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 (BPM). It includes repeated musical phrases and builds tension and other musical elements throughout a song, often ending with one or two strong sections called "peaks" or "drops." While trance is its own music style, it uses elements from other genres, such as techno, house, chill-out, classical music, tech house, ambient, and film scores.

The word "trance" describes a state of deep focus and heightened awareness. In trance music, this is shown through layered sounds that gradually build up and then release. A common feature of modern trance music is a loud middle section, followed by a quiet part with no beats or percussion. During this time, the melody or sounds that create a mood are heard alone for a long time before the music builds up again. Trance songs are often long to allow this progression. They usually start and end with simple, quiet sections to help DJs mix songs together.

Trance music is mostly instrumental, though vocals can be added. When vocals are used, they are often sung by female singers with a specific vocal range, and they usually do not follow a traditional verse and chorus structure. Some trance songs have structured vocal parts, which form a subgenre called vocal trance. This subgenre is described as having grand, powerful, and operatic sounds, with female singers creating a delicate, floating effect among the music. Male singers, like 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. The early years of trance music were shaped by labels in Frankfurt, such as Eye Q, Harthouse, Fax +49-69/450464, Force Inc., and others. Producers like Pete Namlook, Oliver Lieb, and Rolf Ellmer created important 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 is linked to Sven Väth, who was inspired by his travels to Goa, where DJs used psychedelic rock and other sounds to create a trance state during beach parties. Väth, along with Dag Lerner and Torsten Fenslau, enjoyed hypnotic dance sounds, and the 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, and in 1992, he launched Harthouse. These labels released some of the most famous trance tracks of the time. Eye Q focused on a softer trance sound, with songs like "The Orange Theme" by Cygnus X, "Symmetry" by Brainchild, and "Wonderer" by Vernon. Harthouse emphasized a harder trance style, with tracks such as "Quicksand" by Spicelab, "Spectrum" by Metal Master, "Human" by Resistance D, and "Acperience" by Hardfloor. The music from Frankfurt became closely associated with trance. DJ Dag Lerner, one half of Dance to Trance, said he was the first to call his music trance and "gave the child his name." The genre’s name came from the trance-like feeling the music aimed to create in the 1990s before its focus changed.

In a 2006 interview, Sven Väth acknowledged that his labels, Eye Q and Harthouse, helped shape trance music as it is known today. He noted that many people misunderstand what trance music is, explaining that modern trance often follows a repetitive structure, unlike his own style.

As German trance music returned to Goa, a new subgenre developed with more organic sounds and melodies influenced by Eastern philosophy. This style, called Goa trance, led to other subgenres like psytrance and psybreaks.

In 1991, MFS Records in Berlin began to focus on trance music, signing artists like Mijk van Dijk, Cosmic Baby, and Paul van Dyk. They released well-known early trance tracks, such as "Love Stimulation" by Humate and "Perfect Day" by Visions of Shiva, as well as the first trance compilation, Tranceformed From Beyond. While some sources credit Paul van Dyk’s 1993 remix of "Love Stimulation" as the start of trance, evidence suggests his work with Visions of Shiva and Cosmic Baby began earlier. Paul van Dyk was initially less prominent but later became central to the trance scene through his collaborations.

In the UK, trance music and house music shared similar features, including progressive chord structures, crescendos, longer breakdowns, and more natural-sounding instruments. In 1993, Simon Berry launched Platipus Records to support his projects, including Union Jack, Clanger, and Art of Trance. Platipus became one of the most important progressive trance labels. 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 nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release in 1995. The track 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 type of trance emerged, characterized by faster tempos and gated pads. This style introduced the breakdown-build-anthem structure that became common in later trance subgenres. Hard trance influenced other styles like hardhouse, hard uplifting, jumpstyle, NRG, and hardstyle. Bonzai Records, a sublabel of Lightning Records, was one of the most famous labels for this subgenre, with tracks like "The First Rebirth" by Jones & Stephenson and "Cybertrance" by Blue Alphabet.

By the late 1990s, uplifting trance became popular, featuring fast tempos, long breakdowns, and big drops. In the early 2000s, pop-style vocals

Production

Trance music typically uses a 4/4 time signature and has a tempo between 125 and 150 beats per minute, 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 usually played on the upbeat. While trance shares the same "four-on-the-floor" beat pattern as house and techno music, trance often reduces the volume of the kick drum to highlight the bassline. In contrast, house and techno emphasize the kick drum as the loudest sound. Additional percussion is common, and recent trance music often uses long "snare rolls" near the end of a measure. These are quick, repeated snare drum hits that gradually increase in speed, pitch, and loudness before a major transition, build, or climax.

Trance music frequently uses fast, repeating notes (arpeggios) and minor keys, which are nearly always present. A central melody, or "hook," is often repeated throughout the song, appearing at intervals between 2 beats and 32 bars. Other harmonies and musical themes are introduced in different instrument sounds. 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 combines the earlier musical ideas with a return of the main melody. Like many dance music tracks, trance songs usually have shorter, less complex intros ("mix-ins") and outros ("mix-outs") to make it easier for DJs to blend songs together.

Some modern trance styles influenced by electronic dance music (EDM) include elements from other genres, such as electro and progressive house. These styles use stronger basslines and drum beats, focusing more on the "four-on-the-floor" rhythm. Recent versions of this music often have a tempo similar to house music, around 120 to 135 beats per minute. However, unlike house music, these modern trance styles still include melodic sections and longer transitions.

Subgenres

Trance music is divided into several types, including 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 of music was greatly influenced by classical music from the 1990s and 2000s, with artists like Ferry Corsten, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Tiësto, Push, Rank 1, and others. In recent years, a subgenre called "orchestral uplifting trance" or "uplifting trance with symphonic orchestra" has developed, with artists such as Sound Apparel, Andy Blueman, Ciro Visone, Soundlift, Arctic Moon, and Sergey Nevone & Simon O'Shine.

Uplifting trance is closely related to Eurodance, a term used for many types of popular European dance music. In the late 1990s, German producer ATB changed the Eurodance scene with his hit song "9 PM (Till I Come)." Some subgenres mix trance with other types of electronic music. For example, tech trance combines trance with techno, and vocal trance mixes trance with pop music.

Dream trance began in the mid-1990s, with Robert Miles leading its popularity. He created the song "Children" in 1996. A very small subgenre called "medieval trance" has also appeared recently. It blends medieval music with trance elements, as seen in the work of artists like Maestro Giano and Green Clouds. This style is sometimes called "reverse Bardcore."

AllMusic describes progressive trance as a style that helped make trance music more popular on music charts. It focused on a smoother sound similar to Eurodance or house music, and sometimes sounded like the work of Jean-Michel Jarre. Though critics criticized its predictable parts and lack of complex mixing, progressive trance became a favorite among top DJs by the end of the 20th century.

Music festivals

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

Notes: Sunburn was not the first festival/event to specialize in trance music in India. Earlier events in Goa started in the late 1980s and continued through the 1990s.

• China: Spirit Tribe is a regular event held outside Kunming, Yunnan province.
• India: The Sunburn Festival began in December 2007 as South Asia’s first electronic music festival. It took place near Anjuna beach in Goa and included famous DJs like Carl Cox and John '00' Fleming. In 2008, about 5,000 people attended a three-day event. In 2009, DJs such as Armin Van Buuren and Sander van Doorn performed, with about 15,000 people in attendance. In 2010, the crowd grew to about 30,000 people. In 2015, over 350,000 people attended the festival to experience performances by top DJs like Martin Garrix and Afrojack.
• Thailand: Full Moon Party, since 1985. Held monthly on Ko Pha-ngan island. Thousands of people gather on 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 Israeli festivals play Goa Trance and Psychedelic Trance. Notable festivals include Doof Festival, Unity, ZNA Gathering Israel, and Total Eclipse.
• Vietnam: Ravolution Music Festival

• Germany: Waldfrieden Wonderland, Stemwede, since 1997. This international open-air festival takes place every year in August and focuses on psychedelic trance music. We Are One, Berlin, since 2010. Headed by Paul van Dyk, the event includes several styles of trance music.
• Lithuania: Yaga Gathering. A transformational festival held in Ežeraitis Forest near Spengla Lake in southern Lithuania. The festival is funded by ticket sales and includes activities like open-air cinema, yoga sessions, and workshops.
• Hungary: Ozora Festival
• Poland: Euforia Festival, Electronic Family Poland, Mayday, Sunrise Festival
• Portugal: Boom Festival (last edition in Idanha-a-Nova), since 1997. This outdoor festival happens every two years and focuses on psychedelic Goa trance. It also includes workshops and film screenings. Other festivals include Freedom Festival, Kin, and 4 Elements Festival.
• Romania: Untold Festival, Dakini Festival, SAGA Festival
• Switzerland: Street Parade, Zürich, since 1992. The world’s largest electronic music festival, with more than one million visitors each year.
• Sweden: Monday Bar Cruise, since 2002. Held four times a year on a 2,000-person cruise ship between Stockholm and the Baltic countries. Music styles include trance, psytrance, hardstyle, and hardcore.
• Belgium: Tomorrowland, Boom, since 2005. The largest Belgian open-air electronic music festival. Famous DJs like Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, and Arty have performed there.
• Czech Republic: Transmission, Prague, since 2006. The biggest indoor trance music event in Central and Eastern Europe. Markus Schulz is a frequent headliner.
• Finland: Summer Sound, Helsinki, since 2011. Started as a one-day event in 2011, it now spans three days and includes both indoor and outdoor performances. DJs like Tiësto and Armin van Buuren have performed there.
• Greece: Dreamland, Ancient Olympia, Elis, since 2014. This event promotes electronic music, culture, and environmental 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 and occur annually.
• Spain: Ibiza has hosted trance parties since the 1990s.
• United Kingdom: Spiral Tribe, Tribal Gathering, Glade Festival, and others. Gatecrasher also organizes events at 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. Organized by ALDA Events. Previous editions took place in Rotterdam Ahoy (2005), Jaarbeurs Utrecht (2008 and 2010), and Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam (2013).
• Dance Valley, Spaarnwoude: An outdoor festival organized by UDC.
• Sensation, Amsterdam Arena: Organized by ID&T.
• Energy (formerly Trance Energy), Jaarbeurs, Utrecht: Renamed "Energy" in 2011, this festival now includes other music genres. Organized by ID&T.
• Amsterdam Dance Event: A yearly trance and electronic music festival held in Amsterdam in October.
• A State of Trance: Armin van Buuren’s weekly radio show celebrates its 50th episode with an event in the Netherlands, usually in Utrecht.
• Electronic Family: Organized by ALDA Events.
• Mysteryland: A series of electronic music festivals held by ID&T. First organized in 1993.
• Luminosity: Founded in 2007 in Amsterdam. Organized by Luminosity Events, with the slogan "Spreading The Love Of Trance Music."
• Psy-Fi: An outdoor psychedelic trance festival in Leeuwarden.

• Bal en Blanc: A yearly rave party in Montreal, held in April during Easter. It has two rooms for house and trance music and lasts over 14 hours.
• Digital Dreams Festival in Toronto featured a full trance stage in June 2014.
• Escapade Music Festival: Held on Canada Day (July 1) in Ottawa.
• U4RIA Trance Festival: A two-day event in Toronto in June 2018 with 23 international acts, 12 Canadian acts, and