Is ANYBODY still releasing uplifting trance?

[Viceroy]

It seems like a lot of my favourite uplifting producers have moved to more Markus Shultz/AvB style progressive. Name some producers or tracks that are still "caught in the past"...

[Legacy]

Riley & durrant
remixes of airbiscuit - lately and way out west - dont forget me are awesome
Arizona vs Passiva - halo is uplifting.. also signalrunners - backfire(activa remix)
all pretty recent too
more uplifting producers...
menno de jong
yanave
re:locate
maybe john o callaghan
goldenscan
fred baker
airbase

im sure there are more

[TRANS]

Yeahh thats true mann! Even Above and Beyond has become like that... They were pretty uplifting back then. Oceanlab as their alias is still good and uplifting. Not that i don't like that style but uplifting stuff seem nicer to listen and dance to.

Phynn
Mike Shiver
Matt Darey
Signalrunners
Thomas Datt
Ronski Speed
Kayu vs Albert

[Subsun]

Rank 1 are pumping out some uplifting stuff at the moment, espically Rank 1 - Opus 17

[Mathew]

Everyone is moving with the times thats all. I dont think they are changing to 'progressive' but more that the 'uplifting' sound is changing/updating... The 'progressive' sound is alot different now also!

Artists considered 'stuck in the past' seem to be the ones on MTVDance or in the charts and to stay 'undeground' we all have to mature.

[DJLifeAndDeath]

I can understand what Sam means here.. tunes are become less like songs and more into the realm of Looped madness!!!

Vincent De Moor is a perfect example of that. It's strange because music does evolve and in some cases goes back on it's self. (A bit like how The Killers or the Kaiser Chiefs in Pop/Rock have gone back to an almost 80's style synth sound)

And ofcourse there was the dark 'Tombie Nation' sound that trance delved into and then the Electro sound championed by Ferry C and Mike.
So who knows where it'll go next...it's boggling! But at the mo, the Uplifting sound does seem to be getting classed as Power trance. (Think Oceanlab's 'Clear Blue Water' (Uplifting Trance) to Satellite (Power Trance)

So in terms of Uplifting trance at the mo I'd say
Mike Shiver (maybe) Cosmicman (prog/trance mishmash) Lange, Thrillseekers, Shane 54, Ace De Brain (Sorry I can't think of anymore, but it's an interesting conversation guys )

[TRANS]

[Mathew]

I mean, to kinda go further on what me and also Tony has said, people are updating there sounds to fit 2005 and on to 2006 and so on. M.I.K.E. and Mr. Corsten have taken very electro influences in their sets and productions, Armin has mellowed slightly and plays more floaty progressive/melodic uplifting trance and not quite the same but people like Paul Van Dyk stick to almost their own productions...

All the time to define a genre or someones genre in the electronica scene is becoming more blurred or more like another genre but its a change all genres and artists are going through.

[Viceroy]

I like some of the hybrid stuff, that is basically what we call uplifting today. Ex. Ridgewalkers - Find. But a lot of it seems not to be creative - very similar tracks, at least to my ears.
Maybe I'm just stuck in the past...

[silversurfer785]

I Agree with sam here, personally a lot of the tracks i've been listening to lately have been from 02', 03' which to me seems to be the year a lot of great uplifting trance came out, personally i guess i'm "stuck in the past" as well, looking for songs the way they sounded "back in the day" I guess you could say

[DJLifeAndDeath]

''Stuck in the Past'' You'll have to make that 3 of us!!

[GrimReaper]

HAHAHA!

If you are stuck in the "past" with tracks from around 2002-2003, then i must be stuck in ancient history with my pre 98 tracks, before all the massive supersaws were filling up the scene.

[nwopper]

Nothing wrong with supersaws, I dunno why people hate them so much. I love them more than that horrible progtrancehybrid everyone has to produce right now only to get their records spinned at the most influencial and overhyped radioshow in the world today: Armin's State Of Trance. So everyone would go jump up and down like a hyperactive teenager screaming: 'OMFG ch00000n!!!111oneone!!1'.

Matt Darey, CosmicMan, Airbase, Ace da Brain, Lange, they do some uplifting stuff.

Asot-progtrancehybrid: Andy Moor, Adam White (I wonder who sucks more, Andy Moor or Adam White....really horrible boring stuff), Octagen, Menno de Jong, Passiva, Santiago Nino, Re:locate, Markus Schulz (I think he actually invented it), Interstate, Gabriel & Dresden (They started it, and they're the only ones I like), Super8, Eelke Kleijn, Tilt, Mike Foyle, Enmass, Matthew Dekay....

[GrimReaper]

I don't hate the supersaws themselves but how badly they are used in most tracks released nowadays with little to none difference among releases. At least try to be original and have a somewhat unique sound and don't try to be like 99% of uplifting trance today, same track structures, mass appealing huge breakdowns, sounding exactly the same in every possible way with only a different melody. There are a handful of uplifting producers and tunes which stand out from the grey masses but pretty much all of the big names have been a a letdown for me.

I'm not a huge fan of the mcprogtrancehybrid thingy either.. i like some and hate some but overall i prefer times before the hype for trance and whatever genres, when hype and making $$$ by pushing out loads of average copycat releases asap weren't the most important things in EDM yet.

[Mathew]

nwopper, asot is a radioshow like you said, how is it overrated? he plays tracks... oh yea, thats it. alot of different styles alot of different tastes, hes playing for a wide audience and he starts off with some housey stuff and moves into a melodic trance and progressive sound (which i personally enjoy and am into to) and then goes onto the uplifting and harder stuff this topic is on about...

saying markus schulz started the progressive/uplifting sound is abit crazy too. this sound has been around for along time just its more mainstream now. subsky, thomas penton, polefolder, james holden, sasha and others have been producing melodic progressive house and trance for years except they were played at the gallery whereas now they are played at the republic... its never been called a hybrid of genres before and its only being called a hybrid now because people like armin and other big name trance djs are spinning them.

[TRANS]

Personally Markus Schulz'sstuff is for moreof the club scene then the Trance we are talking about. Cause if you really think about it the stuff we are love and like to listen we heard at "RAVES" not like at those clubs and junk. I heard these kinda music as soon as the club scene blew up for trance. Things change as soon as they get commericalized.

Soo many genre's for trance now. Just keep doing what you love!

[Viceroy]

[Viceroy]

[Mathew]

I did a mix yesterday when the sun was out and the weather was really nice, I've called the mix 'Playing Like Its 1999'. We're talking about uplifting trance and I've tried to fit as much uplifting trance in as possible! Must be played at around 145bpm as well, good old days!

01. underwater - forthcoming destiny
02. sensorica vs key - only one
03. lifecell - embryo (push remix)
04. underwater - waterplanet
05. kenny hayes - ibiza sky (alex morph skybreach dub)
06. armin van buuren - shivers
07. icone - the way home
08. misja helsloot - blue monkey
09. the 49th line - blue on blue (luke terry remix)
10. thomas bronzwaer - close horizon
11. chrysus feat solar scape - massive
12. nu nrg - dreamland 2005 (adam sheriden remix)
13. ron van den beuken - sunset (ron van den beuken remix)
14. sunquest vs tyler michaud - dont look back
15. m.i.k.e. - massive motion (enter ku remix)


There is one or two that could be debated as uplifting but thats all we seem to be doing at the moment and not enjoying it for what it is so I tried to bring the past back for you with tracks from 2004/2005!

[nwopper]

What Viceroy said is exactly the point I was trying to make.
When I hear Armin as a DJ I think he's pretty close to amazing, because he has much more sides than you'll ever hear on ASOT (he plays techno, hardtrance, even some hardhouse). Therefore I hold the guy in high regards.

But ASOT is a huge influence on the scene, if I must say, the leading EDM radioshow in the world today. Producers know that, and producers know what to make to get into that show and establish themselves a name. That's why I don't like the way it's going right now. And I think confirming your sound to ASOT is wrong, it's wrong for the scene, it's wrong for creativity overall. That's why I admire tranceproducers like Ernesto vs. Bastian and Sander van Doorn, they just keep true to what they think is right, and yes, they do get aired on ASOT too that way.... But mostly in the, always much better, second hour of the show, especially the last half hour....

[DJLifeAndDeath]

[Mathew]

Again though, the way a song is uplifting is totally a matter of opinion. Alot of people want a generic trance track with a buildup, a breakdown, bit of a middle bit and then another breakdown into the last main section and then down to the finish, and I mean, thats fair enough, I like alot of this too but to really appreciate the way the music works you have to feel it and the clever progressive and minimal trance thats out there, where you decide when to put your hands up, or what the most energetic bit is is I think the best trance.

For example Armin Vs System F - Exhale. This tune is fucking awesome!! It follows the descibed formula above, now take the Sander Kleinenberg remix: I think this is just as uplifting but it is so minimal and so repetitive in a way that its like the drug without the drugs... It doesnt say 'Heres a breakdown, put your hands up!', but lets you decide.

And I'm sorry, this is my opinion and we all have an opinion but I think we are in the best year for production quality and style. 1999 was when it blew up but alot of the older stuff does sound abit Dancejay now and alot of tunes wouldnt work in a set today unless it was full of that Euro-trance/Dumonde and friends crap... 2005 has been brilliant so far, my top10 is changing all the time! Like I said though, just my opinion.

[DJLifeAndDeath]

LOL!

[Mathew]

Another example is Chab's new track 'You Ad Me'. How good is this!!?? So repetitive and driving that its uplifting and hynotic... Doesnt need a breakdown at all!

[nwopper]

Euro/Dumonde and friends-crap?
I know what euro is....
I know what friends are....
I know what crap is...

But where must we place DuMonde in this picture? And why DuMonde in the first place?

I mean, do you really believe 1999 was DuMonde's year? I think 1999 was the Gouryella, Armin van Buuren ('Communication), Vincent de Moor, Ferry Corsten....-year. The mostly played stuff were the Veracocha, Gouryella and Allure-tracks. The first productions of Tiesto (Theme from Norefjell)....stuff like that.
And yes, I'd rather prefer generic hands-in-the-air-buildup-breakdown-trance than that one-sided crap that's on display on ASOT.

[Viceroy]

[Mathew]

nwopper, Dumonde is crap and has always been crap! 1999 wasnt their year and no other year either... I like some remixes they've done and 'Memory' with Lange (infact, 'Memory' is brilliant!!) but I cant get into them. I have tried though!

I mean, I can understand what alot of you guys are saying also, you know where you stand with the traditional uplifting tracks and I still think there is alot of fantastic uplifting trance about but you have to look to the white labels or the new producers on the scene. Tiesto certainly isnt doing it anymore, but look at the youngsters on his label like Phynn. Im not a big fan of his productions but they are nice and uplifting.

[nwopper]

I happen to like DuMonde very much, so you cannot convince me they're crap.

[TRANS]

i:Vibes: Do you think that deejays have become pop stars? Why or Why Not? and is it a good or bad thing?

A: Some DJ's have become so popular that they reach a broader audience than just the underground club scene. I guess anything that's good becomes big at some point, you can't stop that. But when that happens, it's important to
know where you're coming from and to keep loyal to the sound that's made you where you are today. I think it's good that dance music and DJ's are bigger now than they were because it opens a lot of doors for exciting new things. On the downside I think it's a shame that there're a lot of people who jump in just for the money. That's why the word "trance" became a dirty word, when it used to be a cool word! But when that's over, what remains is the true love for dance music.

That is the answer given by Armin himself. If none of you guys ever read this interview. He's totally talking about what we're talking about. Funny how he mentions this part,"The cheesy vocal predictable top 40 riff music that some call trance, yes. The true underground sound that used to be called trance, no.
Trance is just a name, and everybody seems to have a different definition for it!!!!!!!! Don't be blinded by a label!" hahaa

[TRANS]