Uncategorized – Page 2 – Trance Journal

Trance is a sub-genre of electronic dance music that can be described as having repetitive beats and melodies and a tempo of 130-160 beats per minute. Trance music is produced by using a variety of electronic instruments, like synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and digital audio workstations (DAWs). The inception of trance music can be dated back to the late 1980's and early 1990's in Germany, when European DJs and producers like Sven Vath, Paul van Dyk, and Cosmic Baby were experimenting with electronic sounds and rhythms. Techno and house music, which were very popular in Europe at the time, served as forerunners to the development of trance music before the genre was given its name. In the early 1990's, German DJ and producer, Ralf Hildenbeutel, first used the term "trance" to describe the music he and other producers were creating at the time. Perhaps the term "trance" was meant to describe the hypnotic (or trance-like) state that the genre intended to induce in its listeners with its repetitive beats and melodies. Early Trance Tracks and Artists While it's hard to know for certain what the very first trance track was, there were some early tracks and artists that were extremely influential in the development of trance music. In 1989, "What time Is Love? (Pure Trance 1)" by The KLF was released, and many consider this to be the first trance song ever released. Another one of the earliest trance songs released was "Age of Love." This track was released in 1990 by German electronic music duo, Jam El Mar and Markus Löffel (AKA Jam & Spoon). Shortly after in 1992, Dance 2 Trance, a German duo, released a track titled "We Came in Peace." I'd be remiss not to mention two trance legends, Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren, who both began producing trance in the early days of trance music. Paul van Dyk is a German trance DJ and producer who released his first album in 1994 which was titled, "45 RPM." He has since released several successful albums, including "Seven Ways," "Out There and Back," and "In Between." Paul van Dyk has stayed true to the genre of trance, while many other producers shifted to other genres. Armin van Buuren began producing trance music in the 1990's at the young age of 16 and has been named the world's Number 1 DJ by DJ Magazine five times. Given his creativity and willingness to experiment with new sounds and push the boundaries of music, Armin van Buuren's music has evolved over the years. However, he has always remained devoted to trance music and has played a major role in popularizing the genre. These artists and tracks laid the foundation for trance music and continue to be revered by trance music fans around the world. Trance Music in the 2000's Trance music gained momentum throughout the late 1990's and early 2000's. During this time, there were major trance events taking place around the world. Several sub-genres emerged, like progressive trance, psytrance, and vocal trance. Naturally, the evolution of electronic music in general lead to the development of various sub-genres, like dubstep and progressive house. In the late 2000's, dubstep and progressive house appealed to a larger audience than trance, and trance experienced a decline in popularity during that time. However, trance has maintained a loyal following and remains a popular genre in the electronic music scene. Some notable trance tracks of the 2000's include: "Exploration of Space" by Cosmic Gate (2000) "Silence" by Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan (Tiësto In Search of Sunrise Remix) (2000) "Punk" by Ferry Corsten (2003) "Adagio for Strings" by Tiësto (2004) "Ecstasy" by ATB (2004) "On a Good Day" by Above & Beyond (2009) Trance Today I think it's safe to say trance music has made a comeback- and I'm absolutely thrilled about it! Trance may not be considered "mainstream," or the kind of music you hear much on the radio (unless you have a paid streaming subscription and are specifically seeking it out). However, there's no doubt that the genre has grown in popularity, especially in the United States. Its fan base is steadily increasing as more and more clubs, music venues, and festivals around the world feature trance music. Trance music has an extremely loyal fan base with listeners who are willing to travel far and wide to experience the music live. Thanks to the countless DJ's across the globe who have stayed true to the genre and continue to produce trance music, the genre remains alive and well and is loved and enjoyed by people all over the world. Trance music has just scratched the surface, and with more exposure than ever, the future of trance music is very bright.