Maybe you love your beats with an uplift, or you crave some psy to take you to a new dimension,or you are in the mood to amp up the energy with a healthy dose of tech trance, then make quantunVALLEY your home at EDC Vegas 2017!

At EDC Las Vegas, trance has always had a welcome home, and with the announcement of the quantumVALLEY Stage this year, we couldnt be more excited! Trance has been long overdue for a dedicated stage and after a solid Dreamstate takeover of the circuitGROUNDS stage last year on Sunday the stars aligned for this years edition of EDCLV!

The stage itself was leaked by Pasquale on Instagram and was officially announced to the delight of trance enthusiasts who plan on attending this year. That announcement was only boosted by the lineup for the stage, which features 27 artists who will be bringing some unreal vibes and quality beats for your ears.

We already know that for dedicated trance fans the quantumVALLEY will be considered home for the duration of the festival, but if youre just an electronic music fan who decides to wander, there are a few trance acts that you are not going to want to miss! Here are my top trance artists who will be playing at EDC Las Vegas 2017 that I urge you to check out!

Facebook|Twitter|SoundCloud

It goes without saying that Markus Schulz is an artist who has had an unstoppable presence at EDC Las Vegas since the very beginning; whether gracing the stage as a solo act or joining ranks with his good buddy Ferry Corsten to shake things up as New World Punx. This year marks a new era in his massively vibrant EDC journey as he will descend upon the quantumVALLEY stage as Dakota, a project that has stolen the hearts of his dedicated fans since releasing Thoughts Become Things under the Dakota alias in 2009. His performance at EDC Las Vegas 2017 will be his second go-around at The Nine Skies project since its unveiling at Dreamstate San Francisco.

With a focus on the darker side of trance with even a little bit of a techno twist as evident in his latest release called Mota-Mota, Dakota has entered a new chapter called The Nine Skies, a tour concept focusing on the nine steps to enlightenment. Check out The Nine Skies trailer and info about the project righthere!

The Nine Skies is my representation of the nine steps we all go through to reach enlightenment in life. I want people to come to these special Dakota shows and open their minds to its music, message and its visuals the trinity of which will take them on a journey. Your journey, their journey, everybodys journey together. Dakota is darker in its beats, and wiser with the messages it wants to share with the world. Questions like what is the secret of life? Why are we here on earth? What is our purpose? These are just some of the questions we have and The Nine Skies show will explore.

Markus Schulz

Facebook|Twitter|SoundCloud

Since stepping onto the scene back in the mid-2000s Sander van Doorn has wowed fans all over the globe with a tech trance flair that instantly ignited an incredible following for a man dripping in dance music expertise. Eventually, he would gravitate to a more progressive style breaking out of the genre bubble and expressing his love for dance music in a new light. Fast forward to 2017 and Sander fans were presented with a curious unveiling as his socials went completely dark, signaling a coming change in this dance music gurus repertoire. Purple Haze would ultimately reveal itself as Sanders new alter ego and with a preview of his new track Neilojon A State of Trance Episode 804, Purple Haze was up and running.

Ultra Music Festival would mark Sanders first performance as Purple Haze and with the tech trance vibes blasting through the speakers, it was clear that the true Sander van Doorn was back and better than ever. If you love your beats dark, smothered in energy, and sharp in production and delivery then you would be a fool to miss his performance at EDC Las Vegas!

Facebook|Twitter|SoundCloud

My next pick comes from a DJ/producer that has been on fire recently. His performance at Dreamstate San Francisco just this past week that got the trance world buzzing with nothing but adoration for this masterful trance kingpin, and it seems as if John OCallaghan has hit a stride unmatched by any who even attempt to deliver the quality of work that seems to run effortlessly through his veins.

Whether he is in the mood to take his crowd on a rollercoaster ride of 138 or blast event attendees up with an uplifting set that sends chills to the deepest depths of your soul, a John OCallaghan set seems to always stand apart from the pack. With go-to tracks like Find Yourself, Big Sky, and Stay WIth Me, just to name a few, John OCallaghan has fast become one of the greatest artists to ever grace our scene. What does he have in store for EDC Las Vegas 2017? Only time will tell. But I guarantee that catching his set will be one of the biggest highlights of your EDC experience. You can quote me on that!

Facebook|Twitter|SoundCloud

You may know him as Armin van Buurens faithful sidekick on A State Of Trance radio show or through his extensive work with the massive Armada record label as well as his own imprint, Statement!. You may know him as the artist behind the Sound of Holland weekly radio show or as the man behind incredible productions like Forever In Our Hearts, Grands Boulevards, and Stoer. You also cannot forget his domination among the festival circuit, unleashing his talent at massive events like Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Dance Valley, Nature One, Kazantip, a slew of A State of Trance live events and gracing half a million people welcoming in Hanois new year. No matter how you know Ruben, history has shown us that this is a man who has established himself among the trance elite, building an empire in his wake.

Walking the fine line of trance, house, and progressive, Ruben de Ronde refuses to be contained by boundaries focusing on next level production, letting his music speak for itself. Just recently, he joined forces with fellow trance aficionado Rodgto develop a brand new album called Togetherr, set for release on June 16, the same weekend that he will bring his divine trance tunes to EDC Las Vegas! I am going to go out on a limb and say that if you choose to check out his set, your ears will be graced with a lot of new music premieres from Togetherr. All the more reason that you should refuse to miss this set!

Check out Ruben de Rondes new track with Orjan Nilsen and Rodg along with album details by clickinghere!

Facebook|Twitter|SoundCloud

A top five trance artist pick would not be complete without showing some love to the subgenre that shoots us straight in the outer reaches of the universe. A subgenre that tantalizes the senses with alienistic sound bytes, driving basslines, and underground flair. Yes, I am speaking about the deep, dark, twisted, subgenre known as psytrance! If you are a fan of psy then Ace Ventura is an artist that you simply cannot deny!Behind the Ace Ventura project is Yoni Oshrat, one of Israels biggest talents in electronic music, with a career on top of the scene, stretching for over a decade.

Ace Ventura, while amazing on his own has been known to join forces with some of the biggest names in trance including a divine partnership with Astrix as Alpha Portal delivering one of the most electrified performances at Dreamstate San Bernardino last November and with Liquid Soul as Liquid Ace where they rocked the socks off concert goers at Dreamstate San Francisco just this past week.

For EDC Las Vegas 2017, Ace Ventura will put his partnerships on hold to sit solo in the drivers seat to dish out a set that will reach far beyond what the conscious mind can comprehend. Prepare yourself for a performance that will astound the senses, far more unique than anyone else on the massive EDC trance lineup.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Featured Photo Credit: Insomniac Events

Maria first fell in love with electronic music in the early 2000's when she heard a little tune called "Satisfaction" by Benny Benassi. Since then she has dived head first into the scene and become passionate about the trance, techno, and tech house genre's. Festival's like EDC, Dreamstate, and TomorrowWorld hold the key to her soul and dance music will always and forever be a major part of her life.

View original post here:

Five Trance Artists You Must Catch at EDC Las Vegas 2017 - EDM Identity (blog)

"Yo pani bhavi le lekheko chha tyo pani bhavi le lekheko chha bhavi le lekheko metdaina tala tala nepal ma jada daju bhai nepala jane bato mapani khane padhero sangai ko sathi bhai sansarai ghumda malai chha diusai andhero malai chha diusai andheroEverythingis written by fateAnd fate cannot be erased.On the road down to Nepal, O Brother,So many sights to seeBut when I travel this world, my friendIts all just darkness to me" Bir Bahadur Bishwokarma

Apr 8, 2017- As Bir Bahadur Biswokarma begins strumming the Tungna, anticipation among those who have gathered begins to peak.

We are sat at the courtyard of the Patan Museum where an album launch for the folk ensemble Kutumba has been transformed into a giant, public busk. As a travelling minstrel (gaine) who makes a living out of busking at bustops and chautaris of towns along the Kodari Highway, Biswokarma is used to the attention the Tungna attracts. But even he has never had an audience this big. Then as he begins to sing Kangla ko bato in his uniquely rustic voice, the donations begin to pour in.

Patan has a long history of being generous to its artists, and it doesnt look like it will disappoint us tonight.

***

When I found Bir Bahadur Biswokarma on YouTube, under labels like A blind man singing, or A beggar plays the Tungna, I had reached a dead-end of sorts. As a student of Ethnomusicologywhich studies music through cultural and anthropological lensesI had scoured what little literature is available on the Tungna, but had been left with more questions than answers. Even then, all roads seemed to eventually lead to Biswokarma, who had found small-time fame on the internet through mobile phone videos uploaded by curious travellers, arrested as much by his blindness as his music.

Bir Bahadur Biswokarma is 32, and he has been visually impaired since birth. A resident of Listikot in Sindhupalchowk, near the Kodari border, he picked up the Tungna when he was 16, after deciding that, because it allowed him to sing as he played, it yielded more returns at bus stops than just the flute. As hard as the Tungna is to master, Biswokarma plays it purely by ear; and while he does rely on traditional bhakas and tonal signatures, his penchant for improvisation means that no two songs that he plays is quite the same. Like the long line of traditional minstrels that he belongs to, Biswokarma is no stranger to inducing guffaws for moulding his music according to the crowd that he is playing for, in any of the four languages he can sing in.

The Tungna, Biswokarmas lute of choice, is a stringed folk instrument, one of the half a dozen guitar-like lutes found in Nepal. Played by the Tamang, Sherpa, Hyolmo and other communities, it is a close cousin of other Sino-Tibetan lutes like the Bhutanese Dramyin (Damgyang) and yet unique in its form. Fretless and without a standard scale length, the Tungna, like the 362 different musical instruments in the country, has traditionally been confined to its region, keeping it in a very crude form, making it hard to tune; and harder to master. And like many other folk instruments, the Tungnas popularity is on the wane, despite it being central to cultural staples like the Tamang Selo.

In 2015, while travelling with an arts initiative to Gatlang, Rasuwa, a scenic, traditional Tamang community, I was surprised to learn that there was just one individual in the large network of villages, that could make the instrument. At a school, when we asked the students to draw the first thing that came to their mind when thinking about music, almost all drew guitars and drums. A few drew madals, even fewer sketched a Tungna.

There are people like Agrim Lama, who makes the instrument in Kathmandu per custom orders; Arun Manandhar of Kutumba; and the Project Tungna which have sought to popularise, preserve and document the instrument in the past years, but the tungna continues to remain an obscure and mysterious instrument, its use limited to large cultural showcases or the handful of travelling minstrels, like Biswokarma.

***

When Bir Bahadur Biswokarma ends his song with a frenzied crescendo, nearly Rs 30,000 has been collected through the donations. They will go a long way in helping his young family repay debts incurred while rebuilding their house after the 2015 earthquake. His 10-minutes in the limelight at the City of Fine Arts, we hope, will bring him further attention in the future.

For many like me, the impromptu set, served as a reminder that even while we sit in the cities and make tall claims and demands about the preservation of folk tunes and instruments, musicians like Biswokarmawho are keeping the traditions alive in their indigenous formare now more important than ever. Music, after all, is more than just entertainment; it is intricately tied to culture, society, religion, history and local lifestyles. And once an instrument or a musical tradition disappears, a part of our shared heritage and history dies with it.

Which is not to preach a purely nativistic approach to music; modern-day fusion ensembles have shown the versatility of folk instruments when paired with western musical styles. But as long as sarangi players continue to be labelled as pakhe or dalit, things are unlikely to change. In fact, a majority of traditional musiciansthe Gandarvas, Damai, Jugi, Badiare Dalit, and while social perception about caste is changing, without concerted effort, it might be too little, too late. But still, if Bir Bahadur Biskwokarmas entrancing Patan performance is anything to go by, there is hope yet.

- Deshar is a student of ethnomusicology at Kathmandu Universtiy and a member of the folk-fusion band Ma

***

Watch Bir Bahadur Biswokarma's Patan Musuem performance here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go-L2LJTl9I

Published: 08-04-2017 09:07

Read more:

The trance of the Tungna - The Kathmandu Post

Transmission Prague is pleased to announce the date for Transmission Prague 2017is set for Saturday the 25th of November 2017. ALimited amount of early bird tickets will go on sale on Thursdaythe 6thof April2017 at 9AM (CEST) through Ticketportal and Paylogic network http://www.bit.ly/TMTICKETS

After last years sold out edition which attracted visitors from over 60 countries to Prague, and the very successful introduction in Asia a few weeks agowhich attracted visitors from over 50 countries to Thailand, a new experience and a new mind blowing show will be created for Transmission Prague.

Once again, thebeautiful O2 arena in Prague, one of Europes most modern multifunctional venues, will be transformed into a giant dance temple to celebrate in style all night long. Transmission has developed and evolved into one of Planet Earths most spectacular trance events and has built a reputation its showcasing outstanding productions with mind blowing light and laser extravaganza.

Paving the way to the future with a deep-rooted passion and drive, Transmission will continue to dazzle the senses and astonish the crowds. The theme and line-up for this edition will be announced in a later phase but its well known that every edition is a new exciting adventure

Co-Founder of Trance Hub, Curator of The Gathering events in India and ALT+TRANCE in Czech Republic. By day, a Digital Marketing Enthusiast with love for Food and Technology. By night, a dreamer who wants to grow the Trance scene in India.

Next Post

Its been five years since the trance maven last released a studio album. Its fair...

Continued here:

Central Europe's biggest trance event Transmission announces date - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)

A World in Trance, featuring the music of Zimbabwe, Iran, India and Pakistan in this third edition of the festival, transcends boundaries and brings the listener to a state of ecstasy and enchantment.

This year's series includes the entrancing mbira music of Zimbabwe with master musician Chartwell Dutiro (Apr 28); mesmerizing 21st century global trance music with Niyaz featuring the spellbinding vocalist Azam Ali (Apr 29); and riveting interpretations of Sufi qawwali with the US-based Riyaaz Qawwali (Apr 30).

Since earliest times music and dance have played a major role in uniting people through ritual, often seeking union with the divine through trance or ecstasy. This festival seeks to bring back some spiritual nourishment to our lives; to focus our physical and mental selves. While the music and rituals associated with each genre are very different from each other, they share a common thread in bringing people together in search of enlightenment. These are just a few of the many forms that music takes to enrich our lives.

IF YOU GO:

A WORLD IN TRANCE

Fri Apr 28, 2017 8pm $25; students, seniors $21

CHARTWELL DUTIRO

Voices of the Ancestors: Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

Sat Apr 29, 2017 8pm $30 students, seniors $26

NIYAZ featuring AZAM ALI

21st Century Global Trance Music

Sun Apr 30, 2017 7pm $30; students, seniors $26

RIYAAZ QAWWALI

Sufi Music of Pakistan & India

At Roulette, 509 Atlantic Ave at 3rd Ave near BAM & Barclays Center, Downtown Brooklyn

Tickets: roulette.org, 917-267-0363

Info, videos, & tickets: http://www.aworldintrance.com

Fri Apr 28

Chartwell Dutiro

Voices of the Ancestors: Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

"If you can talk you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance - or just sit and reflect." - Zimbabwean proverb

This performance of entrancing mbira music features the internationally renowned traditional mbira master Chartwell Dutiro (mbira, lead vocal, dance), who played at all-night ritual ceremonies (biras) in his native Zimbabwe from the age of four and is best known for his eight-year stint with Zimbabwe's famEd Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited. He is joined by his son Shorai Dutiro (mbira, vocal), David Holmes (mbira, vocal), Nora Balaban (mbira, vocal) and Bill Ruyle (hosho - gourds, tabla - tuned drums, percussion).

For centuries the Shona people of Zimbabwe have connected with the spirits of ancestors. These spirits are summoned by spirit mediums at biras, all-night ritual ceremonies where mystical mbira (metal-pronged thumb piano) music is played and people participate through dancing, singing, ululating and sometimes whistling. The collective energy created evokes a trance atmosphere that summons the spirits of ancestors to come and give daily guidance and healing. Mbira music has played an important role in the recent history of Zimbabwe. After being banned by missionaries in colonial Rhodesia for its erroneous association with devil worship, it took a role in the liberation struggle in the '70s, where it became crucial in politicizing and encouraging people. During the '80s, it came to symbolize the country's independence.

Chartwell Dutiro has been dedicated to spreading mbira music worldwide. As a child in rural Zimbabwe, he and his brother often played mbira all night, calling the ancestral spirits for guidance, as has been done in Zimbabwe for centuries. When he was a teenager, he joined the Salvation Army band, and played in a military marching band when he moved to the capital of Harare. From 1986 to 1994 he toured the world with the legendary Thomas Mapfumo. Since 1994 he has been based in Britain, performing, recording, teaching, and building bridges through his infectious music. He has appeared at WOMAD festivals in such places as Singapore, Australia and Reading; founded the long-running International Mbira Gatherings; composed and performed with England's Serenoa String Quartet; collaborated with refugee musicians from Africa in anniversary celebrations of the UNHCR; and composed and performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company's award-winning Breakfast with Mugabe. Chartwell has a degree in ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London, where he taught for many years.

Sat Apr 29

Niyaz featuring Azam Ali

21st Century Global Trance Music

Niyaz has created a 21st century global trance tradition by seamlessly blending Sufi poetry and folk songs from its native Iran and surrounding countries with rich acoustic instrumentation and modern electronics. Formed in California in 2004 and based in Montreal, Niyaz has a far-reaching repertoire that tears down cultural boundaries and bridges the gap between East and West. The group was founded by the spellbinding vocalist/composer Azam Ali, whose Iranian heritage and Indian upbringing have deeply influenced her music, and multi-instrumentalist/composer Loga Ramin Torkian (oud & kamaan lutes). They are joined by Didem Basar (kanun-zither), Gabriel Ethier (keyboards, programming), Vaneet Vyas (tabla-drums), and whirling dervish dancer Miriam Peretz.

Performing uplifting, transformative music, Niyaz, (which means "yearning"), was established as a platform to create social and political awareness through music rooted in, yet not limited by, tradition. Niyaz is committed to creating music with a deep social message aimed at uniting people from different cultural and religious backgrounds through our shared humanity. Guided by the mystical poetry of legendary Sufi poets and the ancient wisdom of traditional folk songs that impart the beauty of ethnic and religious minority groups in Iran and its surrounding regions, Niyaz steps into a future that is ancient and invites listeners to embark upon a philosophical quest into the depths of humanity. The group conveys a message of hope against injustice and oppression, as well as a universal tribute to beauty, cultural and spiritual diversity, freedom and dignity for all.

Niyaz's four bestselling albums, released on Six Degrees Records, debuted at #1 on iTunes and garnered the band media attention, including features on NPR, PRI, BBC World and the Huffington Post. Its most recent album, The Fourth Light, is a tribute to the first female Sufi mystic and poet Rabia Al Basri who was born in the 8th century in Iraq. Recognized as a saint, she had set forth the doctrine of Divine Love and non-duality, which today lies at the heart of Sufi mysticism. Though her role continues to be diminished in value because she was a woman, it bears great significance in today's modern world where women are still relentlessly striving in every aspect of life, to rise above the status of inferiority placed on them by patriarchal societies and laws. "Tam e Eshq," which appeared on the album, was named one of NPR's favorite songs of 2015 and called "a mesmerizing mix of rapturous vocals and electro-acoustic beats."

Since 2005, the group has performed in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Turkey, India, Russia, Dubai, Morocco, and Tunisia. Its music has been featured in various major film and television scores, including Prince of Persia, Body of Lies, Crossing Over, True Blood, Nip Tuck, Bones, and Alias.

Sun April 30

Riyaaz Qawwali

Sufi Music of Pakistan & India

Riyaaz Qawwali performs the ecstatic improvisational Sufi vocal tradition made famous in the West by the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, enthralling listeners with its lively rhythms, joyous melodies and inspirational poetry. In addition to paying homage to traditional qawwali that has been in existence for over 700 years, the ensemble also weaves various songs and poetry of South Asia into the qawwali framework, using qawwali as a universal message of oneness that transcends religious boundaries. Most qawwali troupes are composed of Muslim family members, but Riyaaz Qawwali, which is based in Texas, is composed of musicians who represent the diversity of South and Central Asia; they are of Indian, Pakistani, Afghani, and Bangladeshi descent, and come from various spiritual backgrounds, including Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Qawwali is a musical tradition that dates back to the late 13th century and is typically associated with Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam popularized throughout the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa through various "brotherhoods." Qawwali means "utterance" in Urdu and is derived from the Arabic word qaul (saying). Said to have been introduced to the Mughal court of India by the Persian mystic, poet, musician and philosopher Amir Khusrau, it is essentially a form of sung poetry. The qawwal engenders a state of transcendence in his audience, drawing on verses that ponder the meaning of Divine love through allegory, or are devoted to the sayings of the Prophet (Mohammed) or a particular Sufi saint. The ensemble builds a state of ecstasy through rhythmic handclapping, drumming and powerful vocals (similar to gospel in its call-and-response manner). While originally a form of prayer associated with Sufi shrines, over the past 30 years qawwali has been performed on secular stages throughout the world and has even found its way into Bollywood.

Riyaaz Qawwali is an ensemble of eight musicians who have been professionally performing qawwali for a decade, appearing across the US at such venues and festivals as Asia Society (Texas), the 2015 globalFEST, and the Richmond Folk Festival. Numerous languages are used, including Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Gujarati, and Hindi. The ensemble is under the artistic direction of Sonny Mehta, its lead vocalist, whose musical influences include Ravi Shankar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sher and Mehr Ali, Jagjit Singh, Pandit Jasraj, Bhimsen Joshi and Abida Parveen. His poetry favorites are Bulleh Shah, Baba Farid, Amir Khusrau, Saint Kabir, Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib and Shiv Kumar Batalvi.

See the original post:

Chartwell Dutiro, Niyaz & Riyaaz Qawwali Set for A WORLD IN ... - Broadway World

When Solarstone released his Pure album in 2012, he thought itd be his last. As it turned out, Pure became the starting point of a mass movement within the trance scene that turned him into one of the leading figures bringing the genres true ethos back to life.

Since then, a resurgence of sorts has taken place in which the original, traditional sounds have come out on top, and outspoken passion from the fans has led to trance making a notable return to the public psyche as more and more heed to increased demands of the music in various localities. Solarstone recognizes this, and has transcribed his thoughts into a new music which will serve as the backdrop to a brand new project hes reportedly brewing up.

A State Of Mind comes as the introduction to this, and is broken into two different version. Solarstone begins with the ethereal Extended Mix, an eleven-minute gem of a song which unfolds across an ethereal landscape driven along by a smooth, running bass-line and filled with distant, vibrating synth melodies and a central melodic arrangement that feels melancholic in tone. Its various peaks and lulls tell a timeless story and tug at the heartstrings, making this a shining addition to Solarstones contemporary repertoire.

The Pure Mix adapts A State Of Mind to a club setting, inserting a thumping kick and more pronounced samples into the mix to make an ideal peaktime record. It represents the moving, uplifitng sound that Solarstone has built an excellent reputation for over his long years serving trance.

Listen to both mixes below:

Read More:

Solarstone and Giuseppe Ottaviani release 3rd single as PureNRG

Defining Pure: What trance means to Solarstone [Interview]

Solarstone Once feat. Iko (Original Mix)

TOP TRENDING MUSIC

View original post here:

Solarstone shows off his 'State Of Mind' with ethereal trance - Dancing Astronaut

By Jorge Silva | WAT BANG PHRA, Thailand

WAT BANG PHRA, Thailand Deep in trances, devotees of a Thai temple charged through gathered crowds on Saturday mimicking the beasts on their tattoos.

Some had their hands curled into tiger claws, some became crocodiles, some were transformed into Hanuman, the monkey god.

The annual tattoo festival at Wat Bang Phra, about 80 km (50 miles) from Bangkok, draws thousands of devotees every year who come to recharge the power of sacred Sak Yant tattoos.

The tattoos are inked by Buddhist monks using sharpened bamboo sticks or long metal needles. Originally etched for warriors needing protection in battle, they are also believed to bring luck and give strength.

But every year, their magic power needs to be restored at the festival, where thousands of devotees pay their respects to the temples master tattooist.

Not everyone goes into a trance. Those who do take on the characteristics of their tattoos. They try to charge toward the temple, but are held back by a wall of temple guards and soldiers.

(Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Sam Holmes)

The majority of respondents to a new U.S. poll opposed laws barring transgender people from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identities and indicated growing acceptance for gay rights, a nonpartisan research group said on Friday.

CAIRO Archaeologists from Egypt and Germany have found a massive eight-meter statue submerged in ground water in a Cairo slum that they say probably depicts revered Pharaoh Ramses II, who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.

BERLIN Turkey expressed hopes on Friday for a revival of its tourism industry after security concerns caused a 30 percent drop in foreign visitors and revenues last year.

Read the original post:

Tattooed devotees transform in Thai temple trance - Reuters

PrevNext

Groove to the tracks of popular UK band Above & Beyond at a pulsating Holi gig

It's rare to hear of English Trance bands perform at Indian festivals. But for Above & Beyond, who have been coming to India over the years, it is no less than fascinating. The trio, comprising Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamki, are a unique bunch. They have an acoustic and soulful side to their music too. They also host a weekly radio show titled Group Therapy Radio, and are the owners of London-based music labels, Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep. Ahead of their Holi-themed gig, McGuinness opens up about their work and their association with India.

Excerpts from an interview.

Over the years, what changes have you noticed in India's music scene? Ever since we started our label, Anjunabeats (named after Anjuna beach in Goa) in 1999, we have been fascinated by Indian culture, people, food, music and the parties. The Electronic scene has grown rapidly in the last five years. There is so much enthusiasm and energy in the parties. We can't get enough!

Yours is the only EDM act that is into Trance as well as melodious acoustic music. What inspires you to compose? It can be almost anything a book we've read, a film we've seen or something that's happened to us that sparks a train of thought that needs a musical or lyrical solution. Fiddling with instruments, be it a guitar or a piano, is a fruitful route as well.

Have you played Holi before? What's on the gig playlist? We have not, although we have heard a lot [about the festival] and seen photographs. I am not trying to do much research, let it be a surprise. Every gig we play is especially made for the event and we are looking forward to get into the Holi mood.

Tell us about your collaboration with Lagori, the Indian band. They recorded Indian versions of our songs, Sun & Moon and We Are All We Need (using a sitar and various other Indian instruments). They are available on YouTube. They rewrote the verses but used the choruses from the original versions.

Do you plan to use Indian instruments in your tracks? None of us play or own Indian instruments. It is odd because our record label is named after an Indian beach that was influential in creating a Trance scene in India. We have always felt close to the country and its people, though.

View post:

English Trance at a desi festival - Mid-Day

Each week, FACT trawls through the untamed world of free mixes, radio specials and live blends so you dont have to.

This week, Lorenzo Senni inspires euphoria with a selection of trance build-ups that inspired his recentPersona EP, Sega Bodega makes the Bomfunk MCs cool again and Beat Librae showcases her heady, dub-tinged techno.

Theres also a mix from the UK-based gal-dem zine, jackin house from Clone boss Serge and two hours of neo-classical from Sicario composer Jhann Jhannsson. Dive in.

Lorenzo Senni The Making of Persona

Nobody knows trance like Lorenzo Senni, and here the Warp artist shows us the inner workings of his musical mind with this mix of music that inspired last years Persona EP. Mixing the best bits of everything from commercial EDM and the sounds of Darudes Sandstorm, this mix proves that you can get high without drugs. Just dont expect any drops.

gal-dem Outlook 2017 Mix Series #2

Gal-Dems trilpill reps the UK underground with a mix that packs in everything from garage and grime to dancehall and bassline. Kicking off with Dawn Penns You Dont Love Me (No No No) and folding in tracks by Giggs, General Levy and more, its a party-starting blend that doesnt let up.

Sega Bodega i-DJ Mix

Hot on the heels of his Ess B EP for Crazylegs, rising club artist Sega Bodega lands on the i-D mix series for 40 minutes of edits and originals. As well as tracks from Staycores Dinamarca, Kid Kishore and lo-fi Lisbonite DJ Fatigado, expect VIPs of Halcyon Veil artist Celyn June, Arca and Bomfunk MCs 1999 classic Freestyler. Bonkers, but brilliant.

Beta Librae Truancy Volume 170

Keep this one stored up for when you next require a moment of peaceful immersion, as Kansas-born, New York-based Beta Librae has the perfect recipe. She draws for sparse, fluid house from the deepest depths on a two-part mix that combines her own productions (in the first half) with some of her recent influences, and its heady, soothing stuff perfect for a dazed walk through the city or an late night/early morning session.

Jhann Jhannsson Electronic Explorations 461

Theres still seven months to go until we can hear Jhann Jhannssons Blade Runner 2049 score, but we can at least tide ourselves over with this mix for the Electronic Explorations series. Theres music from fellow soundtrack composers Michael Nyman and Ennio Morricone, but also avant-garde sounds from Morton Feldman, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Greek chamber music trio Mohammad. Perfect for a quiet Sunday morning.

Serge Clone Jack For Daze @ Snar 2015

Clone is 25! The bossman Serge celebrates one of the greatest dance labels in history by sharing his Snar mix from 2015, and its a jackin, smackin spectacular of broken booty shakers and four-to-the-floor filth from DJ Deeon and the like. Wallflowers stay home.

Read next: Blade Runner 2049s Jhann Jhannsson on Orphe and his biggest challenge yet

Read more:

The week's best mixes: Lorenzo Senni's trance classics and jackin' moves from Clone boss Serge - FACT

New York City sludge/doom/drone trio Unearthly Trance today premieres their official new video for Into The Spiral. Directed by Jimmy Hubbard, the track comes by way of the bands recently issued Stalking The Ghost full-length.

An esoteric ritual of seismic doom, Stalking The Ghost taps into the darkest realms of the occult over the course of seven tracks that reek of utter despair. Forming a balance between slow-churning maelstrom and spine-chilling harmony, wrapped beneath a blackened cloud of rumbling feedback, Unearthly Trance sounds more powerful and exploratory than ever before. Recorded at Menegroth/The Thousand Caves Studios by Colin Marston (Krallice, Gorguts, Panopticon) and featuring cover art by Orion Landau (Yob, Red Fang, Graves At Sea), Stalking The Ghost restores misery to a gentrifying city.

Unearthly Trance will embark on a short European tour surrounding their appearance at this years prestigious Roadburn Festival with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

UNEARTHLY TRANCE w/ Suma: 4/17/2017 KB18 Copenhagen, DK 4/18/2017 Hafenklang Hamburg, DE 4/19/2017 Magasin4 Brussels, BE 4/20/2017 Roadburn Tilburg, NL 4/21/2017 Doom Over Leipzig Leipzig, DE 4/23/2017 JAZ Rostock, DE

Tags:

Follow us on Twitter| Like Us

Date: Mar 10, 2017 As Reported by: Lindsay OConnor

View post:

UNEARTHLY TRANCE Premieres New Music Video For Into The Spiral - The Gauntlet

WAT BANG PHRA, Thailand: Deep in trances, devotees of a Thai temple charged through gathered crowds on Saturday mimicking the beasts on their tattoos.

Some had their hands curled into tiger claws, some became crocodiles, some were transformed into Hanuman, the monkey god.

The annual tattoo festival at Wat Bang Phra, about 80 km (50 miles) from Bangkok, draws thousands of devotees every year who come to recharge the power of sacred Sak Yant tattoos.

The tattoos are inked by Buddhist monks using sharpened bamboo sticks or long metal needles. Originally etched for warriors needing protection in battle, they are also believed to bring luck and give strength.

But every year, their magic power needs to be restored at the festival, where thousands of devotees pay their respects to the temples master tattooist.

Not everyone goes into a trance. Those who do take on the characteristics of their tattoos. They try to charge towards the temple, but are held back by a wall of temple guards and soldiers.

(Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Sam Holmes)

Follow this link:

Tattooed devotees transform in Thai temple trance - Channel NewsAsia

Fans of electronic music will be going wild tonight when the globally renowned trance-music festival brand Transmission touches down in Bangkok at Bitec in Bang Na.

Based in Prague, Transmission first came to life in 2006 and was soon one of Europes biggest indoor trance festivals. Known for pooling DJs who represent the full spectrum of the genre, Transmission brings to Bangkok an impressive line-up. Aly & Fila, Markus Schulz, John OCallaghan, Bryan Kearney, Driftmoon and Omnia will be supported by a slew of aspiring locals.

The troupe also includes Ferry Corsten from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The mans got a burning passion for music and his skills lie in his ability to coax the maximum emotional impact from electronic dance music of all kinds not just trance, but also progressive-house and electro.

Corsten has released numerous compilations, including the Trance Nation series for Ministry of Sound, one of the more successful series to date, having sold more than a million copies.

Corstens own Once Upon a Night series has been a platform for new talent and late-breaking tunes, with Volume 3 released in late 2012.

We had a chat with the DJ about this return to Bangkok.

How has 2017 treated you so far?

Its been a fantastic year so far. I greeted the New Year with an amazing series of shows in Australia and that was fantastic. I normally take January pretty easy, but seeing that I took a bit of time off in 2016 to spend more time producing, I did a number of shows in the last couple of months that were great.

I just came back from a week of snowboarding, another passion of mine, so Im still living off my high from the snow.

What are you working on now?

Im currently working on my artist album, which Im looking to release this year. Its been a labour of love and I cant wait to release it. I think the fans are going to really enjoy it.

Youre performing as Gouryella tonight. Tell us about him.

Gouryella is a way more pure sound of trance with a nostalgic touch. Ferry Corsten, however, has a wider variety of genres in his set, but trance remains the main tone.

Is there any chance Tiesto would work with you again for Gouryella?

Ive worked with other people aside from Tiesto with the Gouryella alias, but I would like to work on this project alone. The Gouryella project allows me as an artist to creatively focus on the sound that Gouryella stands for.

How do you see yourself in the trance scene now?

I definitely see myself still as a pioneer and hope my fans see the creative fresh input I put into my music and my contribution to the growth of the scene.

And what do you think of trance in Bangkok?

The trance scene has definitely grown over the years. Its wonderful to see that Bangkok has embraced the sound and understands it. I see it in the faces of clubbers and fans when I play. This ones going to be a really great show.

I love Bangkok. Its an amazing city with passionate people. I always feel welcome and at home when I go there. Im very excited to be returning and looking forward to partying with you tonight.

Transmission Thailand 2017 takes place tomorrow starting at 5pm at Bitec in Bang Na. It costs Bt3,200 to get in.

See the article here:

You be trippin' out with trance - The Nation

The Hindu

Trance and beyond The Hindu If Tony McGuinness is to be believed, anything can inspire composition. A movie, a book, a parting word or a daydream. I carry a notebook in which I write words and phrases that sound intriguing to me and might become the opening line of a song, says ...

The rest is here:

Trance and beyond - The Hindu

As one of the current staples of the Giant lineup, the Trance has been a common sight on trail heads everywheresince it was first rolled outto the global riding market in 2005. Slotting in between the Anthem XC race bike, and the long travel Reign, the Trance was initially launched as one of the firstmodels from Giant to feature the then brand new Maestro suspension design.

With a virtual pivot suspension design that employed two links to suspend the rear swingarm, the Maestro conceptcame about in response to Santa Cruzs VPP and Dave Weagles dw_link. The promise of Maestro was to deliver an efficient pedalling platform without having to resort to clever rear shocks and lockout dials. In the case of the early Trance, thedual-link design delivered 100mm of rear wheel travel in a sturdy package built for all-day trail riding.

Overthe past decade, the Trance has gone on to become one of the most popular models that Giant sells, and one of the most well-recognised full suspension bikes in the world. In that time, the Trance has gone through several redesigns to increase rear wheel travel, which along with improvements to the frame construction andgeometry, hasseenitbecome amore capable machine.

For 2017 though, the Trance has gone through its biggest chance yet. Adopting new standards such as Boost hub spacing and the Trunnion rear shock mount, Giant has undertaken a wholesale redesign of both the Anthem and Trance platforms. A refined version of the Maestro suspension design has been ushered in, along with new geometry and a frame that is purportedly lighter and stiffer overall.

To put those claims to the test, Ive been riding anew Giant Trance 1to see if this is the Taiwanese brandsbesttrail bike yet.

The heart of the new Giant Trance is the reworked Maestro suspension design. Overall, the arrangement remains very similar to the original Maestro architecture, with two struts joining the one-piece swingarm to the front end. Those struts consist of a small link around the bottom bracket and a rocker link that drives the rear shock. Travel sits at 140mm on the rear.

The welded alloyswingarm features a flushBoost 148x12mm thru-axle that requires a 6mm hex key for installation and removal. Post-mount brake tabs will allow the rear calliper to bolt on directly with 160mm rotors, or (as our test bike features) an adapter to work with a larger 180mm rotor.

The lower link extends from the chain stay yoke over the PF92 press-fit bottom bracket shell, where it meets the lower shock eyelet. The beauty of this design is that the link and the shock share a pivot point, which reduces the number of moving parts on the Maestro linkage. All-up including the shock mounts, there are five pivots, all of which rollon sealed cartridge bearings.

The big change over the previous generation Trance is the change to a new Metric shock size that features Trunnion mounting. The Trunnion mount skips the traditional DU bush of a regular shock, and instead allows for the rocker to attach to the shock on the side of the shock body, where it rotates on two cartridge bearings instead. The result is less stiction for a smoother starting stroke and thusly, a more supple suspension feel. The other advantage that the Metric-sized shock provides is a smaller package for the same given stroke, so theres moreflexibility for the designers when engineering the front triangle.

The Trance 1 is the top-spec model in the alloy range, and so it receives a tidy suspension packagefrom Fox. Theres a Performance Elite Fox Float rear shock,which comes complete with an EVOL air can and 3-way adjustable compression damping. To complement the 140mm of rear wheel travel, Giant has specd a Fox 34 Float fork up front with 150mm of travel.

Cockpit components come from the Giant stable in the form of a Contact SL Trail handlebar that measures 750mm wide, and a Contact stem that runs at a 60mm length for the Extra Small, Small, and Mediumframe sizes, and 70mm for the Large and Extra Large frame sizes. Interestingly, this is the same bar and stem setup as found on the shorter-travel Anthem XC bike. My plan is to trythe Trance with a slightly wider bar and a shorter stem to see howits handling plays with a more fashionable cockpit setup.

Braking on the Trance 1 is handled by Shimano Deore XT stoppers, with 180mm Ice Tech rotors front and rear. Note the KaBolt setup on the Fox 34 fork, which Giant has specd instead of the standard QR15 quick-release lever.

Shimano has also been called on for the drivetrain on the Trance 1, with a slick 111 setup delivering a wide range of gears thanks to the larger11-46t cassette. The 32t chainring uses Shimanos new narrow-wide tooth profile, and the Shadow Plus rear derailleuruses a direct-mount hanger to keep shifting crisp.

Since first building up the Trance 1, Ive made a couple of changes to the spec for riding our local trails. The Schwalbe tyres have been pulled off to make way for more aggressive (and wider) Maxxis Minion tyres. Theres a 2.4in DHR II on the rear, which uses the 3C MaxxTerra rubber compound and EXO reinforced sidewalls.

To match the rear Minion DHR II, theres a Minion DHF on the front that measures 2.5in wide. Both Minions are the new Wide Trail (WT) size, which is ideally suited to the newer crop of rims that are running broaderinternal rim widths.

On the note of the wheelset, its a good-looking carbon fibre numbers from Giant. Called the TRX 1, the wheelset features28 straight-pull Sapim Laser/Race spokes per wheel, and theyre lacedto lovely CNC machined hub shells packed withDT Swiss internals. The rims are tubeless ready, and blue rim tape is included in the box with the bike from new. Setting tyres up tubeless is easy as pie, and the seal is very secure between tyre and rim.

Before taking the Trance 1 off road, I stripped the wheels down and put them on the scales because Im a nerd like that. For the pair, the complete wheelset without tape and valves weighs in at just 1649 grams, which is pretty svelte for a carbon trail wheelset, and a few grams lighter than claimed. Nice!

One other change Ive made to the stock spec is the addition of a Wolftooth ReMoteto activate the Giant Contact SL Switch-R dropper post. With a CNC machined construction and a broad, textured paddle, the Wolftooth ReMote is a welcome addition to the Trance 1s ergonomics, and is available witha standard bar clamp, or in versions that are compatible with either Shimano or SRAM brake levers.

The Trance 1 frame itself is constructed from Giants own hydroformed alloy blend called ALUXX-SL. The tubes all receive heavy shaping to create some stunning lines that rival that of the carbon versions. The welded areas are broad and chunky, as isthe stout tapered head tube and the 92mm wide press-fit bottom bracket.

All cables route internally through the front triangle,with the rear brake hose and derailleur cable exiting at the base of the downtube. These then run externally on the rear swingarm, while the dropper post line runs internally all the way through and up into the seat tube.

With the new carbon fibre rocker link, the lines on the back end of the Trance have been massaged to be even cleaner, with smooth lines running from front to back. Its certainly a good looking piece of kit, and its a great example of therecent advances in alloy construction techniques. Interestingly, you can also get a Trance Advanced 2 for nearlythe same price as this bike here, so consumers have a choice of whether they want the better build kit with the alloy frame, or the carbon frame with a cheaper build kit.

Over the coming months, Ill continue to put the Trance 1 through a variety of riding conditions and trail types to see where this 140mm travel trail bike really shines. Well also be using the Trance to test out multiple components, including the Maxxis Minion tyres and a few other items that youll read about in the near future.

In the meantime, you can head to Giant Bicycles website for more information about the 2017 range.

Here is the original post:

First Look: 2017 Giant Trance 1 - Singletrack

At its fifth iteration, one of Indias largest Holi-centric EDM festival is getting larger than ever. Hosted by Nikhil Chinapa and featuring artists like Above & Beyond, Pearl, Avneesh, Beyond 120 and more, the festival will be unleashed in Mumbai on the day of the festival of colours itself- March 13th.

And to add more flavour to the festival, Huaweis subsidiary Honor has partnered up with the festival. The brand recently launched the dual camera equipped Honor 6X which comes with the ability to bring DSLR-like blur to photos and will be just the perfect companion to capture the colour filled moments in the festival.

Honor has always been a brand for the youth and Holi is a festival that is widely celebrated by Indians. We at Honor intend to connect with our young audience and have therefore associated for the second time with Indias biggest EDM festival. Like Honor, Holi-reloaded speaks to fun and vibrant audiences and we look forward to associating with more such events in the future as these help us connect and understand the pulse of Indian youth, Allen Wangguodong, Director Product Center at Huawei India said in a statement.

Last year, the Holi Reloaded recorded a massive footfall of over 5,000 and featured an intense lineup of international and local artists. This year, the festival is going even bigger by roping in trance legend Above & Beyond. The band started the year with a party-anthem Balearic Balls and were sure enough the group is going to make the party as groovy as it can get.

Tickets for the festival start from Rs 1499 and goes up to Rs 2800. Also you can get a group of five (I see no reason why not!), you can get one ticket free.

Also Read: Above & Beyond will be touring India this Holi

Apart from Above & Beyond and the artists mentioned above, progressive techno sensation Helium Project, deep techno duo Nosh & Sj, progressive house and trap duo Audio Addict will also be performing among others.

Above & Beyond will also be doing a four city tour from 10th to 13th March in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and finally, Mumbai. The band said in a statement, India has always been a special place for us, its the birthplace of Group Therapy Radio and the spiritual home of our Anjunabeats label. Visiting our friends and fans during Holi a colourful celebration of togetherness will be a truly special thing

A pre-party is also happening in Delhi on March 10th.

Go here to read the rest:

The 5th Holi Reloaded festival will feature trance legends Above ... - Gizmodo India

On 10th MarchBlue Frog, Punein association withDeep Dictionaryis set to host a House music legend namedDarin Epsilon. Darin is a well known name in the electronic music scene for various reasons. In addition to being a fantastic music producer, he is also a music critic & huge radio personality.

Entry Rs 600(including Rs 300 cover)

Originating from the land of House music (Chicago), Darin Epsilons career began in 2006 since then he has gained massive strides in House music and has gained acclaim from industry heavyweights such as Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren & Paul Oakenfold.

Currently residing in Berlin, Mr. Epsilon has been tauted has the leader of the underground Progressive & Tech House scene. In addition to his renowned label Perspectives Digital, his soundcloud page is a major hit as it amasses a whopping 1 million subscribers and 10,000 plays per month.

Pune is really lucky to host an artist of such stature and Blue Frog is probably the best place to host him. The frog team is currently on an all-time high after their last months heroics, in which they successfully hosted a series of Supersonic after-parties & the mother of all gigs, Cirez D.

On support duties to Darin Epsilon are our local boys, Collective Frequency. The year is just getting better for them month on month. They are following up their set at Supersonic by opening for such a brilliant artist. We can write a lot of stuff about his upcoming gig, but after all its music and we are supposed to hear it. So do yourselves a favor come down nice and early at Blue Frog on 10th March, and prepared to have good time .

Curator of Edm4Pune, sports enthusiast assisted by having a taste bud for delicious food. Open to all genres of music yet staying close to his first love, Trance.

Next Post

We are just 5 days away from another iconic Above & beyond India tour. 4 cities,...

Read more:

INcoming Artist Corner: Darin Epsilon - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)

We are just 5 days away from another iconic Above & beyond India tour. 4 cities, 4 mad venues, 3 beautiful artists, lots of music & one massive Anjuna Family. The few things that really come across your mind when you hear the combination of Tony, Paavo & Jono are melodious music, breath-taking lyrics & enchanting vocals. Over the years the coveted trio of electronic music have worked with some stellar vocalists such as Zoe Johnston, Gemma Heyes, Alex Vargas & we cannot forget the vocalist of one of their most famous tracks, the one & only Richard Bedford. In addition to this I guess the closest thing one can associate with Love & Uplifting Trance is Oceanlab. Each track with the beautiful voice of Justine Suissa is a timeless classic.

Buy Your tickets to Above & Beyonds India tourChennai, 10th March|Hyderabad, 11th March | Bangalore, 12th March | Mumbai, 13th March

As music enthusiast would it not be amazing if Above & Beyond continue their musical journey with vocalists from the other side of the music bandwidth? Here are 10 vocalists we feel A&B should collaborate with to spread the message of Love, Magic & Happiness

1. Celine Dion: This Canadian Pop diva perhaps has the best love song to her name. Her music has often been very rich with human emotions & so has been the music of Above & Beyond. One can imagine the amount of tears a human will shed if this collaboration does happen. However one thing will be certain, this combination is sure to create a love song that will be remembered for generations to come.

2. Sade: A solider of love colliding with preachers of love. Such mixtures result into quotes like Love is in air. Sades melancholic voice can really add extra depth to the meaningful lyrics of any Above & Beyond track. This collaboration will really set a modern bench mark to the uplifting trance genre. Also maybe, just maybe we might see Sade getting added to future acoustic shows, which will make the acoustic experience extra precious

.

3. Adele: If the most coveted singer of the modern pop era does decide to lend her voice to the electronic side, there are no better artists to join hands with other than her fellow countrymen. What we can expect is really uncertain as we have seen tracks about breakups & romance in relationships from both. But one thing is a certainty; this track will surely break the records & grab several awards that year.

4. Madonna: The legacy of the never aging queen of pop & dance music can be matched by few. Like Above & Beyond, even Madonnas music has evolved with times & most importantly both love to experiment with new musical ideas, which in todays world is a perfect recipe for success. The variety in her sound & the variety in their music are sure to give us foot swaying dance number which will bring us instantly on the floor & spread a million dollar smile across our face.

5. Enrqiue Iglesias: We at Trance Hub are not at all sexists and hence we have to include some male population in this list. This Spanish sensation with his pulsating voice & god like looks can really set the hearts of women on fire if he ever does manage to collaborate with Above & Beyond. Remakes of old tracks or creation of new music, the occurrence of both options is sure to be a hit with everyone.

6. Bryan Adams: If you are a 90s child, Adams will be a household name for you. The common denominator here is the two tracks which always get a massive sing along and despite premiering eons ago are popular with peoples of all ages. Bryan with coarse & raw style can lend his voice to any style of music which Above & Beyond create. If this does happen, then we sure to have a track whose lyrics will stay on our lips forever.

7. Stevie Wonder: The man, the legend. He is one male vocalist who still at the age of 66 can make people feel all the emotions at one time. This is a collaboration which I personally pray happens & if it does manage to be for a purely acoustic track, then we finally have heard of something that sounds like heaven

.

8. BT: We cannot ignore the fact that Above & Beyond do currently belong solely to the electronic scene, hence we cannot rule out collaborations with a few artists originating from the same hemisphere & to start, with whom better than Brian Transeau. This track is bound to be a blockbuster considering the production skills both these artists posses. Adding to which the track will comprise of beautiful words & gorgeous vocals of Brian himself. Well to be honest this one is really a possibility and we hope both sets of artists make this possible.

9. Sir Adrian: Known for his massive contribution towards vocal trance, Sir Adrian has worked with several big names such as Armin Van Buuren, Markus Schulz, and SVD etc. But the name of Above & Beyond is missing from that list. It makes fitting sense that it is time both the veterans of the industry combine and give us a tune that compliments their legacy in the trance genre.

10. Lata Mangeshkar : The love this holy trinity hold towards India is not a secret. Wouldnt it make sense if they put the cherry on the cake by creating a track with an Indian vocalist? If this does really happen, no one better than the Nightingale of India can do justice to it. Lata ji with her sweet voice can really create a magical, enchanting &romantic experience with Tony, Paavo & Jono. This would be a dream come true for us fans, as the very best of their respective fields are joining hands and giving us life lasting experience.

There were several names that could be have included in this list, but hey even we have some limitations. Do let us know with which vocalist should Above & Beyond collaborate in the future.

Curator of Edm4Pune, sports enthusiast assisted by having a taste bud for delicious food. Open to all genres of music yet staying close to his first love, Trance.

Next Post

In 2014 he mixed and released the second of his epic 4hr-long JOOF Editions music...

Excerpt from:

10 Vocalists Above & Beyond Should Collaborate With | Trance Hub - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)

Stalking the Ghost is the latest in a long line of albums that gives credence to the idea of genre experimentation within metal. Thats a good thing. From fluctuating tempos, to a magnification of breathy vocals alongside to gut-wrenchingly dark guitars, to the signature grooves Unearthly Trance have embraced over their storied career, Stalking the Ghost sits between a realm of familiarity and a choice experimentation, teetering between the two to try and capture dread and anguish alongside drastic sonic variations.

This direction is not without its faults, but thats a topic for later. Stalking the Ghost begins with Into the Spiral, focusing on expediting the traditional rhythmic focus of doom metal, and acting as an ambassador of chaos to the rest of the album. Into the Spiral is a great summation of the albums thesis, portraying a newer and more varied sound without losing intensity.Clearly, some of the more exploratory notions that Unearthly Trance were working toward on their last album V have managed to find their way here, through means of maturation of course. Dream State Arsenal flirts with a punishing and traditional grinding buildup, thickly layered, trudging through twangy darkness. It works as an introduction to the concepts of doom or sludge, successfully portraying a sense of impending calamity that culminates in violent commiseration. Vocals here show surprising depth and variation, never smothering the instrumentation. There really arent enough good things to say about this track, especially concerning its rather abrupt and grim breakneck ending, a sort of sonic break thats become more noticeable in metal.

Tracks such as Scythe and Famine tend to work in tandem together to help define the core of the album. Scythe tends to surge and move along readily, relying on its dense impact to accentuate its placing after a track like Dream State Arsenal. The latter in this instance feels like Unearthly Trance at their grimmest, their most focused, producing a soundscape that isnt so much a wall or scaled-up sound, but instead a coffin of unified rhythmic percussion and gut-punching power chords. Famines roaring staccato rips and brief refrain only highlight the sonic maelstrom.

Yet a track like Lion Strength, for all its construction, doesnt quite fit the pattern structure set up by the first couple tracks. Its appropriately gritty and messy, heavy, all things youd expect from Unearthly Trance at this point, but its also somewhat derivative of earlier sounds. Invisible Butchery has some greater experimentation, relying on those all-too-familiar soundscape breaks to help shift the direction of the track and subvert listeners expectations. For a brief moment, you would be somewhat convinced that Unearthly Trance wanted Invisible Butchery to pursue a sort of nonlinear construction, with its seismic grooves and explosive nature often reversed, or even better absent, or delayed beyond its normal genre conventions.The Great Cauldron, meanwhile, wins out for length, but its appeal is limited. Compared to the relative brevity of the rest of the tracks, or at least the more focused and specifically built tracks, The Great Cauldron flows, but it feels just a bit too static at points. Its not boring, its just not engaging enough. Its a missed opportunity to make the most out of a longer period of time.

Curiously, the album ends with In the Forests Keep one of the most atmospheric tracks. Its manipulative in the same fashion as the best horror films are. We as listeners anticipate this gruesome explosion of sound, as a somber anxiety helps propel the track forward toward its conclusion. Spoiler alert: The payoff never comes. It just lingers over dissonant harmonies. This is shockingly effective, and shows a willingness to stay away from conventions. These expressions throughout the entirety of the album work extraordinarily well and are exemplified in such a simple moment as In the Forests Keeps ending.

Stalking the Ghost should not turn anyone away from looking for a snappier and minimized doom/sludge that attempts to truncate established genre tropes in hopes of delivering content quicker, or at least changing the way we perceive genre adherence. When it works, it truly shines, and when it does stumble, it never truly fails outright, it merely misses developing a style that effectively complements the rest of the album. In its entirety, this is a modernized doom and sludge metal work that briskly and effectively communicates its thesis. Unearthly Trance still has room to grow, and it will be fascinating to see what direction they take.

Similar Albums: Cough Still They Pray Graves at Sea The Curse That Is Thou Heathen

Mar 7, 2017Jeff Terich

Read more:

Unearthly Trance : Stalking the Ghost - Treble

You know what sucks? The feeling of defeat. You invest your time, your energy, your heart into something. into someone. Only for it all to get crushed. How do you bounce back from that? How do you bounce back from such heartbreak; froma loss?

We each have our own, unique way of coping with those feelings; some of us able to heal faster than others. In the world of trance music, DJs and producers have used their tools of the trade to uplift, creating spine-chilling tracks aimed to inspire and remind us to never lose love and hope when times get tough. While dealing with defeat is never easy, here are some uplifting trance songs that may providing healing and inspiration; lessons in love and hope that tell us it will all be OK.

Dont Give Up RAM & Chris Metcalfe feat. Natalie Gioia

One of the best when it comes to uplifting trance, RAM teams up with Chris Metcalfe and vocalist Natalie Gioia to deliver this beauty of a song. The action is steady in the beginning, but when the breakdown comes- goosebumps! The song title says it all: never give up on your dreams, a messaged reinforced by Gioias wonderful presence. Even if your dream is broken, dont give up. Its not the end.

Hope Mike van Fabio & Alex Van Reeve feat. Geert Huinink and Kim Kiona

Huininks orchestral melodies and Kim Kionas angelic vocals will send chills down your spine as this songinspires us to keep on pushing, no matter how hard things may get, no matter the hurt. As Kiona beautifully says, let us win this fight, together.

Saving Light Gareth Emery and Standerwick feat. HALIENE

The first trance song to top Beatports Top 100 charts for the first time in overfive years, Saving Light creates an emotion that feels better than almost all others: hope. The wish that no matter how bad things are going right now, tomorrow you can smile. The song pulls at the heart strings, and the video? Well, check it out!

Its In Your Heart (Acoustic Version) David Gravell feat. CHRISTON

One of our trance artists to watch in 2017, David Gravell ditches his signature progressive, big room style in favor of a piano, delivering a smooth melody that reminds to keep going after hope, no matter how foolish it may seem, or how brokenhearted we are. So dont back down, my love, its in your heart, its in your blood right now.

All Gone (RAM Uplifitng Mix) Andy Moor & RAM feat. Christina Novelli

RAM makes another appearance on our list- this time, joining forces with Andy Moor and famed trance vocalist Christina Novelli to remind us that when the lights die out, when we feel lost, to not lose our way.

A Thing Called Love Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford

ThisA&B classic says it best: You live your life just once, so dont forget about a thing called love. Love is one of the most important and powerful forces we have in our planet. Dont give up on it even when it may feel like its given up on you.

What song uplifts you? Trance Family, what songs should we add to the list? Drop a comment below!

Read the original here:

DMNW Selects: Uplifting Trance For The Broken Heart - Dance Music Northwest

Chicago is the home of house music, but is it the home of trance?

Apparently this may be the case to some extent, as hundreds of trance-lovers reunited at a packed Concord Music Hall on Friday night to experience a night filled with vivid trance sounds from distinct DJs. On the lineup were ATB, Ben Nicky (who was unable to make it due to a cancelled flight), and Orjan Nilsen, with support from local Chicago DJs Mario Florek, Peter Kontor, and Dave Neven. The 7-hour event was sure to be quite the experience and it absolutely was.

Ill be completely honest trance is not necessarily my cup of tea most times. I do like it; I just never find myself actually seeing trance artists. In the spirit of PLUR, I went to Trance Arena with an open mind and ready to enjoy the event with my trance-loving friends. Im not going to say Im all of a sudden converted to the #trancefam, but I can certainly say Ive found a new appreciation for it. Trance Arena brought the most blissful and salient elements of trance into a more intimate Chicago venue, reuniting trance fans around the city and area.

The opening DJ sets were well-crafted, melodic sets with just the right amount of high energy to get things started. We arrived to a quite crowded Concord as Peter Kontor and Mario Florek went b2b in a groovy trance set that definitely had people excited for the event. The stage was massive, resembling festival stages more than clubs or live show venues. Dave Neven swooped in with an incredible amount of energy and bass to take the crowd even further into the night. This is where I noticed the true power of the sound design put on by React Presents. Orjan Nilsen played a classic trance set, layering in the beautiful melodic sounds found in the most sophisticated of Above & Beyond songs.

Then, ATB absolutely confirmed his timelessness as he performed an incredible set. The predominance of classic trance sound brought me back to the early 2000s, when I was still young and listening to ATB passively, as the German superstars tunes played on MTV and the radio. Seeing the legend for the first time live definitely brought a certain emotion not commonly found in just any Chicago Friday night DJ set. His dropping of Ecstasy towards the beginning of the show set the tone for an amazing night, as the entire crowd sang along to the anthem that is that song. ATB even experimented somewhat with more deep house and techno songs, proving that he will forever live in the trance hall of fame.

We are truly lucky to live in Chicago, a city that celebrates its electronic music culture with innovation and excitement. With organizations like React Presents, who put on an incredible amount of thought and energy into their events, Chicagoans should never have a problem finding an electronic music scene that fits with their taste preferences. Friday night it was trance. Heres to hoping Chicago and its electronic music people dont change, so that we can have more events like Trance Arena to celebrate a wide range of EDM.

Photos via: React Presents

Original post:

Trance Arena: A New Beginning For Trance in Chicago (Event Review) - EDM Chicago (blog)

Even by his own lofty standards, Steve Smith knows he had raised the bar when he raised the bat in Pune.

Australian captain Smith has given a frank insight into the "trance" he entered while scoring a century during the first Test against India in Pune.

The second-innings knock of 109 featured several chances, as can be expected on a pitch branded "poor" by the match referee. It had been leadership personified and one of many recent examples of why Smith is regarded so highly.

Aiming to make it six tons from six consecutive Tests against India, Smith said everything clicked and he was "in the zone" during the first Test.

"I was doing things that I probably haven't done before. My eyes were sort of spinning and I was in a bit of a trance," Smith recalled on the eve of the second Test, starting on Saturday in Bangalore.

"I've been there a couple of times in that kind of mindset. For me, it was just such an important period of the game and I knew, if we could get (a lead of) 300 or over that .. we'd be a real good chance to win.

"That afternoon, I was very determined and focused on the job at hand, to try and get as many as we could.

"Hopefully, I can bring that next level and next gear out. It was pleasing to know I had that level in me."

Smith could tick off another important milestone during the 2nd Test. The right-hander needs a further 112 runs to celebrate 5000 Test runs.

If the 27-year-old achieves that tally in his next innings, the 95th of his Test career, it will mean only Don Bradman and Jack Hobbs have reached the milestone in fewer knocks.

Smith's Test batting average in Border-Gavaskar contests stands at 88.83. No player from either country has achieved such a high number, with Ravi Shastri (77.75) and David Boon (70.82) next in line.

Coach Darren Lehmann regarded Smith's recent knock as the best of his 18 Test tons, given the captain batted the top-ranked Test side out of the contest on a raging turner, prepared to suit India's two star spinners.

"I haven't seen him so determined," Lehmann said.

If Smith continues to lead from the front during the four-Test series, it will trigger more debate about where he sits on the list of Australia's greatest batsmen.

Last month, Smith joined Bradman as one of four players to average more than 60 with the bat through 50 Tests.

Visit link:

Smith entered 'trance' in captain's ton - The West Australian