Vocal trance
Encyclopedia
Vocal trance is a subgenre of trance music
that focuses on vocals and melodies. The sub-genre came into existence in the early 1990s, when trance was still developing. Although many early trance records used vocal samples mixed in with the beats, the earliest examples of the style appeared in 1992–93.
A typical track consists of three elements, though later tracks labeled vocal trance may not include all of them. A track begins with an intro of progressive beats. The melodic part starts incrementally, combining vocals, usually female, a melodic sound (for the most part high pitched and fast), and a bass pattern. Towards the end of the track, the melody fades out and the intro rhythm returns, usually with some minor changes.
Vocal trance producers frequently make use of session musician
s, particularly females, for vocals on their tracks. Session vocalists have been featured on tracks that span different genres and sub genres, while some vocalists have chosen to work only within the electronic club and dance music genres.
Vocal trance was popular in Europe, notably Germany, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The earlier productions was closely related to uplifting trance
, uplifting house, progressive trance and progressive house.
The later productions (2004 and so on) are far more commercial and have a pop structure. Notable exceptions are the productions of Oceanlab/ Above & Beyond from Britain and Alex M.O.R.P.H..
and MTV2 Pop
satellite music channels. TMF
Belgium/Holland (and JIM Belgium during the 2000s) followed by promoting their own vocal trance productions, which became more commercially successful in UK and Spain. UK also has a share on the vocal trance scene, but in a more underground level.
Nederland / Belgium and Viva Germany music channels. The channels changed their play lists, emphasizing other music styles such as United States
urban contemporary
and contemporary R&B
, especially those with an overt rap music presence as well as British electro and local rap and hip hop
scenes.
Since 2004, vocal trance has only been aired on non-Viacom music channels, including "Jim" from Belgium, "ZTV" from Viasat
, and the show "I'm was mashed in..." from the British MTV Dance
that airs the older videos. The British Flaunt
channel also airs older vocal trance hits, as does the German music station "iMusic1 TV" and the French channel M6Music Pop. There is a digital terrestrial channel in Netherlands
, called "TMF
Party", that airs some new vocal trance hits. In Poland, there is a music channel called "4fun TV" that broadcasts recent vocal trance hits from Belgium
. Czechs can hear vocal trance music on the "Party Ride" program on the "Ocko
" music channel. The Spanish fans of vocal trance, can watch older vocal trance hits, as a part of the show "Disco 2000" on MTV Spain
. The "Sol Espana" music station also airs vocal trance hits on the show "Techno Archives". Clubland TV
, a new British F.T.A. channel that broadcasts on Astra
, plays British vocal trance hits of the last decade.
Since mid 2006, the Internet has become a major source of vocal trance music videos. Artists friendly to vocal trance (like DJ Tiësto
, Ian Van Dahl and Paul Van Dyk
) were forced to alter their music style during 2006–7, so as to remain viewable to the European music channels. As of 2010, mainly Belgium, Scandinavian and French artists produce vocal trance music. In the U.K., elements of vocal trance can be traced in the Scouse house music style.
reach Gold and Platinum status. Vocal trance artists, such as Nadia Ali
and Ian Van Dahl, have charted albums and singles on such American charts as the Top Electronic Albums
, Hot Dance Airplay
and Hot Dance Singles Sales
charts.
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
that focuses on vocals and melodies. The sub-genre came into existence in the early 1990s, when trance was still developing. Although many early trance records used vocal samples mixed in with the beats, the earliest examples of the style appeared in 1992–93.
A typical track consists of three elements, though later tracks labeled vocal trance may not include all of them. A track begins with an intro of progressive beats. The melodic part starts incrementally, combining vocals, usually female, a melodic sound (for the most part high pitched and fast), and a bass pattern. Towards the end of the track, the melody fades out and the intro rhythm returns, usually with some minor changes.
Vocal trance producers frequently make use of session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s, particularly females, for vocals on their tracks. Session vocalists have been featured on tracks that span different genres and sub genres, while some vocalists have chosen to work only within the electronic club and dance music genres.
Vocal trance was popular in Europe, notably Germany, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The earlier productions was closely related to uplifting trance
Uplifting trance
Uplifting trance, often synonymous with epic trance, anthem trance, emotional trance, or euphoric trance is a term used to describe a large sub-genre of trance music. The name, which emerged in the wake of progressive trance in 1997, is derived from the feeling which listeners claim to get...
, uplifting house, progressive trance and progressive house.
The later productions (2004 and so on) are far more commercial and have a pop structure. Notable exceptions are the productions of Oceanlab/ Above & Beyond from Britain and Alex M.O.R.P.H..
Vocal trance in Europe
From 1997–2003, this music style was mostly progressive and uplifting trance with mostly female vocals. It was dominated by German-based productions, and spread all over Europe because of Viva, OnyxOnyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
and MTV2 Pop
MTV2 Pop
MTV2 Pop was a German music channel. It launched on 1 May 2001, taking over the transponder left by the analogue service of MTV UK and Ireland when it closed down. It replaced VH1 Germany...
satellite music channels. TMF
The Music Factory
The Music Factory is a pop music television channel that operates in Belgium .TMF previously operated channels in the Netherlands , the UK with TMF UK and Australia with . The brand is owned by MTV Networks International...
Belgium/Holland (and JIM Belgium during the 2000s) followed by promoting their own vocal trance productions, which became more commercially successful in UK and Spain. UK also has a share on the vocal trance scene, but in a more underground level.
Vocal trance after the summer of 2004
Around 2004, vocal trance became less common on European music TV channels. This coincided with Viacom UK (MTV / VH1) taking control of both the TMFThe Music Factory
The Music Factory is a pop music television channel that operates in Belgium .TMF previously operated channels in the Netherlands , the UK with TMF UK and Australia with . The brand is owned by MTV Networks International...
Nederland / Belgium and Viva Germany music channels. The channels changed their play lists, emphasizing other music styles such as United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
urban contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
and contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, especially those with an overt rap music presence as well as British electro and local rap and hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
scenes.
Since 2004, vocal trance has only been aired on non-Viacom music channels, including "Jim" from Belgium, "ZTV" from Viasat
Viasat
Viasat is a DBS distributor and TV broadcaster, owned by the Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group. Broadcasting from London, the target markets are in the Nordic and the Baltic Countries...
, and the show "I'm was mashed in..." from the British MTV Dance
MTV Dance
MTV Dance is a 24-hour dance music channel operated by MTV Networks Europe.The channel is widely available throughout Europe on subscription satellite and digital television services...
that airs the older videos. The British Flaunt
Flaunt
Flaunt is a monthly American fashion culture magazine founded by the current editor-in-chief, Luis Barajas, and creative director, Jim Turner, also the founders of Detour magazine. Long Nguyen, a third founder and style director, also was working on Detour for four years...
channel also airs older vocal trance hits, as does the German music station "iMusic1 TV" and the French channel M6Music Pop. There is a digital terrestrial channel in Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, called "TMF
The Music Factory
The Music Factory is a pop music television channel that operates in Belgium .TMF previously operated channels in the Netherlands , the UK with TMF UK and Australia with . The brand is owned by MTV Networks International...
Party", that airs some new vocal trance hits. In Poland, there is a music channel called "4fun TV" that broadcasts recent vocal trance hits from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Czechs can hear vocal trance music on the "Party Ride" program on the "Ocko
Ócko
Óčko is the first Czech music television channel, which started broadcasting in 2002.Majority of the audience are teenagers and people from the 12–35 age group. The program consists of music videos of music from all different genres including the latest hits....
" music channel. The Spanish fans of vocal trance, can watch older vocal trance hits, as a part of the show "Disco 2000" on MTV Spain
MTV Spain
MTV España is the Spanish-speaking version of the popular 24-hour music and youth entertainment channel. MTV España is available on digital satellite Pay-TV offer Digital+, IPTV , many cable networks and from September 2010 on digital terrestrial television .-History:* MTV España was launched in...
. The "Sol Espana" music station also airs vocal trance hits on the show "Techno Archives". Clubland TV
Clubland TV
Clubland TV is a music channel broadcasting on Sky channel 383 and Freesat channel 514 in the United Kingdom. It features dance music videos and is based from the Clubland compilation albums...
, a new British F.T.A. channel that broadcasts on Astra
SES Astra
Astra is the name for the geostationary communication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated by SES S.A., a global satellite operator based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. The name is sometimes also used to describe the channels broadcasting from these...
, plays British vocal trance hits of the last decade.
Since mid 2006, the Internet has become a major source of vocal trance music videos. Artists friendly to vocal trance (like DJ Tiësto
Tiësto
Tijs Michiel Verwest, , known as Tiësto , is a Dutch musician, DJ and record producer of electronic dance music. Although he has used many aliases in the past, he is best known for his work as DJ Tiësto...
, Ian Van Dahl and Paul Van Dyk
Paul van Dyk
Matthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
) were forced to alter their music style during 2006–7, so as to remain viewable to the European music channels. As of 2010, mainly Belgium, Scandinavian and French artists produce vocal trance music. In the U.K., elements of vocal trance can be traced in the Scouse house music style.
Vocal trance in the U.S.A.
During the early 2000s, vocal trance artists established in the American market. Vocal trance remains moderately popular in the United States and compilations such as Ministry of SoundMinistry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
reach Gold and Platinum status. Vocal trance artists, such as Nadia Ali
Nadia Ali
Nadia Ali is a Pakistani-American singer-songwriter, born in Libya and raised in Queens, New York. She gained attention as the frontwoman and songwriter of the band iiO, after their 2001 hit "Rapture" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted across several countries in Europe...
and Ian Van Dahl, have charted albums and singles on such American charts as the Top Electronic Albums
Top Electronic Albums
Dance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five...
, Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
and Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
charts.