On Friday the 21st March, Slinky at the Opera House are privleged to have one of the biggest stars in trance and dance music as the headliner in Ferry Corsten. Alongside Ferry will be four other DJs who are also fine exponents of the genre. We spoke to Lee Haslam, Bart Claessen, Michael Dow, and Dav Gomrass to find out exactly what the World of Trance music has to offer right now in 2008.

Bart Claessen

1. How did you first get into trance music initially? Are there any moments back in time that you can pinpoint when your passion for it began?

I can’t actually because I’ve always loved electronic music! At an early age I started buying albums and compilations and I remember always trying to analyse the tracks on there that I loved.

I always wanted to know exactly what was happening production-wise, and if I heard something I couldn’t explain, I rewound it immediately and listened to that part again and again until I could exactly figure out how it was made. Pretty freaky huh?!?!

2. You’re on the line-up for Slinky with Ferry Corsten on March the 21st which is guaranteed to put trance back on the map on the south coast? If you were selling trance to a newcomer to the scene how would you describe it in its current form?

Trance is in a renaissance, but it’s not trance anymore in pure form. To me trance was almost dead two years ago as it got so boring. Nothing changed for years and it seemed like nobody knew which direction to go.

That’s changed in the last years. It’s grown up and got stronger as a style. With trance you can now go any direction, techno, electro, vocal, deep, slow, fast, which is a great thing of course. But like I said, to me it isn’t really pure trance anymore, it’s a bit of everything. And I’m happy with that!

3. Ferry’s well established, but who in the trance scene are you tipping as the next best thing for 2008 and beyond? Are there any future stars the Slinky massive should be aware of?

Well, I’ve just finished a new track that I produced together with an up and coming Polish producer by the name of Dave Schiemann. He’s definitely one to look out for on the techy side of trance. He has good productions and fresh new ideas.

4. What are you top five trance tracks of all time?

Questions like these are always in my top five of most difficult questions of all time! It’s so hard to choose just a few favourite tracks from years and years of tunes. BT’s Mercury And Solace comes to mind now plus Out Of The Blue of course. Probably a few hundred more I loved, just can’t choose!

5. And finally, what should the Slinky clubbers expect from you when you take to the stage on March 21st?

Some kind of mix of trance and techno. Melodic trancy atmospheres layered on filthy phat beats and basses, some pitched up dirty more electro kinda stuff as well. And I love using a lot of fx and put my hands on twenty knobs and sliders every second haha!! I won’t leave till the roof goes off, that’s a promise I always make to myself. Looking forward to it!

Michael Dow

1. How did you first get into trance music initially? Are there any moments back in time that you can pinpoint when your passion for it began?

Yeah I'd say my passion came from Judge Jules' show on Radio 1. I was too young to go out, so I sat in the kitchen and listened to it almost every weekend. I've still got a few of the shows recorded on tape somewhere, but no tape player! Back in the days of tunes like Bullet in the Gun, Eichelroek, Out Of The Blue, Starparty etc etc.

2. You’re on the line-up for Slinky with Ferry Corsten on March the 21st which is guaranteed to put trance back on the map on the south coast? If you were selling trance to a newcomer to the scene how would you describe it in its current form?

Well, the trance scene is so diverse these days. You've got minimal trance, progressive trance, uplifting trance, tech trance, hard trance, electro trance, and everything you could imagine in between. There's definatly something for everyone (if you're a fan of any 4/4 dance music at all that is)

3. Ferry’s well established, but who in the trance scene are you tipping as the next best thing for 2008 and beyond? Are there any future stars the Slinky massive should be aware of?

I'd say that people like O'Callaghan or Mark Sherry seem to be on the constant rise. Tunes out everywhere, getting the big gigs on regular occasions. I think its going to be another good year for the both of them.

4. What are you top five trance tracks of all time?

Oh my, now that is a hard one and it changes all the time, so for now id say.. Gouryella - Gouryella, Angelc - It's My Turn, System F - Out Of The Blue, and.....X Cabs - Neuro 99. These are 5 of my obvious ones I guess, but theres just so many more!!

5. And finally, what should the Slinky clubbers expect from you when you take to the stage on March 21st?

Expect the worst and you wont be dissapointed!! (not really!!) Expect a range of styles, from progressive, techy and maybe some uplifting thrown in there for good measure. I'm really looking forward to it and I've done some new tracks I cant wait to play out, so I shall see you all there I hope!

Lee Haslam

1. How did you first get into trance music initially? Are there any moments back in time that you can pinpoint when your passion for it began?

I used to be a big crasher kid in 1997 – 2000 so I was there when it all kicked off really. I used to go nearly every week and just stand for hours and watch the likes of Jules, TDV, Scott Bond etc play and it really inspired me as a person and to become and DJ and producer so I have a lot to thank those days for.

2. You’re on the line-up for Slinky with Ferry Corsten on March the 21st which is guaranteed to put trance back on the map on the south coast? If you were selling trance to a newcomer to the scene how would you describe it in its current form?

Energy and euphoria in its purest form.. It’s a sound which is so diverse and can “look after you” in whatever mood you are in.. If you want to be uplifted or just want to stomp some energy out to some dirty techy sounds it does the job!

3. Ferry’s well established, but who in the trance scene are you tipping as the next best thing for 2008 and beyond? Are there any future stars the Slinky massive should be aware of?

Michael Dow for me is the best up and coming talent around at the minute. I would say that because I manage him but aside from that his productions are just getting better and better… He can cover so many genres with his production skills it’s scarey and they are all top draw.. He has an EP coming out on my label Digital Remedy in April so you will hear some of the tracks he hs been doing on all the big trance radio shows in the coming weeks. He has all the ingredients to be a big DJ and producer o be sure to check him out.

4. What are you top five trance tracks of all time?

1. Veracocha – Carte Blanche
2. Three N One – Sin City
3. Ascension – Someone – Space Brothers Dub
4. York – Jastamba – Suspicious Mix
5. Signum – What Ya Got 4 Me

I could list so many, it's hard to pick five.

5. And finally, what should the Slinky clubbers expect from you when you take to the stage on March 21st?

Well as you know Dav & I take it in turns and rotate at Slinky so everyone gets a fair crack of the whip. I want Slinky to have a resident to start and finish the night so on this occasion I will be doing the warm up as did last on the opener and I have to say I am looking forward to.

I enjoy playing tracks that normally I wouldn’t get the chance to play and I have been collecting a lot over recent week so its going to be hard to cram them into and hour and a half but I’ll manage… May go all jive bunny and do some megamixes LOL… Anyway I hope everyone enjoys it!

Dav Gomrass

1. How did you first get into trance music initially? Are there any moments back in time that you can pinpoint when your passion for it began?

I've been playing Trance since 1997/98 and I am still loving it. Trance for me is a very diverse genre, deffo lots of variety and that's why I love it.

Moments for me back then... Hmmmmmm.... I would say when Scott Bond and Guy Ornadel were rocking it all over the place. Their Essential mixes they did for two years running were amazing!

Judge Jules as well, he's always been a fave DJ of mine and he was deffo a massive inspiration to me. Just being on the Slinky dancefloor every week back then was enough for me to be able to say "Yes Trance is for me".

2. You’re on the line-up for Slinky with Ferry Corsten on March the 21st which is guaranteed to put trance back on the map on the south coast? If you were selling trance to a newcomer to the scene how would you describe it in its current form?

Well firstly I'd have to give them an ear bashing for only just finding trance and then I'd chew their ear off about how good trance music is. I'd describe its current form as being back on top of the dance music scene once again. I'd also tell then about Trance Trousers & Trance Umbrellas....... TRANCE TILL I DIE!

3. Ferry’s well established, but who in the trance scene are you tipping as the next best thing for 2008 and beyond? Are there any future stars the Slinky massive should be aware of?

I'd have to say the guys on this line up for sure. Michael Dow - I've spoken to loads of people recently about him. I know there are plenty of people looking forward to seeing him in action. His productions are wicked so I'm also looking forward to seeing him on the 21st.

Bart Claessen as well, he's been making some serious bass ass tuneage. Greg Downey & Genix, both becoming bigger & bigger. Not just behind the decks but also with their productions.

Then there are the usual jocks that always do good year in year out like, Ottaviani, Askew, Sander van Doorn, JoC, Tylor Leigh, Kearney.

Then there's our very own Lee Haslam, expect another big year from him. Someone who's moved away from his harder roots in recent years to rock places with his tech trance sound. His label - Digital Remedy is dishing out some wicked tracks so thats my label tip for 2008 along with Discover as usual.

4. What are you top five trance tracks of all time?

Top 5 Tunes. Don't think it could be narrowed down to just five so here's some off the top of my head.

1. Freefall - Skydive
2. Mauro Pictto - Iguana (Megavoices Mix)
3. John O'Callaghan - Mercury
4. Transa - Enervate
5. Fred Baker & Terry Bones - Introspective (John Askew Mix)

5. And finally, what should the Slinky clubbers expect from you when you take to the stage on March 21st?

Well, Im very excited about this gig. I'm playing last so everyone should expect to see and hear my prefered tougher style instead of one of my warm up sets where I have to hold back a bit more.

I've been collecting loads of new tunes ready for the night. I'm getting a headache from it all because something new pops up every other day.

I can't wait to play for Slinky at the Opera House again and I just hope I deliver a good set that everyone will be talking about on the way home.

The Main Event