A few years ago, it seemed that the only people who knew the name Ferry Corsten here in the United States were DJs and the biggest of trance-addicts. Ferry Corsten has been producing since 1991 under several pseudonyms, one of them being the mega-hit System F. More recently, Ferry has been producing under his own name, and his status as a top-ranked DJ has become known on an international level. JIVE Magazine writer Brad G decided to return from hiatus and take advantage of a rare opportunity to speak with Ferry Corsten about his latest CD, Right of Way, his present US tour, his new sound, and his outlook of the future of electronic music. Read on to hear this man’s amazing perspective about the scene and his music. If you think trance has made a recent come back, there is much more to follow.
On February 24th Ferry Corsten’s CD Right of Way has been released in the United States bearing his own name, breaking away from previous labels known only to the Trance genre. This new CD, composed of all original productions by Ferry, brings in a new sound that he believes has a secure place in dance music. By now, most people have heard the hit tracks “Punk” and “Rock Your Body, Rock” which administer a pounding break-beat mixed with some electro.
Speaking with Ferry about the inspiration of this CD he comments, “I’ve always been into the electro-type sound and melody of the 1980s. The track ‘Punk’ was the first track I made for this CD and it really set the tone for some of the other tracks to follow. Punk came out of me from nowhere when I was just experimenting with some sounds and beats and it sort of all came together in a sound that worked. The break beat of Punk developed into further experimentation,” Ferry reflects, “and influenced a few of the other tracks.”
Ferry said that he enjoyed using a new sound and breaking away briefly from the standard “4-4” trance beat. When asked if this presented a new challenge, he defined it more as a freedom to do whatever he wanted to with his music. “The biggest challenge for this CD will be if people will accept it coming from a trance background. Trance has seen break beats occasionally in the past, but not with too much popularity. But I think this is a step in the right direction. Here in the Netherlands we experience musical ideas and influences from all sides of Europe, so we get to hear a wide range of what’s going on throughout the region. The break beat and electro style seems to be catching on in Europe and I think there will be a place for it here in the scene.”
Trance has made a huge comeback in the United States and the rest of the world in the past 2-3 years. There was a period between 1999-2001 where it started to take a turn toward much darker sounds and melodies and vocal trance seemed to literally die within a very short time. When asked why he thinks this happened, and what he thinks about the comeback Trance has made, he reflected on this.
“Trance did take the same turn here in Europe as you have described how it did in the United States. Honestly, I just don’t know exactly what happened during that time. Maybe it was just a changing of the crowd coming out to the clubs at the time, or it simply lost attention. I continued to make the music I love, and play records of more upbeat style during this time when things got darker, along with a few other trance DJs. But like you mentioned, the genre turned itself around 2 or 3 years ago, and the uplifting and high-energy trance returned with more prominence than ever.”
Ferry sees the break-beat and electro sound becoming a bigger influence in the future. So if you like his new productions and the new CD, expect to hear more of that sound in the future. As a word of reassurance, Ferry promises to keep making the trance music he is known for and to keep delivering the amazing quality of music we have all come to expect from him. Right of Way provides him with some new ammunition to add a new twist to an old genre in the music to come. Ferry’s new CD has something everyone can enjoy, from sweeping break beats to melodic trance, and vocals that are flowing but not trendy.
Be sure to check out Right of Way in stores. Some of Ferry’s new tracks may also be heard on XM Channel 81 - BPM frequently receiving airtime. Also look out for the Ferry Corsten’s CD tour coming to major cities. He will be traveling all over the United States for 5 weeks, and playing 24 gigs. He is also in Atlanta on March 4th which is being promoted by Liquified
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