Summer in a track: Johan Gielen - Balearic Reflection [Coldharbour Recordings]
Johan Gielen. This trance papa just released a new track called Balearic Reflection and is everything you would expect: legendary. He perfectly encapsulated summer in a track.
It is the right track to end a summer, to start or to just play with. Quite mesmerising and hypnotic. It puts you in the right mood right after you the play button. And this is what I like in a track. If it is instant love at first listen, then I know I will have it on repeat for quite a while.
Tested the track in the mornings while enjoying a coffee, or just doing the classic stretching. Tested the track in more situations, but it best works for me while meditating. Cannot explain enough how each sound that makes this track complete, makes me fall into that state, where the body and mind are perfectly aligned and I can focus on how my day is going to be, or just de-stress and detach from everything that happened during a day. I highly recommend it.
It came to no surprise too, when the track was included in the newly launched In Search of Sunrise compilation, mixed by Markus Schulz, Giuseppe Ottaviani and Sunlounger. And with this inclusion, Johan also signed his first ever track with Coldharbour Recordings.
With all the hallmarks of beauty illuminated by the sun, Balearic Reflection's infectious vibes will make this a popular choice for many playlists and DJ sets throughout the final lap of this summer season. Ibiza may be only in our dreams this year, but Balearic Reflection, and its impact on In Search of Sunrise 16, will live long in the memory.
You can grab your copy here: coldharbour.complete.me/balearicreflection and let me know what you think about and how it makes you feel!
PS. Johan Gielen just did new Trance Energy set for Mysteryland, mixed straight from the hot air balloon. Check it out: facebook.com/johangielenmusic/videos/371552493856831.
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New track: Dennis Sheperd x Sunlounger - I can feel [Black Hole Recordings]
Dennis Sheperd is releasing a new album in January 2021. He is calling it his "most personal & versatile album to date", so be sure to prepare for a real trance journey. Till then, though, he is not leaving us unentertained and he just released a new single; single that will also be part of the album, called I can feel, a collaboration with Sunlounger.
The track is a classic two-hander created by artists with their own individual sounds and a clear appreciation of each other's. The prowl of its moody bass, its techily-riding percussion and analogue sub-synths have Dennis’s underground-inclined fingerprints all over them. The Balearic longing of its Med-headed drop and the wistful yen of its Shah-leaning song meanwhile are all inherently Roger.
If indeed ‘I Can Feel’ already has a degree of familiarity about it, it’s for good reason. In its original Chillout form, the track sent a subtle but meaningful ripple across trance music’s pond when it was debuted in the closing moments of ‘In Search Of Sunrise 16’. Dennis’s grand plan was always to advance it into a more energized form and here the pair deliver a peak season postcard that’s big on cool grooves, beach feels and summer-sway!
Something that’ll resonate strongly with fans from both quarters, whilst drawing yet more to its flame, ‘I Can Feel’s out now and available through all good streaming platforms via this link: (https://blackhole.complete.me/icanfeel).
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New track: Cosmic Gate spreads some 'Universal Love' [Wake Your Mind Records]
More news on the Cosmic Gate front these days: Nic and Bossi just released a new track called Universal Love, under their own label Wake Your Mind Records.
Also, WAKE YOUR MIND DEEP RECORDS opens its doors with first release from Marcus Schössow and Matthew Felner's Gardenstate project.
Their latest update before the release of their fourth "Wake Your Mind Sessions" compilation, is the release of their 'Universal love'. A track that takes them off the Cosmic Gate''s grid, as never before: a dazzling, convention-shaking tale of two tones.
Something different and fresh, a sonic safari, upping the thump (& funk!), letting the filters rip and bringing it with some tech n distort tumult. The guys played with everything and more for this track: from piling on the speaker pressure with analogue bass, FX grind, 3030 whip and cranked reverb, to the break that brings an nice proportioned script-flip and drops FX-effected chorus from Natural Born Grooves classic 'Universal Love'. "Peopleeeeee geeet readyyy for this Universal Love" and enjoy this timely vocal that only spreads the message of love and happiness far & wide!
In other breaking Cosmic Gate news this month, the coming of ‘Wake Your Minds Sessions 4’ has served as the perfect springboard for Nic & Bossi to launch the new division of their record label. With Wake Your Mind Records romping past its 50th release, its new Deep imprint commenced release operations earlier in the month. ‘Delta’ from Marcus Schössow and Matthew Felner’s gardenstate project had the honours of opening Deep’s discography, which (naturally enough!) can also be found within the grooves of the May 1-released ‘Wake Your Mind Sessions 4’ album!
Cosmic Gate’s ‘Universal Love’ is out this week and is available to stream/purchase here. (https://cosmicgate.complete.me/universallove), while Wake Your Mind Sessions 4 can be pre-ordered here.
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New track: MARKUS SCHULZ & DAIMY LOTUS - ARE YOU WITH ME [Black Hole Recordings]
‘Indestructible’ in name and nature, with its Feb-released/Adina Butar-sung first single, Markus Schulz gave us a big open for his upcoming 2020 album. Now with spring in full swing, he’s primed a new precursor for it - and one that comparably resonates with ‘brighter days’ vibes.
‘Are You With Me’ introduces planet dance to an entity the Dutch music & festival scenes have been familiar with for time - the reflective songs & affecting tones of Daimy Lotus. Lyrically ‘Are You With Me’ delivers something that’s half question and half statement - creatively echoing the complex & occasionally conflicting natures of a relationship. At its centre though, the message is clear: exposing vulnerabilities in the pursuit of clarity is worth the emotional price. Daimy delivers her message with a burgeoning spirit that - come the end of the chorus – becomes absolute.
A task to which it’s more than equal, Markus’s Album Mix lets Daimy’s voice & song do all the heavy lifting. As moving as it is memorable, he backs it with guitar thrum, trace piano and persuasive percussive elements. His Extended Mix meanwhile is an APB for the airwaves. Upping the drums and pulsing with advanced tempo & energy, it has lust-for-life written big print large throughout.
An anthem for those with the guts to lay it on the line (and shake off some uncertainty in the process), ‘Are You With Me’ drops today and is available to stream/purchase here (markusschulz.complete.me/areyouwithme).
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Shine Ibiza has a new anthem by Paul Van Dyk and Alex M.O.R.P.H.
The whiff of sunscreen, the scent of surf, the hint of a mojito - close your eyes and you can almost smell it!! Yup - real terms, Ibiza’s right around that corner and for that you’ll be needing yourselves an anthem! Something equatorially-hot in places, evocatively flyaway in others and one that’s never, ever less than elevating?!
With summer on their mind, early April saw Paul van Dyk and label-mate/super-chum Alex M.O.R.P.H. whack up the thermostat and hotfoot it into the studio. Channeling their inner sun (wasn’t hard!), the pair co-created this year’s anthem for SHINE Ibiza’s soon-to-be season-long run at San Antonio’s legendary Eden.
Vibe-wise, this year’s hymn to the hot stuff (says DJ Mag in their May issue 8/10 review) was never going to skimp on temperate Balearic feelgoodery. Pads & chords have palpably cyanic accents, the rich mainline gives it its thermal lift, while its firmer bass conveys all the necessary floor-drive”, the mag continued, concluding “we’re looking at an anthem in both name and nature her.
A track that condenses all the elements of SHINE’s unforgettable experience into seven minutes and eighteen seconds of trance perfection, the night’s 2019 ‘Ibiza Anthem’ is here. The one you’ll hum as you (eventually) head back to the hotel, the track drops today and is available here (https://VanditRecords.lnk.to/ShineIbizaAnthem2019).
Full details of SHINE Ibiza’s White Isle activities and line-up can be found below, w/tickets available online at www.shine-ibiza.com/tickets
A track that condenses all the elements of SHINE’s unforgettable experience into seven minutes and eighteen seconds of trance perfection, the night’s 2019 ‘Ibiza Anthem’ is here. The one you’ll hum as you (eventually) head back to the hotel, the track drops today and is available here (https://VanditRecords.lnk.to/ShineIbizaAnthem2019). Full details of SHINE Ibiza’s White Isle activities and line-up can be found below, w/tickets available online at www.shine-ibiza.com/tickets
11th July (Opening Party)
Paul van Dyk (3 hour Closing set)
Aly & Fila (3 hour Opening set)
18th July
Paul van Dyk
Bryan Kearney
Menno De Jong
Alex Ryan
Saad Ayub
25th July
Paul van Dyk
John O’Callaghan
Will Atkinson
James Cottle
1st August
Paul van Dyk
Ben Nicky
Jordan Suckley
Paul Thomas
8th August
Paul van Dyk
Aly & Fila
Alex MORPH
Stephen Kirkwood
15th August
Paul van Dyk
Aly & Fila
Giuseppe Ottaviani
Jardin
22nd August
Paul van Dyk
Cosmic Gate
Alex MORPH
Chris Bekker
29th August
Paul van Dyk
Aly & Filab2b Paul Thomas (3 hour opening set)
Liam Wilson
5th September (In Association with Ibiza Trance Event)
Paul van Dyk
Aly & Fila
Jordan Suckley
ITE DJ’s
12th September
Paul van Dyk
John 00 Fleming
Grum
Woody van Eyden
19th September (Closing Party)
Paul van Dyk (3 Hour Closing Set)
Aly & Fila (3 Hour Opening Set)
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New Track: Betsie Larkin & White Zoo - Tidal Wave [Magic Muzik]
When you see Betsie Larkin, you know the track is a good one. And Tidal Wave makes no exception. Collaboration with White Zoo, this takes Betsie back to the release fore. Songs finished and new productions banked, with a literal wave of emotion she unleashes her first of the year.
A subtle-yet-devastating surge of soul-touch lyrics and heart-on-sleeve delivery, cut into an exceptional production, Betsie sends her ‘Tidal Wave’ your way now.
For its release she’s clubbed together with German boundary-pusher White Zoo, a producer who - through artist albums like ‘Into The White’ and ‘Zooperload’ – has himself generated waves aplenty.
Across its three mixes, he cuts ‘Tidal Wave’s musical cloth from housier fabric. Percussive loops sit atop substantial bass, as White Zoo checks its funk with cooler warping elements.
Betsie pushes the envelope again, allowing her delivery a darkly grooving, almost hypnotising feel. Revelatory lyrics unfold, adding the final edge to ‘Tidal Wave’s emotionally charged swell.
A track every bit as much for heads & hearts, as it is for clubbing feet, you can experience ‘Tidal Wave’ here:(https://magikmuzik.choons.at/tidalwave).
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STORY OF A TRACK: NIKOLAUSS – Nidavellir [SUBCULTURE]
Nikolauss - Nidavellir is out with Subculture since March 8th. The track received till now some pretty good feedback and I have to admit is one of my favorites from Andrei (Ok. they are all my favorites. ;)) ).
When I first told the story of a track, I wrote about Lifdagar (his first release with Subculture) and beside me having fun, people also enjoyed it. So, I decided to tell one more, because this track has an interesting story too!
Nidavellir is one of the Nine Realms and the place where were forged the most powerful and horrific weapons to ever torment the universe. Nidavellir is strong, rough, but delicate in the same time. Name is inspired from the Marvel universe, but the roots are in the Norse mythology, to whom I am a big fan. - Nikolauss
All started right after Lifdagar when Andrei sent another track to Subculture. John liked and the feedback was nice. There were some suggestions involved and Andrei worked hard on them and sent an update as soon as possible. At that time we were not sure yet if the track found its home, though.
Busy, busy times, all was happening around Amsterdam Dance Event. That meant lots of events to attend, lots of meetings to make it to and few time to check emails. Planets aligned, the Universe was good again and we managed to get to the In Trance We Trust event. It had a pretty mint line-up split in 4 separate rooms. And of course, John. And Neal. And Cold Blue (this last one is for me <3). We said we have to meet up, and somehow, right at the party seemed a good idea at that time.
We were in the crowd, enjoying music so much, when John started playing. We were still in the crowd, still enjoying the music and the people when suddenly Andrei recognized his track. At first Andrei didn't even IDed the track correctly. But hey, when you have so many, it gets confusing (I guess. haha!).
Andrei: Baby, this is it!
Me: (totally deaf). Which one?
Andrei: ID1! (cannot name if for obvious reasons). John is playing it!
Me: Really? ... (listening).. Ohh yes! Let's do a small video of it being played here!
Andrei: Yes. Let's go up on those stairs.
Me: (unlocks phone. Hits record.)
Andrei: (couple of seconds later) Ohhh wait! It is not ID1. Not my track with ID artist. It's ID2.
Me: You silly! Can't recognize correctly your own tracks!
Andrei: Ohhh! And it's the version without the last edits. I guess John didn't check the updated one yet.
Me: Well. I think he is testing it. And maybe he'll have an answer after that. :D
Andrei: I guess so.
I did hit the record button. I did try to stand still and have something decent as a video. But the results are completely different. We ended up with shorter shaky videos and nothing good to post anywhere. So, we decided to have the talks and just enjoy the set. John's set is a very special memory to me. It was magical. When a set makes me enjoy it that much, that I do close my phone, close my eyes and just feel it, I know it will get a special place in my heart.
At that time, the track was still an ID. ID2 in this story. And has been identified as ID long after. Naming it is another journey. It's about asking for deadlines, start panicking (me, of course) and having the Eureka moment at the last moment.
Track was sent around end of September - beginning of October. Track was released on the 8th of March. And a lot of tracks have a similar journey. I would even say Nidavellir's journey till release is a short one :D . A lot of tracks are kept as IDs, tested and crowd teased. There is no magic recipe of releasing a track right after pressing the export button. It needs to sit, to (maybe) be updated and to make the listeners curious with each sound.
Nidavellir had a really nice path till now, reaching no. 21 on Beatport the other days, and still going strong! It is amazing how much support it has from the trance community. It is great to see it played on amazing stages like In Trance We Trust at ADE, Dreamstate Australia and everywhere else around the world!
Hope you grabbed your copy: https://subculture.choons.at/nidavellir and checked its journey through Andrei's socials: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.
Eargasm goals: Jes - Imagination with the Will Atkinson touch
Jes - Imagination (Will Atkinson remix) was out on February 22 and now is sitting very nicely as no. 1 in Beatport's Trance Top 100. The remix is out for days, but my soul has finally cooled off to write about it. If I was to write on the release day, you would have read a novel.
Jes's voice will always be through one of my favorites in the trance scene and Will Atkinson is one of the best in the scene. When there is a combination of these 2, you cannot expect anything else than perfection. This remix is a very serious contender for Tune of the Year. And I am not the only one to say it.
This remix is eargasm goals. It has everything it needs to be in every playlist in the world and for us to abuse that repeat button. :) It is love at first listen. It is driving, energetic, magic!
I can tell in your eyes, while listening to this, where you go, 'cause I have been to each state you are in now too. I know it's like a trip, maybe to me, a trip too far, moving forward, faster into my imagination, but let it run away with me.
Imagination is in our hearts since 2008, and it was remixed by Tiesto, Kaskade and others too. But if you ask me, no one did it better than Atkinson.
Letting JES’s ‘Imagination’ run away with him, over nine minutes Will’s rework takes it to any number of new dimensions. Rolling JES’s opening refrains over crisp breaks and then capitalising with 4/4 beats, he brings in a beast of a b-line and an irresistible riptide of surging sub-riffs. Will then deftly clicks it over into a thumping progressive tract, allowing - through pathos-soaked pads, synths and endless FX detail, that emotion to swell.
Finally - right when you think it’s topped out and hasn’t anymore road to run, he stunningly upscales again. With a break picked out by authentic guitars strains and heart-seeking chime, Will finally eclipses all with the kind of mainline uplift your night simply won’t recover from.
Make sure to grab your copy here: https://magikmuzik.choons.at/imaginationremix.
Track also did awesome at ASOT 900 Utrecht the other weeks and Will perfectly illustrates the feels after in his latest video:
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Another day, another track: Another life by Cold Blue [Subculture]
Cold Blue just had the proper start of this year's releases! Another Life has been in our hearts for a while as part of his sets, but on January 25th this track just saw the daylight!
As usual, I am listening to the track on repeat and I am thinking what this track means to me. What it does and how I can describe the feeling better. And one thing comes through my mind: peace. Peace of mind.
This track is about quiet, tranquility, melody. Melody of life: another life. The life where you have nothing to worry about. The life where everything is quiet, but loud. The life where everyone is calm, but excited. The life where there is melody, but also noise. The life where there is a pure harmony between all these.
I am in love with the track. It's a great one to have in the playlist and as usual I grabbed my copy. Another Life is (of course) released with Subculture and received such great feedback till now. You can grab your copy here: subculture.choons.at/anotherlife.
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Happiness refresh: Maria Healy - Bay Breeze [GO Music]
I knew about the track coming and I was sure of a love at first listen. Maria Healy just released a new track: Bay Breeze with GO Music on January 25th and it's pure happiness!
This track is something refreshing. At least for me. It instantly put a huge smile on my face when I hit play. It turns each small moment into happiness. Into playfulness. I enjoy how this track makes me have a little dance party on my desk and how it brightens my day; my night; my everything. I enjoy slightly banging my head right and left on the beat. This is a track that makes you put in on repeat.
This track is a happiness refresh. If you feel down, or just don't have a good day, a good moment, this track is a right one to press play to. Or only if you just want to smile like stupid (like me actually right now), hit play. That is exactly what I am doing for the last couple of hours, since I bought my copy. :D
Maria is an artist I follow pretty much lately and I am in love with her work. I am looking forward to see her behind the decks at Luminosity this summer. Looking forward to hear this track while dancing in the hot sand of the Zandvoort beach.
I enjoyed seeing her sign this with GO Music, a label we all follow religiously. Not only because of Giuseppe, but also of his right sense for good music and awesome artists. Maria really deserves this signing and I am looking forward too many more!
Support the artist and buy your copy: gomusic.choons.at/baybreeze.
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