Trance is a type of electronic dance music that began in Frankfurt, Germany, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It developed from techno and EBM music and soon became popular across Europe.

Trance music usually has a tempo of 120 to 150 beats per minute. It uses repeated musical phrases and builds up tension and musical elements throughout a song, often reaching one or two high points called "peaks" or "drops." While trance is its own music style, it includes influences from other genres like techno, house, chill-out, classical music, tech house, ambient, and film scores.

A trance is a state of being hypnotized or highly focused. In trance music, this is shown through layered sounds that slowly build up and then release. A common feature of modern trance music is a strong middle section, followed by a quiet part where the beat and rhythm stop completely, leaving only the melody or atmosphere. This is followed by a gradual return to the music. Trance songs are often long to allow for this development, and they usually begin and end with simple, quiet sections to help DJs mix songs together.

Trance music is mostly instrumental, though some songs include vocals. When vocals are used, they are often sung by female singers with high voices, and they usually do not follow a traditional verse and chorus structure. Songs with organized singing parts are part of a subgenre called vocal trance, described as "grand, soaring, and operatic" with "dreamy female voices blending with electronic sounds." Male singers, such as Jonathan Mendelsohn, also perform in trance music.

History

The KLF's song "What Time is Love? (Pure Trance)" was released in the UK in 1988. In the early years of trance music, labels in Frankfurt, Germany, such as Eye Q, Harthouse, Fax +49-69/450464, Force Inc., and others played an important role. Producers like Pete Namlook, Oliver Lieb, and Rolf Ellmer created well-known tracks, including "Eternal Spirit" by 4Voice, "Hearts" by L.S.G., and "We Came in Peace" by Dance 2 Trance.

Much of trance music's development can be linked to Sven Väth, who was inspired by his travels to Goa, India, where DJs used psychedelic rock and other sounds to create a trance-like state at beach parties. Väth, along with Dag Lerner and Torsten Fenslau, enjoyed hypnotic dance sounds. Their music at clubs like Dorian Gray and Omen began to reflect this style.

In 1991, Väth started the label Eye Q with Heinz Roth and Matthias Hoffman. In 1992, he launched Harthouse, which released some of the most famous trance tracks of that time. Eye Q focused on softer, more melodic trance music, with songs like "The Orange Theme" by Cygnus X, "Symmetry" by Brainchild, and "Wonderer" by Vernon. Harthouse produced a harder, more energetic trance sound, with tracks such as "Quicksand" by Spicelab, "Spectrum" by Metal Master, "Human" by Resistance D, and "Acperience" by Hardfloor. The music from Frankfurt became known as the sound of trance. DJ Dag Lerner, who was part of the group Dance to Trance, said he was the first person to use the word "trance" to describe his music. The name of the genre came from the trance-like feeling the music aimed to create in the 1990s before its focus changed.

In a 2006 interview, Sven Väth said his labels Eye Q and Harthouse helped shape modern trance music. He also noted that many people misunderstand what trance music is, explaining that modern trance often follows a fixed structure, similar to pop music.

As German trance music spread back to Goa, a new style called Goa trance developed. This style had more organic sounds and used melodies inspired by Eastern philosophy. Goa trance later led to other subgenres, such as psytrance and psybreaks.

In 1991, MFS Records in Berlin began to focus on trance music. They signed artists like Mijk van Dijk, Cosmic Baby, and Paul van Dyk. They released well-known early trance tracks, including "Love Stimulation" by Humate and "Perfect Day" by Visions of Shiva. They also created one of the first trance compilations, called Tranceformed From Beyond. While some sources claim Paul van Dyk's 1993 remix of "Love Stimulation" started the trance genre, there is little evidence to support this. Van Dyk's trance roots can be traced back to his work with Visions of Shiva and his collaboration with Cosmic Baby. Early in his career, van Dyk was not widely recognized, but his work with Cosmic Baby helped him become a key figure in the trance scene.

In the UK, trance music and house music shared similar features, such as progressive chord structures, long musical builds, and the use of organic instruments. In 1993, Simon Berry started Platipus Records to support his projects, including Union Jack, Clanger, and Art of Trance. Platipus became one of the most important labels for progressive trance. Another influential label was Hooj Choons, which released notable trance tracks by artists like Tilt, Oliver Lieb, Solarstone, and the famous Three N' One remix of "Cafe Del Mar" by Energy 52.

In Australia, Christopher J. Dolan, who performs as Quench, released the song "Dreams" in 1993. It was re-released in 1994 and was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release in 1995. The song reached No. 9 on the French singles chart and No. 75 on the UK Singles Chart. By 2000, it had sold over a million copies worldwide.

In Germany, a harder style of trance emerged. This subgenre had a faster tempo and used specific sound effects called "gated pads." Hard trance introduced a musical structure that became common in later trance styles, including hardhouse, hard uplifting, jumpstyle, NRG, and hardstyle. Bonzai Records, a sublabel of Lightning Records, was one of the most well-known labels for this style. It released tracks like "The First Rebirth" by Jones & Stephenson, "The House of House" by Cherry Moon Trax, and "Cybertrance" by Blue Alphabet.

By the late 1990s, a subgenre called uplifting trance became popular. It had a fast tempo, long musical builds, and powerful drops. In the early 2000s, pop-style vocals were added to trance music. Another subgenre, epic trance, was influenced by classical and film music. Trance music reached its highest level of popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

From the late 2000s to the mid-2010s, popular trance artists like Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, and Above & Beyond remained influential, while many lesser-known DJs shifted to other music styles. In 2017, a new group of underground DJs, such as Nina Kraviz, began including trance music in their performances.

In 2023, Beatport, a music platform, changed how it categorized trance music. It split the trance genre into two categories: Trance (Main Floor) and Trance (Raw/Deep/Hypnotic). The second category was created to highlight the underground side of the genre.

Production

Trance music typically uses a 4/4 time signature and has a tempo between 125 and 150 beats per minute (BPM), though it can vary. It often includes 16- or 32-beat musical phrases. A kick drum is played on every downbeat, and an open hi-hat is frequently used on the upbeat. While trance, house, and techno music all use the "four-on-the-floor" beat pattern, trance often reduces the prominence of the kick drum to highlight the bassline. In contrast, house and techno emphasize the kick drum as the loudest sound. Additional percussion is commonly included, and recent trance music often uses long "snare rolls" before major transitions or climaxes. These snare rolls involve quick, repeated snare hits that increase in speed, pitch, and volume near the end of a measure.

Trance music frequently features rapid, repeated notes (arpeggios) and often uses minor keys, which are nearly always present. A central melody, or "hook," is common in trance tracks and repeats throughout the song, appearing at intervals ranging from 2 beats to 32 bars. Other harmonies and musical phrases in different sounds accompany the main melody. Instruments are added or removed at regular intervals, such as every 4, 8, 16, or 32 bars.

Before a breakdown section, the main melody is often introduced in a simplified form to prepare listeners for what follows. Later, the climax usually combines elements from the earlier part of the track with a return of the main melody. Like many dance music styles, trance tracks often have sparse intros ("mix-ins") and outros ("mix-outs") to help DJs blend songs together smoothly.

Modern trance music influenced by electronic dance music (EDM) may include elements from other genres, such as electro and progressive house. These versions focus on strong basslines and drum patterns, reducing the emphasis on offbeats and using the four-on-the-floor rhythm. Recent trance styles often have a BPM similar to house music, around 120 to 135 beats per minute. Unlike house music, these modern forms still include melodic sections and longer transitions.

Subgenres

Trance music has several types, such as acid trance, classic trance, hard trance, progressive trance, and uplifting trance. Uplifting trance is also called "anthem trance," "epic trance," "commercial trance," "stadium trance," or "euphoric trance." This type was strongly influenced by classical music from the 1990s and 2000s by artists like Ferry Corsten, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Tiësto, Push, Rank 1, and more recently by artists such as Sound Apparel, Andy Blueman, Ciro Visone, Soundlift, Arctic Moon, and Sergey Nevone & Simon O'Shine. Eurodance is closely related to uplifting trance and is now a general term for many types of popular European dance music. In the late 1990s, German producer ATB changed Eurodance with his hit song "9 PM (Till I Come)." Some types of trance mix with other kinds of electronic music. For example, tech trance combines trance and techno, while vocal trance mixes trance's progressive parts with pop music. Dream trance began in the mid-1990s and was popularized by Robert Miles, who created the song "Children" in 1996. A small type called "medieval trance" recently appeared, blending medieval music with trance elements, as seen in works by Maestro Giano, Green Clouds, and others, which are similar to "reverse Bardcore."

AllMusic describes progressive trance: "The progressive part of trance led to a more popular, chart-friendly sound because trance had not been widely successful on music charts before. It focused on the smooth style of Eurodance or house music (and sometimes sounded more like Jean-Michel Jarre than Basement Jaxx). By the end of the 2000s, progressive trance became the main music played at dance events worldwide. Critics criticized its predictable musical breaks and limited skill in mixing beats, but it remained popular among top DJs."

Music festivals

The following is an incomplete list of dance music festivals that feature trance music.

Notes: Sunburn was not the first festival in India to specialize in trance music. Earlier events in Goa, starting in the late 1980s and continuing through the 1990s, were pioneers in this genre.

• China: Spirit Tribe is a regular event near Kunming, Yunnan province.
• India: The Sunburn Festival began in December 2007 as South Asia’s first electronic music festival. It took place on the coast of Goa and featured well-known DJs like Carl Cox and John '00' Fleming. In 2008, about 5,000 people attended a three-day event. In 2009, Armin Van Buuren and Sander van Doorn performed, with about 15,000 attendees. In 2010, Paul Van Dyk and others played, drawing about 30,000 people. In 2015, over 350,000 people attended, with top DJs like Martin Garrix and Afrojack.
• Thailand: Full Moon Party, since 1985, is held monthly on Ko Pha-ngan Island. Thousands gather at Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) to dance to trance music during full moons. Transmission, originally from Prague, also holds events in Bangkok.
• Japan: Rebirth Festival
• Israel: Most festivals include Goa Trance and Psychedelic Trance. Notable ones are Doof Festival, Unity, ZNA Gathering Israel, and Total Eclipse.
• Vietnam: Ravolution Music Festival

• Germany: Waldfrieden Wonderland, Stemwede, since 1997. This international open-air festival happens every August and focuses on psychedelic trance. We Are One, Berlin, since 2010, features multiple trance styles and is led by Paul van Dyk.
• Lithuania: Yaga Gathering is a transformational festival in Ežeraitis Forest, near Vilnius. It has no corporate sponsors and is funded by ticket sales. Activities include open-air cinema, lectures, yoga, meditation, crafts, and children’s programs.
• Hungary: Ozora Festival
• Poland: Euforia Festival, Electronic Family Poland, Mayday, Sunrise Festival
• Portugal: Boom Festival (last held in Idanha-a-Nova), since 1997. This outdoor event happens every two years and focuses on psychedelic Goa trance. It also includes workshops, presentations, and cinema. Other festivals include Freedom Festival, Kin, and 4 Elements Festival.
• Romania: Untold Festival, Dakini Festival, SAGA Festival
• Switzerland: Street Parade, Zürich, since 1992. This is the world’s largest electronic music festival, with over one million visitors annually.
• Sweden: Monday Bar Cruise, since 2002, is a four-times-a-year event on a cruise ship between Stockholm and the Baltic countries. Music styles include trance, psytrance, hardstyle, and hardcore.
• Belgium: Tomorrowland, Boom, since 2005. This is the largest open-air electronic music festival in Belgium. It has featured DJs like Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Arty, and Cosmic Gate.
• Czech Republic: Transmission, Prague, since 2006. This is the largest indoor trance event in Central and Eastern Europe. Markus Schulz often performs here.
• Finland: Summer Sound, Helsinki, since 2011. Starting as a one-day event, it now lasts three days and includes both indoor and outdoor performances. Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Faithless have headlined.
• Greece: Dreamland, Ancient Olympia, Elis, since 2014. This festival promotes electronic music, culture, and ecological awareness. Since 2018, it has taken place on the coast of Kyparissia under the name "Mythody."
• Turkey: ANKA or Psy-ANKA and AJAX, since 2009 and 2011. These festivals feature various electronic music genres annually.
• Spain: Ibiza has hosted trance parties since the 1990s.
• United Kingdom: Spiral Tribe, Tribal Gathering, Glade Festival, and others. Gatecrasher also hosts events in places like Birmingham N.E.C.

Electronic music festivals in the Netherlands are mainly organized by four companies: ALDA Events, ID&T, UDC, and Q-dance.

• Armin Only, Jaarbeurs, Utrecht: This event features only Armin van Buuren as the DJ. It has been held in Utrecht and Amsterdam.
• Dance Valley, Spaarnwoude: An outdoor festival organized by UDC.
• Sensation, Amsterdam Arena: Organized by ID&T.
• Energy (formerly Trance Energy), Jaarbeurs, Utrecht: This festival now includes multiple music genres. Organized by ID&T.
• Amsterdam Dance Event: A yearly trance and electronic music festival in Amsterdam.
• A State of Trance: Armin van Buuren’s weekly radio show celebrates its 50th episode with an event in the Netherlands, often in Utrecht.
• Electronic Family: Organized by ALDA Events.
• Mysteryland: A series of electronic music festivals started by ID&T in 1993.
• Luminosity: Founded in 2007 in Amsterdam. The festival promotes trance music and is attended by thousands worldwide.
• Psy-Fi: An outdoor psychedelic trance festival in Leeuwarden.

• Bal en Blanc is an annual rave party in Montreal, held in April during Easter. It has two rooms, one for house music and one for trance. The event lasts over 14 hours.
• Digital Dreams Festival in Toronto featured a full trance stage in June 2014.
• Escapade Music Festival in Ottawa is held on Canada Day (July 1).
• U4RIA Trance Festival in Toronto, in June 2018, included 23 international acts, 12 Canadian acts, and 25 hours of music. It was the first all-trance festival in Canada.
• Trance Unity, in Montreal, is held annually and lasts 12 to 14 hours.

Electronic music festivals in the United States include various genres like trance, house, techno, electro, dubstep,