So the first overall crash-course in trance has truly hit the Big Apple....
A State of Trance first coverage of EDC for NYC since starting its broadcast around the world 11 years ago. what does this mean? more venues than just Pacha holding trance shows in the future? Good trance has taken over the city finally.... bringing the now updated classic 90s oversea sound to America. The Saturday event was a great day for EDC and the electronic revolution, there wasn't a bad place to dance in the entire venue. 4 stages all headlining most of the world's greatest DJ's alive right now. A full day of great sounds of dance around the world all going on at the same time, how could you choose which stage to box yourself into...? The founders of trance played on the circuitGrounds where the ASOT tent was up in full swing to broadcast their headliners. Hosted by the world's God to Trance, Armin Van Buuren watched on short circuit television as the event unfolded. He interviewed favorites after and before they went on stage. The last 3 headliners' sets blew up twitter feeds and facebook; Markus Schultz, ATB, and Armin himself putting a cap onto opening a new playing field for trance in America. Gareth Emery and John O'Callaghan set the stage for the even more recognizable names and sounds in trance by Americans.
The deeper a fan you are the more knowledge you have of the greatness of all musicians on Saturday. For the hundreds of people dragged by friends or just curious thrill seekers came for a crash course in electronic music than came out feeling more alive and aware of a "different kind of life'' after it was over they tweeted. Saturday was a historic and important day in Trance for America. But why so long??? ATB was the American ambassador, he brought us hits like "Ecstasy" and "Behind" all recognizable by Americans who were alive in the 90's listening to pop radio stations. But NO AMERICAN could remember his NAME it seems!!! It didn't translate, were DJ's neglecting to tell us because he was a German guy with a thick accent that scared of Americans?? Or was it that his name were his initials and not just his name?? It wasn't because he wasn't attractive! Was it because he wouldn't translate when interviewed on MTV?? I have no idea we obviously liked this genre it got major air play but then the rock wave hit and pop became more rock star. And trance slipped away and remained European. But it was still alive and growing into something amazing. Dutch DJ's made trance sophisticated and respected setting the bar so high for other DJs following in their footsteps. These headliners topping the top from the ASOT tent have been around and touring for over a decade. Some how Americans started to have an ear for the trance sound again. More and more people are demanding it be brought here in NYC.
Though trance is no stranger to Vegas or LA, the easy breezy beach sounds are shifting a bit with a more hardcore dirtier sound. Strong centered New Yorkers are finding the new shift completely engulfing and empowering. Progressive trance has been around awhile its no new thing but it has been refined. Progressive trance a very harsher style its not as experimental as dub-step in sound and not as cleanly simple beat-ed as house. Its as complicated as trance just with a bit more meat still the dynamic ride. Germans have seem to master this niche genre and have risen it to a higher level. Personally I am absolutely in love with it, nothing else is quite like it or has been. Plus it translates itself into an amazing live dance experience as ATB showed Saturday. Its alive and most importantly involved. Still ATB has chill trance tracks he still creates on his albums for a different mood at home. He has truly mastered the new trance or renewing trance listener's ear. Artists that still remain in their style yet tailors to moods are what music has evolved to and electronic musicians have figured this out first in a way that we can except their individual identity as a maker of music. We as Americans can start to identify a DJ by the music he creates instead of the lyrics they sign or the sound of their voice. A more complicated thing than we are used to but we are now eager to learn. Even so the leaders paving the way now use a lot of vocal lyrical elements for their songs adding an amazing emotional attachment to the songs. They tailor the voice to the song rather than the musical instrumentals to one voice, like most all bands by America. That makes and have made this genre a revolution to music worldwide. Now America now has a taste Nationally. No longer just as background warm up music for a workout or just for plan stimulation for staying awake to cram for exams especially for the med students. (they simply are smarter than the average American those Doctors....haha)
So enjoyed EDC and ASOT? some were asking whats up with the rock references? Cold play mixes by Gareth Emery, Teen spirit sampled but untouched by both Gareth and ATB? it tailors to the NYC taste a bit, but I see it as a tribute to a time that trance and rock did co exist. Two completely different sounds both great in there own means, plainly a time for great music before it was muddled and converted to a pop genre that seems to have an identity crisis. Now "pop" is something left to children, adolescents and confused adults. There used to be a time when popular music was an either or situation the 70s didn't have much to offer but what was good everyone listened to because there just was few alternative options, rock or disco was America's main choice at one time. Music has grown.... music is once again a composition to be pondered about, a break from it all. Trance has a great balance of that and a sing along element. Its kinda like it has ADD and keeps our attention longer with the mental and emotional changes it makes. Trance breeds a happiness, even if its a "sad song" its makes sure it reaches that higher spiritual level and leaves us happy again. Psychologically changing our thoughts on our emotional stress-fully situation leaving only a happy lovely glow on life.
