Op-Ed || Pure Trance Argues For The New Over 1999 – EDM Identity

Thanks to the Pure Trance Team, arecent post on Facebookhas the collective Trance Family going crazy debating the context.

Today, the Pure Trance Team, headed under the direction of Solarstone, posted a simple image to Facebook and opened the floor to debate.

Heated comments have flown around the internet in relation to this post both in favor of the new and the classic. As a bonafide fan of the genre, and after reading the comments flowing around, I decided that it might be good to lay some context and to gather my personal thoughts on the matter.

Want to know more about the recent Solarstone? We interviewed him just a few months back!

In regards to history, it is extremely hard to say that Rich doesnt have respect for the classic styles of Trance. Heck, he helped write a number of songs considered by many to be classic tracks of the genre. Take the track Seven Cities as a prime example of just that.

Seven Cities was released in 1999, ripe in the era he discusses in the post above. It is perhaps a zenith track to epitomize the summertime mood and moving melodies of what Trance is. He does not deny how important these tracks are, nor does he lack respect for his own work.

Having been in Ibiza and on a boat party with him in 2015, I heard him drop this track as the sun set on the Mediterranean Sea. He loves this track and what it means to his fans. With that in mind though, remember he has continued to produce tracks year after year to continue moving the genre forward.

If a quick look back into the discography of the labels Solarstone has attached his name to doesnt show this, I admittedly dont know what does. We could take a stance and look at Pure Trance and Pure Trance Progressive onlybut lets dig a bit deeper into the history books.

From the Solaris-era youll find talents like Alucard, Mike Shiver, Mark Eteson, Mark Pledger, Bot Cipryan, Matt Cerf, Majera, LTN, and Forerunners. This doesnt even bend the page to see who was selected to create remixes under these artists, but Im picking out two samples below for you to peruse.

Here we find tracks by talents considered legend today Bobina, Magic Island (aka Roger Shah), Sunny Lax, and Agnelli & Nelson. The following two tracks from FKN and Bobina show off the style presented during the Deepblue Records era.

It is clear to see the foundation Solarstone comes from when developing his thoughts and releasing the statement he made on Facebook.

With the above all in mind, I offer this response in the debate in favor of Richs statement:

For the fans, it sounds strange but its about context. The comment is about supporting the new wave of up and coming talent say a Forerunners or Sneijder three to four years ago. It focuses on where the genre is heading, rather than the legends of yesteryear. In some ways, he means breaking away from old-school talent like Ferry Corsten and Paul Oakenfold (who chase trends over sticking to the genre) and giving new people a shot. Rich doesnt mean that the music they make today isnt good, or that it isnt Trance right now. He just wants to see support for the new at something like Dreamstate or the rebirth of Trance Energy.

Dont get me wrong, I love a ton of old-school Trance guys, and would love to see Johan Gielen get a set here. Im stoked to see Marco V play at Dreamstate and throw-down Trance. Yet, Marco V left the genre years ago and lacks any major accomplishment for the modern Trance community. Thats the context of the comment. He wants us younger guys in the scene, whove been working hard for years to get any recognition in our local or break into the national/international scene. Hes excited for people like Niko and Triceradrops to break through the ceiling and take the mantle forward. He wants talent like Magnus to grow and take over what makes the genre great!

Rich is tired of seeing events (and maybe it is a regional thing) that revolve around Trance of old, or bringing back talents that may have been popular around the turn of the century. I for one would rather see Forerunners over a Tiesto set at this point. Id rather see Shugz over Dash Berlin/Alice Deejay. Thats the point hes trying to make. In fact, a part of me really wanted to hear what Neptune Project would have done with a open-to-close set down in San Diego without the classics moniker.

Heres the magic there is no reason a DJ cant play classic tunes! If you want to strictly play a set of them, sure, label it as a classics set. When you have the table before you, open to take people on a journey, why not give them something vivid and new, instead of relying on memories of sounds gone past? As a DJ personally, Im not afraid to weave in Arksuns Arisen with modern tunes in a set. Ill take Marco Vs Godd and slam it into two FSOE Excelsior tunes or whatever.

I understand the counterargument for why Ferry/Paul/Dash are on lineups over the rising talent. That is not what he is discussing from the conversations weve had (the true cash flow issue of festival production and maximizing the base that comes through the door). Hes talking about why people like Alex Ryan or Ally Brown cant get a gig but people keep booking someone like Armin hoping for that magical classics set that blows all of our old-school minds. Why dont we stop wishing for the past to be the present, and focus on the present and future of the genre being great?

Matt MyStro S

MyStro's been embedded for years in dance music industry - finding the passion during the early years of the internet when in 6th grade.Since the passion began, he's done a bit of everything - DJed in Ibiza, promoted and thrown his own parties, VJed, created promotional material, worked A&R for labels, and of course, wrote for blogs.Now he is here with EDM Identity, ready to make waves with his honest and unique perspective honed through years of varied experiences in the industry.

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Op-Ed || Pure Trance Argues For The New Over 1999 - EDM Identity