Trance Production

I found a pretty interesting website online about trance -- It looks at what it is, its history, developments and structure in music.

First and foremost, the genre of music known as “trance” has very few rules or patterns that must to be followed in order for it to be considered as trance. “Trance is arguably the area of electronic dance music that has more branches and sub-genres than any other. However, in the eyes of a producer, this is a great thing. Instead of being limited by a strict pattern of conduct, the possibilities in this type of music are almost endless”. There are three areas that separate trance from other types of EDM : the atmosphere, its use of repetition, the particular use of synthesisers, and the associated “scene” surrounding trance. The atmosphere in trance music is supposed to be hypnotic. It is all about the music, the lights and the emotions of people coming together. The scene is another crucial part, without the scene, “we would most likely not have trance in the form that it is today”.

These ritualised trance celebrations provide a new outlet for collective creative expression and spiritual development. Furthermore, it can provide grounding to disoriented youth and support a positive shift in society and individuals, tailored to the main issues of today. Outdoor festivals are a good example of these celebrations. One very recent festival I was able to attend last April 2009 was Trance energy in Riverside (also check website for more details: http://www.trance-energy.nl/te2009/). What these festivals incorporate are many elements of traditional rituals, as well as new elements. So there are many similarities in outdoor locations, natural cylces, glow sticks and neon colours, and the use of illegal drugs such as ecstasy that propel the participants into other realms of conciousness. What we see here is a global and universal culture expressed through dance and celebration of love and freedom. What I observed from these types of festivals was that the culture was all about unity, but also expressing yourself. People came in crazy outfits and sunnies – but most of all, it was expected that people came to dance. There is a huge amount of unseen decoration and amplifying drugs. Ecstasy is percieved to be a youth style or subculture to trance culture because its effects promote the ideals of the culture. It is known to be the key to music because it changes your whole '”life”. Remember, trance is not just music but a state of mind. People do not want to just listen to the music, they want to move, be moved and DANCE.

Trance itself is very wide-scoped as it occupies wide territory with a lot of space and brings its influence outside and well beyond its own bounds. Again, there are no rules or patterns with trance music. There are all kinds of styles of trance. As noted in the website, there is modern or goa/ psychedelic trance, progressive, dark trance, breaks and the uplifting trance. Trance has such a diverse range of music. It can essentially be seen as a complex transposable element: it jumps from one culture to another, providing this culture can receive it. What it provides is a phenomenon, an experience where there is a unified consciousness during trance these events, it is not only a group mental occurrence, but it involves our collective biological body as well. In other words trance is an embodied enactment happening within and because of dense cultural networks of knowing and feeling.



www.transproduction.com