, all the other legendary trance albums by Tiesto, Armin and all the other greats, and lastly some live sets from back in the day, particularly this one which I think is the best electronic music set I’ve ever listened to: https://youtu.be/QNGOPduqngo?si=x9ouojhxJ9WctuC8

Something that I noticed is that the track selections and production styles are all different but meld together wonderfully. Each mix is a journey, where the destination is as important as how we get there. A masterful stroke of artistic intent and execution between different sounds and genres. Hearing PVD mixing breaks with trance, or Tiesto mixing in Touch me by Rui Da Silva is delightfully cathartic and fresh. There’s so much energy and liveliness in these works that I absolutely love.

I know many OG artists attribute the desire to go back to this era of trance as a phenomenon fueled simply by nostalgia, or the idea that we like those classic tracks because our lives were better back then, and hearing these songs makes us long for better times. But I disagree. I’m not even thirty years old. I missed out on experiencing the golden age of trance and dance music. I do not look at these classic songs through the eyes of nostalgia, because I discovered them decades after they were released, and when I did my life was absolutely shit and full of misery. Moreover, I’ve noticed some famous artists have given in to the demand and produced tracks mimicking the classic “sound” of trance, but the majority of the times they do not satisfy that desire IMO because these tracks are not trying to be authentic, they’re derivative as they’re trying to formulaically copy the stereotypical attributes of the sound of a bygone era.

For an angel, clear blue water, sirens of the sea, children, serenity are successful tracks not because they follow the staples of what we now call classic trance, but because we can feel the soul of the artists through them. They do not sound to me like pieces that are chasing trends in hopes of being a cash grab.

Obviously this is all subjective, and it’s solely my opinion. But I’m tired of the current scene and the idea that if we do not like what things have been sounding like, we are close minded individuals scared of change.

Besides trance, I listen to artist like Fred Again, Porter Robinson, The Japanese House, Magdalena Bay, Charli XCX, Ethel Caine, Sabrina Carpenter, Kero Kero Bonito, Chappelle Roan just to name a few. These artists are all mainstream, but I believe they offer their own special artistic visions. Mainstream and commercial music is not “bad”, it’s just that as listeners we have become complicit and tolerated subpar music from artists that have decided to sacrifice art for money.

Now don’t get me wrong, I get why they do. We all need to secure our financial futures for ourselves and our loved ones. But it just really sucks that things have to be this way. One way of thinking about it is if Tolkien decided that in order to pay the bills, he had to stop writing epic fantasy and instead start writing steamy romantasy like is currently popular lol.

Would love to hear y’all thoughts.

Renegade System just dropped his first full length album, and he's giving it away! Check it.

https://www.hardtrancerevolution.com/products/renegade-system-revolution-the-album

Listen to Gareth Gibson - Uplift Euphoria 9 (Uplifting Mix) by Gareth Gibson on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/jVa6z

Hi guys, my latest mix. As i'm really excited to go to Trance Sanctuary next week, in line with their usual music policy, ive put together a mix of some uplifting material. Some new bits thrown together with some good quality throwbacks. Hope you enjoy, please share.

Sean Tyas, Cari - Anywhere Giuseppe Ottaviani feat. Tricia McTeague - Loneliest Night (OnAir Mix) Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Woody Van Eyden Ft. Tiff Lacey - Dreamcatcher (Mhammed El Alami Remix) Craig Connelly ft. Roxanne Emery - This Life Woody Van Eyden, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Marjan - Moonlight Mark Sherry with Peetu S & Emma Gillespie - Open Ocean Niko Zografos & Christina Novelli - In Too Deep John O'Callaghan - Autumn Avenue Versatile - Supernova James Dymond - Siren's Song Paul Miller - Influence Amos & Riot Night & Merc Ft. Amber Traill - What Could Have Been Activa - Labyrinth Midway - Monkey Forest (Casey Rasch Remix) Eco - Light At The End (Lost World Remix) (Martin Roth Edit) 0Gravity - Memories Bryn Liedl, Bethany Marie - Statues (Bryan Kearney Remix) Sneijder Feat Victoriya - Need You Here Miyuki, Jennifer Rene - Our Song (Nikolauss Remix) KINETICA - When You're Gone Billy Gillies - Starlab David Gravell, Corti Organ - Bliss (Metta & Glyde Remix)

Twinkle Prog. I would like to know more about him. Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music is the source from which I learned about this direction of trance music. But I think there is not enough information out there about this style of electronic music. Are there any tutorials on writing this music in modern DAWs?

Hello, I’m looking for the previously released KhoMa mix of Jaguar by DJ Rolando (The Aztec Mystic). I can’t find it anywhere apart from a low quality rip on YouTube. I remember him having it up for download in 2017 but didn’t catch it. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or better, have the file available for download? Thanks in advance.

Labels like Nocturnal Knights keep uploading tracks with cover art of just incomprehensible slop unrelated to the title of the track or the track itself. It's an upsetting trend to me as it's really not helping trance preserve it's soul in the modern age. Is this just a Trance thing or have you noticed it in any other genre?

How about 150 minutes of up to date (ish) trance bangers for your ears. I hope you enjoy trancing out as much as I enjoyed trancing in to these new belters, from raw emotion to sheer joy euphoria and everything in between. All here to take you on a vigorous journey through Trance for your enjoyment.

https://on.soundcloud.com/aKnZf3fc7DfGPNfTA

1 Bart Skils, SUDO - Nexus (Original Mix) 2 Doppenberg - Escape (Extended Mix) 3 Susana, RAM, Paul Skelton, Tales Of Life - Better With You (Extended Mix) 4 John O'Callaghan, Paul Skelton, Ren Faye - May The Road Rise (Extended Mix) 5 Cern - The Message (Ehren Stowers Extended Remix) 6 Richard Durand, RAM, Digital Culture - Thunderbolt (Extended Mix) 7 Karen Overton - Your Loving Arms (Simon Patterson Extended Remix) 8 Ralphie B, Frank Waanders, Collide1 - Collision (Extended Mix) 9 David Forbes - All On You (Extended Mix) 10 Mauro Picotto - Lizard (Dan Cooper Extended Remix) 11 David Forbest - Alcazar (Extended Mix) 12 Warrior - Warrior (BK Extended Remix) 13 Shine (Ciaran McAuley Extended Remix) The Space Brothers 14 Talla 2xlc, Fragma - Toca's Miracle (Extended Mix) 15 Billy Gillies, Betsy - Fair [Extended Mix] (Original Mix) 16 Armin van Buuren vs. Tiesto - Yet Another Suburban Train (Xi 17 Billy Gillies, Betsy - Fair [Extended Mix] (Original Mix) 18 Matthew Dreamer - Arctic Moon (Extended Mix) 19 Mauro Picotto - Verdi (Eftihios Extended Remix 20 Torsten Stenzel - Interstellar [Cornfield Chase] (York's Back In Time Extended Mix) 21 Kenny Palmer - Within Our Dreams (Extended Mix) 22 Aly & Fila, Jaren, Philippe El Sisi, Omar Sherif - Count On Me (Extended Mix) 23 Iain M - The Rythm (Extended Mix) 24 Agnelli & Nelson - Holding On To Nothing (Paul van Dyk Remix) 25 Rank 1 - Breathing (Airwave) (Giuseppe Ottaviani Extended Remix) 26 Reaky vs. Tiesto & Zombie Nation - Optimal Kernkraft (Tempo Giusto Hybrid) 27 Vincent De Moor - Fly Away 28 Coldplay - The Scientist (Guy Mearns Remix) 29 Marcel Woods Vs Marc Et Claude- Loving Cherry Blossom (NuSpirit 142 Edit) 30 Stickup (Extended Mix) Armin van Buuren 31 Follow Me 2024 (Extended Mix) Derb, Richard Durand, RAM, Digital Culture, Spacefrog 32 Allein Allein (Argy Extended Remix) Argy, Alok, Innerverse, Frey 33 Say Something (Extended Mix) Ciaran McAuley, Christina Novelli

This will be a monthly podcast/show going forward. A monthly “event” if you will 😝 with the odd special themed bonus mix thrown in. I thank any and all of you for listening in advance. You are the reason we do this.

PS sorry the track listing is coming out in that chaotic fashion. It isn’t when I paste it in but when I hit save for some reason we have verbal diarrhoea for all to enjoy!

Apologies, I can assure you the tracklist is phenomenal 😎😂😂

https://youtu.be/gVIXYHmYdmY