WORKSHOP: PRODUCE TRANCE!

Make a track in the style of the ultimate 90s genre

Despite having been around for at least three decades, trance remains a bafflingly divisive and controversial genre. To some, it’s a hypnotic, euphoric style of music with deep, spiritual roots. To others, it’s a naff, clichéridden sound which repeats the same tired old formulas ad nauseam (or, as Dave Clarke memorably put it, “watered-down techno”).

Here at Computer Music, we’re nothing if not open-minded. While there’s no doubt that the distinctive stylistic tropes of trance make it easy for producers to fall into the trap of cliché, it can be joyously vibrant and exciting when done well.

Since emerging as a distinct genre in the early 90s, trance has waxed and waned in popularity, spawned countless subgenres – which we’ll get into – and provoked some strong reactions of love and hate.

To the hardcore few, trance never went away, but in the last few years, the style has gone through something of a critical reappraisal, with a new wave of producers introducing trance elements to their sound and exploring the genre’s potential.

How are we defining it? As a genre it’s quite varied, but easily spotted by its key characteristics. Broadly speaking, it’s a four-tothe-floor offshoot of techno, typically between 130 and 150bpm. More importantly, though, there’s almost always a certain epic quality to the sound, based around repetitive melodies, minor-key chord progressions, dramatic buildups and breakdowns.

We’ll show you where it came from, how it’s done and how you can go full-on trance – or just introduce a few subtle elements to include in your own productions and genres.