Trance Enjoyed A Strong, Evolving Year In 2011 – The Future Of Trance Top 25 Tracks of 2011

With global music revenues predicted to rise by 7% this year (source: Gartner) it would seem wholly appropriate to put aside all of the talk about the fading of trance music as a major musical genre around the world. In fact, the year 2011 saw trance push its global momentum with increasing speed in such locales as the United States and South America. This is not to say that the trance music of 2011 is anything like that of a couple of years ago. In fact, today’s trance continues to evolve with many more producers mixing in house beats and still others embracing vocal trance as a way to get the clubbers out on the dance floor. Does this mean that trance as we once knew it is becoming too mainstream?  Some may say yes, pointing to the rise in popularity of the likes of David Guetta, but I for one would put forth that trance is in a natural evolution just like any other musical genre. I would further add that this is a good evolution. Trance music has become more accessible and now reaches a broader audience which can only help sales and strengthen the genre’s foundation into the future. So now, let’s talk about this past year in trance!

Would anyone deny that 2011 was Dash Berlin’s year?  The dutch DJ/producer rocketed up seven notches in the DJMag Top 100 DJ chart to an impressive #8. With a solid schedule of touring and instantly recognizable tracks like “Disarm Yourself” and “Better Half of Me”, Dash Berlin used 2011 to build his base across the globe. When I first saw Dash Berlin early in 2011 in San Francisco, I immediately tweeted, “I have seen the future of trance, and it is Dash Berlin.” In my Future Of Trance Top 25 for 2011, Dash Berlin deservedly takes spots #1 and #3.

And what a year it has been for the beautiful Australian vocalist Emma Hewitt! At just about every weekly turn, her wonderful voice was being featured on a new track.  Working with the likes of Dash Berlin and Cosmic Gate, Ms. Hewitt has risen to global super stardom in the genre.  Her vocals in Dash Berlin’s Disarm Yourself make it arguably one of the best vocal trance tracks since John O’Callaghan and Audrey Gallagher gave us the classic Big Sky. With the continued popularity in vocal trance and with every top DJ looking to have her work with them, there can be no doubt that we’ll see even more of Emma Hewitt in 2012.

2011 also saw strong, even great, efforts from rising star DJ/producers Cosmic Gate (which produced my #1 trance album of the year in Wake Your Mind), Aly & Fila, Blake Jarrell and Shogun.  Core trance DJ’s such as Gareth Emery, John O’Callaghan and Armin van Buuren also gave us solid, often surprisingly evolutionary tracks to move to on the dance floor. All of which made attempting to select just 25 top trance tracks quite a challenge. Certainly not everyone will agree with my choices as listed – that’s expected. Assuredly, my list below contains some of what you will expect, but I’m betting some of my selections may surprise you as well. Take for instance my choice of Bryan Kearney with Ong Namo (Neptune Project’s In Search of the Mayans Remix) at #7. I found Neptune Project’s remix to be an effective mix of “old” style melodic trance and future-forward progressive overtones with sensual vocals driving the tune right to your heart. It’s just the type of trance mix that is becoming the foundation for the future of the genre. Another surprise may be my choice of Tristan D’s intensely energetic Interstate 5 (Original Mix) . From the first beats to the explosive end, you feel like you have a rocket strapped on your back. If you’ve never driven on Interstate 5 (and I have many times) one listen to this track will let you know exactly what it is like! Love the track big time!

I now invite you to take a look at my Future Of Trance Top 25 of 2011. Then take a listen to the tracks - if you haven’t heard them before. Who knows, you may come across something that surprises you and curiously invites you to dig just a bit deeper into this amazingly beautiful, technically exceptional music of today and tomorrow. Trance IS the future and it’s here NOW!  

The Future Of Trance Top 25 Tracks of 2011

(as listed by Larry Eiring)

1. Dash Berlin feat. Emma Hewitt – Disarm Yourself (Club Mix)(Official Video is linked here)- Aropa Records (Armada)

2. Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt – Be Your Sound (Extended Mix)- Black Hole Recordings

3. Dash Berlin feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn- Better Half of Me (Club Mix)-Aropa Records(Armada)

4. Gareth Emery feat. Lucy Saunders – Sanctuary (Miss Nine Remix)-Garuda

5. Shogun –Lotus (Original Mix)-Armind (Armada)

6. Sean Tyas feat. David Berkeley- Believe (Original Mix)-Tytanium Recordings

7. Bryan Kearney feat. Snatam Kaur – Ong Namo (Neptune Project’s In Search of the Mayans Remix)- Future Sound of Egypt

8. Tristan D– Interstate 5 (Original Mix)- High Contrast Recordings (Be Yourself Music)

9. Shogun feat. Emma Lock – Rυn Tο Mу Rescue (Signum vs. Al-Exander Remix)-Armind(Armada)

10. Gareth Emery & Ashley Wallbridge – Mansion (Original Mix)- Garuda

11. Jorn van Deynhoven – Spotlight (Original Mix)- A State Of Trance (Armada)

12. Aly & Fila Feat. Jwaydan – We Control The Sunlight (Original Mix)- Future Soundof Egypt

13. John O’Callaghan feat. Betsie Larkin – Save This Moment (Gareth Emery Remix)-Subculture (Armada)

14. Agulo feat. David Berkeley - Fire Sign (Suncatcher Remix)-Enhanced Recordings

15. Armin van Buuren feat. Laura V – Drowning (Myon & Shane 54 Classic Mix)-Armind(Armada)

16. FKN feat. Jahala – Why? (D-Mad Remix)- Deepblue Records UK

17. Eddie Bitar – Beirut (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)- VANDIT

18. Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat. Sylvia Tosun – An Angel's Love (Vocal Mix)-A State Of Trance(Armada)

19. Sophie Sugar – Skyline (DNS Project Remix)- A State Of Trance (Armada)

20. John O’Callaghan feat. Audrey Gallagher – Bring Back The Sun (Max Graham &Protoculture Remix)-Subculture (Armada)

21. Hiroyuki ODA-Ignite (Original Mix)- Otographic Music

22. Daniel Kandi- Promised (Emotional Mix)- Always Alive Recordings

23. Col Hamilton, Junior J, Ryan Mullin – Renegade 3 (Blake Jarrell Remix)- Garuda

24. Luigi Lusini & Thomas Schwartz- Kiunguja (Original Mix) – The Clubbers Recordings

25. M.I.K.E. vs. Ben Nickey – Spring Break (Original Mix)- AVARecordings (Armada)

Honored Mentions (All excellent tracks, I just had to place them somewhere!)

>Right Face –Deep Impression (Adam Nickey Remix)- Enhanced Recordings

>Chriss Ortega and Rocking J -Wanaka (Original Mix) – Soundpiercing (Armada)

>Gareth Emery feat. Lucy Saunders- Fight The Sunrise(Daniel Kandi’s Rise Mix)- Garuda

>Orjan Nilsen- Anywhere But Here feat. Neev Kennedy (Original Mix)- Armind (Armada)

>Simon Patterson – Latika (original Mix)- Night Vision (Spinnin)

Thanks for reading through! Please...send me your comments and/or subscribe to my Future Of Trance blog here! Have a great New Year and I'll see you at the club and on the floor in 2012!