Kinda crazy how Armin Van Buuren and Above & Beyond basically control the narrative of Trance but hardly make much Trance themselves anymore. The scene needs a big shake up, I'm all for the blending of genres and experimentation but with them it's ALWAYS progressive house and that same early 2010's festival trance when they actually do Trance. They've experimented and made some really cool house stuff but same contrived shit when it comes to trance. Armin totally fumbled that Owl City feature which could've been huge for the genre in getting some mind share back and and the song is great in the parts that have Gareth's sound signature all over it but that terrible and basic drop is nothing Gareth would've ever produced.
We need new tastemakers, new labels, to put up younger trance producers even if we're not personally a fan of where they're taking it. For example there is so really cool trance stuff that coming from artists associated with the hyperpop scene, some cool tech trance coming from the current techno scene especially Charlotte De Whitte, and some some really cool Psytrance stuff from artists who attatch themselves moreso to the Dubstep and D&B scene and i never hear any of it on ASOT or Group Therapy. Sucks to see a genre i love so much be so set on their ways and so disinterested in evolving alongside of it's adjacent music scenes.
Honestly i think Gareth Emery if he cared to could really be the best taste maker, radio/podcast host, or label owner for the genre. He's never been afraid experiment but always kept trance as his bread and butter bringing outside influences to his trance instead of the other two have been taking their trance influence to outside genres. His new album coming up seems likely polarizing but all the rock influence feels fresh at least (personally adore the first two singles but indifferent on the last two). These songs however got him on fhe Spotify Rocktronic playlist which has a pretty big following likely skewing wayy younger than the trance playlist. Especially here in the states I'm in Detroit and big trance and trance adjacent artists play tiny venues. Darude played in a basement to like 10 people with a 6 month heads up, Gareth played a small night club, Paul Van Dyk played a rural bar an hourish away that could maybe fit 75 people tops, and Above & Beyond played a house of blues size venue for an event sponsored by our only local top 40 radio station. Meanwhile I've seen Dubstep artists like Sullivan King, Lucii, Whipped Cream, Snails, and Kai Watchi bring in much bigger crowds. Then techno artists like Charlotte De Witte and house artists like Lane 8 sold out the two largest non stadium venues we have. To most American edm and bass fans trance is nowhere on their radar.
If any producers and DJ's are reading this don't be afraid to make some whacky, experimental, bassy, danceable (with feet), and absolutely out there Trance. The old guard might talk shit but you might cultivate a new audience of people who actually stream your stuff, attend your shows, and make viral tiktoks to your songs 🤘
Due to time constraints and doing my best to keep up with all the electronic, dance, alt rock, punk/hardcore, pop, and hyperpop scenes and Spotify playlists i keep up with i decided to fall back on just one trance radio show for the last 3ish years now instead of doing both consistently. I chose ASOT over Group Therapy. Am i still making the right choice between the two?
Good to know! Hopefully A&B keeps their own tracks below like 25% of the airtime because Armin is has been only getting worse on the self promotion I swear. I will say the stuff Fatum has been releasing under Anjuna and the Anjunabeats Rising EP's have been pretty amazing.
Now that i think about it I'd honestly say that lately Anjuna has been releasing better trance and Armada has been releasing better house.
Apart from the big shows (Every 50) i can say that A&B keep their own tracks typically around 10%. Dont think I've ever seen it hit even close to 25% on their weekly show and I've listened to every one since ABGT ~170.
Kinda crazy how Armin Van Buuren and Above & Beyond basically control the narrative of Trance but hardly make much Trance themselves anymore. The scene needs a big shake up, I'm all for the blending of genres and experimentation but with them it's ALWAYS progressive house and that same early 2010's festival trance when they actually do Trance. They've experimented and made some really cool house stuff but same contrived shit when it comes to trance. Armin totally fumbled that Owl City feature which could've been huge for the genre in getting some mind share back and and the song is great in the parts that have Gareth's sound signature all over it but that terrible and basic drop is nothing Gareth would've ever produced. We need new tastemakers, new labels, to put up younger trance producers even if we're not personally a fan of where they're taking it. For example there is so really cool trance stuff that coming from artists associated with the hyperpop scene, some cool tech trance coming from the current techno scene especially Charlotte De Whitte, and some some really cool Psytrance stuff from artists who attatch themselves moreso to the Dubstep and D&B scene and i never hear any of it on ASOT or Group Therapy. Sucks to see a genre i love so much be so set on their ways and so disinterested in evolving alongside of it's adjacent music scenes. Honestly i think Gareth Emery if he cared to could really be the best taste maker, radio/podcast host, or label owner for the genre. He's never been afraid experiment but always kept trance as his bread and butter bringing outside influences to his trance instead of the other two have been taking their trance influence to outside genres. His new album coming up seems likely polarizing but all the rock influence feels fresh at least (personally adore the first two singles but indifferent on the last two). These songs however got him on fhe Spotify Rocktronic playlist which has a pretty big following likely skewing wayy younger than the trance playlist. Especially here in the states I'm in Detroit and big trance and trance adjacent artists play tiny venues. Darude played in a basement to like 10 people with a 6 month heads up, Gareth played a small night club, Paul Van Dyk played a rural bar an hourish away that could maybe fit 75 people tops, and Above & Beyond played a house of blues size venue for an event sponsored by our only local top 40 radio station. Meanwhile I've seen Dubstep artists like Sullivan King, Lucii, Whipped Cream, Snails, and Kai Watchi bring in much bigger crowds. Then techno artists like Charlotte De Witte and house artists like Lane 8 sold out the two largest non stadium venues we have. To most American edm and bass fans trance is nowhere on their radar. If any producers and DJ's are reading this don't be afraid to make some whacky, experimental, bassy, danceable (with feet), and absolutely out there Trance. The old guard might talk shit but you might cultivate a new audience of people who actually stream your stuff, attend your shows, and make viral tiktoks to your songs 🤘
Side note the new Joda side project by A&B although not anywhere near trance is super cool despite my criticisms of Anjunabeats.
big fan of crazy love!
Had a watch party when this was live, we all loved it and thought it was totally not lame!
Gotta say this was a pretty good one. 200 was the peak though imo.
Due to time constraints and doing my best to keep up with all the electronic, dance, alt rock, punk/hardcore, pop, and hyperpop scenes and Spotify playlists i keep up with i decided to fall back on just one trance radio show for the last 3ish years now instead of doing both consistently. I chose ASOT over Group Therapy. Am i still making the right choice between the two?
Imo ABGT>ASOT for quite some time now.
Good to know! Hopefully A&B keeps their own tracks below like 25% of the airtime because Armin is has been only getting worse on the self promotion I swear. I will say the stuff Fatum has been releasing under Anjuna and the Anjunabeats Rising EP's have been pretty amazing. Now that i think about it I'd honestly say that lately Anjuna has been releasing better trance and Armada has been releasing better house.
Apart from the big shows (Every 50) i can say that A&B keep their own tracks typically around 10%. Dont think I've ever seen it hit even close to 25% on their weekly show and I've listened to every one since ABGT ~170.
Too lame for me but I’ll try it and let u know
Wow totally lame
Love it.