The trance addict is someone who not only appreciates trance music per se, but is very knowledgeable as to what trance music is and what it means to their world personally. A trance addict is someone who does not hide his or her passion for this unique genre of music and always finds some new way to express his or her like for this realm of music. Be it through writing a blog entry online about the object of their affection or joining a forum that is exclusively for the trance music lover or trance addict.

Being a trance addict or junkie is a good thing in that you can get to meet fellow trance addicts and share your experience/addiction to electronic music that is the definition of what trance is. So being a trance addict does definitely have its rewards in that not only can you share your affinity for trance. Nevertheless, you can also learn as well from other trance addicts who follow it just as faithfully as you do.

A trance addict can be so devout to electronic music that they can turn that feeling into something that could very well change their life from a creative aspect. Some could end up getting in to music composition, music production, or some other form of association to this area of music that can greatly enhance the quality of life both personally and professionally.

Trance music gets its name from the bass line beats and rhythm of the music. The fast beats ranging from 120 beats per minute to 160 beats per minute or more evoke a feeling of altered mental state. The underlying drone (resembling a vacuum) often make the trance feeling even stronger. As the music crescendos and decrescendos, the listeners mind moves along the roller coaster. The feeling can be akin to taking an illegal drug but is totally safe and natural.

Being a trance addict is total freedom to express yourself to yourself and others just what type of trance music you like and the reason why. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and it is the trance addict who can personally identify what goes for them and what does not concerning trance as a whole. As with any addiction, the more trance music you listen to the greater the addiction and overall need for this fast beat based music.

Trance music, in general, offers some set characteristics. Almost as if riding a roller coaster of sound, the electronica that makes up the Trance style is a building, peaking and declining form of song / beat integration. The basis for many of the club and dance hits of today, the club music is more well known to the crowds that frequent night clubs than any other sector of the population.

Hard Trance is a spin off of the base style of Trance music. Originating in Germany in the early 1990’s, hard trance is a combination of traditional Trance music and hard, trance – like rock. The acid undertones of the beats and synthesized sounds are what make Hard Trance different from other forms of Trance.

Hard Trance music can be differentiated from traditional Trance music by the use of common sounds and effects. The “hoover” sound, vaguely resembling a vacuum cleaner, is a droning sound that is common in many forms of Hard Trance. Hard Trance utilizes dark themes, snapping snare beats, off set bass lines and synthesizer riffs of epic proportion.

With the popularity of Hard Trance in Europe, a spin off of hard Trance was created in hardstyle or European Hard Trance. This style of Hard Trance follows a slower beat line than others forms of Hard Trance (140 to 145 beats per minute) and exhibits dark tones and themes. Very heavy on the synthetic side, European Hard Trance is popular in The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

The Hard Trance, or hardstyle, category can be split into three sub – categories. Dutch Hardstyle, Italian Hardstyle, and Nu-Style.

• Dutch Hardstyle or Hard Trance is one of the darkest and hardest forms of Hard Trance. The base lines are immense and the kicks, wicked.
• Italian Hardstyle or Hard Trance offers a bit more on the melodic side of Hard Trance. The themes and lyrics tend to follow a “gangsta” theme.
• Nu-Style Hardstyle or Hard Trance is the newest and least traditional form of Hard Trance. The use of reverb falls short in Nu-Style with a concentration on a more grungy base line. Many Djs are reverting to the Nu-Style form of Hard Trance.

Trance music is something that is here to stay. Just like all other forms of expression, the style of Trance versus Hard Trance will move, ebb and flow with the beats of the snare and the line of the bass. When all is said and done, Trance music, and especially Hard Trance, is what drives the night life of many countries. Night club beats make the body want to move and Hard Trance is the cornerstone of those beats.

Psychedelic Trance was first recognized in the mid 1990’s in the United Kingdom. A derivative of Goa Trance, Psychedelic Trance is thought to alter the state of mind of the listener into an almost floating way. Over the years, the definition of Psychedelic Trance expanded to include more of the Trance style music selections being practiced in clubs. These styles are characterized by varying mood, tempo and style.

Goa Trance, the father of Psychedelic Trance, was rooted in analog synthesizers. The analog synthesizer creates a sound that was recorded and used as the basis of many pieces of music. But, as the world became more virtual, the analog synthesizer gave way to a more digital wave. Digital synthesizers are at the heart of Psychedelic Trance, though you may find some “old school” based Goa / Psychedelic Trance with a few analog bits to this day.

Psychedelic Trance is based on one speeding beat. This beat will be heard from the beginning of the piece until the end of the piece. The length of the track, usually 8 to 12 minutes, provides the Psychedelic Trance music the ability to tell a story of sorts. With the bass line hopping along at anywhere from 120 to 150 beats per minute, the overlayed synthesizers and melodies slowly grow and thrive until the apex or climax of the song. Once the climax is reached, the song calms down a bit and rebuilds to tell another story.

Out of the Psychedelic Trance style came the birth of one of the darkest forms of Trance in clubs today. Dark psytrance, killer psytrance, darkpsy, horrortrance and dark are just a few of the names for this almost scary fast form of Psychedelic Trance. With beats steady between 145 and 165 BPM, the massive pulsating tones can be felt in the deepest parts of the chest.

Dark Psychedelic Trance of this sort rarely uses vocals, though sound and voice clips taken from movies and other sources, most often horror in nature, are used frequently throughout the music. As the music evolves, South African influence is changing Dark Psychedelic Trance into a more melodic form of music.

Psychedelic Trance is more of an experience than a style of music. From the first few bars of the piece, well into the 8 to 12 minutes, your body will feel as though it is hovering right along with the bass line. The experience of Trance in general, would not be the same without the fast, droning style of Psychedelic Trance.

A DJ career spanning more than 20 years from the ripe old age of 15 has afforded John 00 the sort of experience that most other DJs can only dream of. Never afraid to push the boundaries in the projects that he turns his hand to, he is the owner of the hugely successful J00F recordings and hosts his own radio show on Ministry of Sound/DI.FM, the highly popular Global Trance Grooves.

A musical taste that transcends genres and his determination to seek out fresh, new, exciting music has resulted in John playing in almost every corner of the world and selling over 1 million CD compilations in his career.

John’s work has been recognized over the years with rankings in various charts inc. Tranceaddict and DJ magazine. Importantly he’s rewarded by the rock solid support he gets from his dedicated fan base that follow him around the World and who put the gold discs on his wall. This priceless support is something that can’t be bought and has been earned by the hard work and dedication put in by John. He simply has a love and passion for what he does. A true legend.

A Japanese cosmetic company asked Satoshi to produce a track for their forthcoming promo parties where the legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles was performing. Knuckles saw the potential in Satoshi’s music and asked if he was interested in collaborating. The final result of their partnership was “Tears”, a defining moment in vocal house and a song now commonly regarded as an all time classic. Satoshi soon took the leap and moved to New York.

Since his seminal hit “Tears” back in 1989, he has gone on to become a major part of the acclaimed Def Mix crew.

Although Satoshi’s beginnings were based on his musicianship as a classically trained musician, he used his talents in the early years of his career to write, program and produce some of the biggest classic house records of our time. Satoshi also has remixed and worked with the likes of Photek, Kosheen, Simply Red, David Bowie, U2 and Mariah Carey, just to name a few.

Satoshi’s debut solo album was 2000s massive Full Lick. The album featured the outstanding Satoshi anthem ‘Love In Traffic’ with Kelli Ali (ex-Sneaker Pimps) on vocals. The track was picked up by John Digweed for his Global Underground mix and remains a progressive classic to this day. The album also included ‘Darkness’ featuring veteran house vocalist Robert Owens, and ‘Inspired’ featuring Diane Charlamagne.

In 2001, Satoshi Tomiie launched his own label “SAW.RECORDINGS”. It was Satoshi’s desire to create a platform from which he would be able to showcase ideas and creativity that are more experimental. SAW’s first single release “Paranoize” by Bipath (A collaboration work with Stephane K.) caused major excitement from DJ’s worldwide. If SAW.RECORDINGS is an example of the direction that Satoshi is heading in, he is acknowledging the changes in the dance music scene, thus shifting what House music is. House music never stops evolving and expanding its borders and Satoshi Tomiie is in the forefront of this movement.

Satoshi’s Saw Recordings label has carved out a niche and has earned a formidable reputation for credible club grooves. Taking its name from a sound wave, the company has to date unleashed over 60 singles along with 4 albums including Chab’s sublime variety of rock, electro and house tracks, SLOK, Guy Gerber, Audiofly X, Jim Rivers, Nick Chacona, Nathan Fake, Lexicon Avenue and Satoshi’s own mix compilations ES and ES-B.

When Satoshi was invited by compilation kings Global Underground to contribute a mix to their NuBreed series, it was a great honor.
Satoshi is the first American based DJ to be asked to record a NuBreed album which is known for only working with the leading cutting edge DJ’s.
Satoshi’s album remains the fastest and highest selling NuBreed to date.

Receiving the highest honor as a DJ, in 2001 Satoshi Tomiie was voted by the public into the #30 spot of the World’s Top 100 DJ List and Best Tech House DJ Ibiza DJ Award. Satoshi is also finding International recognition now as a Label owner besides his proven talents as a DJ, Producer / Artist and Musician.

The last few years have been all about DJing for Satoshi. This Japanese New Yorker has been virtually everywhere you can think of in recent years, in March 05 Tomiie was also voted Americas ..15 favorite DJ in the world by the premier Electronic magazine BPM. He only spins in his home city (Tokyo) every six months or so; the rest of the time he’s traveling, using the Big Apple as a second home which also serves as a handy midpoint between Asia, South America and Europe - where a lot of his gigs are.

In 2006, Satoshi was chosen to mix the first album of Renaissance’s new series 3D. The 3 CD series will include the following discs: Club, Home, and Studio. This is a step above any ordinary compilation as it will offer a 3-dimensional view into Satoshi’s musical life spread across the three discs. The ‘Club’ disc will be a straight-up reflection of the sets he is currently playing in clubs. Disc 2 ‘Studio’ disc will feature a selection of his original productions and remixes. Disc 3 will be ‘Home’, a selection of tracks; mixed or unmixed that Satoshi listens to in his downtime and tracks that has influenced him over the years.

Following up with the releasing of successful ‘Masters’ series on Renaissance and releasing of his own singles ‘Glow’ in 2007 as well as ‘Solar Wind’ in 2008 on SAW.RECORDINGS, Satoshi is now preparing another album planned to be released late 2008 for Renaissance. The collaboration with Audiofly, Opus Ink’s 2nd single is also in the pipeline.

Although Satoshi is quiet and unassuming; he gets on with the job of playing and producing quality underground dance music.

(source: http://www.satoshitomiie.com)

Its been 14 years since the duo first met in DC, and its been seven years since they released their critically acclaimed debut artist album Junk Science. Over the years, the prolific duo have released a number of genre-defining mixed CDs and have become two of the most in demand remixers in the business. In fact, their remixing prowess earned them a Grammy nomination in 2001 in the Remixer Of The Year category and in 2002 they were nominated and won the Grammy in the Best Remixed Recording giving their treatment to Didos single “Thank You”. Through it all, Dubfire and Sharam maintain a very active world wide tour schedule.

DUBFIRE:
Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia–one half of the Grammy Award winning and four-time nominated electronic music duo Deep Dish–has joined forces with Global Underground for the April 10 release of his first solo mix album Dubfire GU31 - Taipei. The 2-CD mix set is a sweeping change from anything you would have previously expected to hear from the Deep Dish member and it features the finest in house, electro, techno, and even industrial music.

Growing up in the Washington, DC area, Dubfire spent much of his youth playing the guitar in school bands and listening to heavy doses of classic Hip-Hop, jazz/rare groove, dub reggae, new wave and industrial. Dubfire was also influenced by the local punk scene and the music of hometown bands like Fugazi and Minor Threat. Members of these bands also worked at a local record store called Yesterday And Today Records, and this is where Dubfire first picked up on the sounds of acts such as Kraftwerk, Ministry, Jesus & Mary Chain, Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb, Adrian Sherwood/On-U Sound and Einsturzende Neubauten. Through this heavy industrial influence, namely the sound of Chicago’s famed Wax Trax! label, Dubfire discovered the Chicago house scene and what labels like Trax and D.J. International Records were releasing.

Dubfire’s eclectic new mix is the product of his diverse past and addictive music personality, and this mix is more about Dubfire personally and as a DJ. Dubfire’s mix was compiled with tracks that he’s both really into at the moment and that have also had a profound influence on shaping his love for music. Dubfire GU31 - Taipei is laced full of gems from a diverse lot including Depeche Mode, Carl Craig, Booka Shade, Extrawelt, Samuel L Session and Nitzer Ebb. However, the biggest surprise of all comes with Dubfire’s original production “I Feel Speed”; a cover of an obscure Love & Rockets song that, for the first time, features his own vocals!

Dubfire GU31 - Taipei is released April 10 on Global Underground. Keep an eye out for April/May tour dates and several major events at the Winter Music Conference in March.

SHARAM:
Sharam Tayebi mans the turntables as one half of the Grammy award winning DJ/production duo Deep Dish. Characterized by a harder style than his partner Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia, Sharam performs as Deep Dish featuring Sharam, when he takes to the road to deliver his signature half of the distinct Deep Dish sound.

In 2006 Sharam released GU29 - Dubai. The compilation was called “a double header CD that kicks the dust outta the dance with its skywards soars, desert storming dirtiness and seductive sensuality..” by DJMAG and it was also said that “Dubai” makes you wish you were in the club enjoying it live. But even at home it’s an intoxicating experience, building from the Jazzy dub of DYAD 10’s “Sugar Sweet Thing”, to the relentless house of “Manitou” near the end of the second disc”

In 2006 Sharam also released P.A.T.T.(Party All The Time). The most talked about and sought after record of 2006 Winter Music Conference in Miami that went on to become one of the stand out records of 2006’s Ibiza session, Sharam’s ‘PATT’ (Party All The Time)’ made an apt arrival during the height of the Xmas season on Data, which is finished 2006 on a high with another club smash after its recent hits including Supermode’s ‘Tell Me Why’ and Fedde Le Grand’s ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’.

‘PATT’ was a huge anthem for 2006’s Ibiza season and has been ‘front of box’ for the world’s DJ elite for several months. Now signed to Data from Deep Dish’s Yoshitoshi label, it’s being tipped as one of the biggest club records of 2006. To date, Pete Tong has played it a staggering 8 times on Radio 1 (and made it an Essential New tune), with Jo Whiley, Sara Cox, Judge Jules (Tried & Tested) and Dance Anthems also on board plus Judge Jules having spun it twice on one show alone. Heavy support also comes from Kiss (Playlist), Capital, and XFM amongst others.

A tribute to the Eddie Murphy song ‘Party All The Time’, produced by Rick James and a ..1 US hit back in 1985, Sharam, being a huge fan of the legendary comedian, originally put the track together for just himself to play. But after giving out a few copies to friends and DJs who’d witnessed the dancefloor response, the track swiftly took on a life of its own and a worldwide bidding war ensued ‘ it’s since shown all the hallmarks of a crossover hit. ‘PATT’ itself is a peak time synth-driven track demonstrating once again that Sharam, like all great artists, refuses to be constrained by hype and genres.

Aside from his DJ/production duties, Sharam stays busy as co-owner, along with Ali, of Deep Dish Records, Yoshitoshi Recordings, and Shinichi Recordings. Collectively, the three labels are known for carrying some of the very best dance music in the world.

(source: http://www.deepdish.com)

HIs uplifting high energy style is very well known to trance fans. His positive energy and talent have earned him a place amongst the top of his trade. From his beginning in ‘Danssalon’ and later the famous ‘Innercity’ and ‘Dancevalley’ in Amsterdam to his current state of super star global DJ Marco V hasn’t lost his unique touch in music.

His first artist album ‘con:fusion‘ in 2005 did much to reenforce his position in the global dance scene.

Amongst a string of successfull personal albums and DJ sets Paul Van Dyk became famous for capturing the mood and emotion of melodic trance in the British club scene. A residency at Sheffield’s mega trance event Gatecrasher followed.

The fourth Paul van Dyk album Reflections was nominated for an American Grammy in the category of Best Electronic Album. Paul is always touring worldwide, he hosts a show on Radio Fritz and manages hir record label Vandit records.

Paul van Dyk has established himself as one of the most influential figures in the field of trance music over the last decade both as a DJ, and a trance music producer.

In 1999, he met Dave Lewis who introduced him as a DJ in England and the United States. His DJ career accelerated, entering the DJ magazine Top-100 in November of 2001 at Number 27. He has played in more than 25 different countries and can often be found on the main stage at big summer festivals. Van Buuren has played a record-breaking nine-hour set for Dancetheater in The Hague (Holland). In the United Kingdom one can see him perform regularly at Passion (resident 2002), Godskitchen, Gatecrasher, Slinky, Peach and Golden.

In 2002 he had a residency at Glow in Washington D.C., and he has played in Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Denver, New York City, Los Angeles, Istanbul, and St. Louis. He has also regularly appeared at Amnesia on the island of Ibiza.
According to Van Buuren, “The fans and the public are the most important thing for a DJ.”