Check out the poster children of uplifting trance, Aly & Fila live in their return to the Emerald City on March 3rd!
A Light in the Dark
My deep connection with their music began when I was in community college, two years ago. I always played their remix of Beautiful by Ferry Corsten on my way to school. I couldn’t believe that they were selected to play Paradiso that year. At the same time, I was heartbroken because I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford it.
Life was pretty crazy back then and trance was my only escape. Full disclosure, I was severely depressed for many years, with periods of suicidal tendencies in between. It seemed like I was making the wrong move at every turn of my life. Stressing over money made it even worse.
But on one of those mornings, I was listening to this masterpiece while at a red light. The exact same moment the climax of their remix of Beautiful dropped, the light turned green. I took it as some sort of divine intervention. I simply couldn’t ever replicate that, even if I tried.
Paradiso
Two months later, I texted into a radio station for a Paradiso ticket competition. They asked for a simple story about attending dance music events, and I told them about my first ever show. Ten minutes later, I see all over Facebook people tagging me that I had won! There was absolutely no way I would have been able to go to Paradiso without winning these tickets. At the time, it was the best weekend of my life. Finally being able to see Aly & Fila live and at The Gorge no less.
Life would end up dealing me two more incredibly difficult blows in 2016. Two more suicidal episodes. Both were sudden, unexpected twists where it felt as if the rug were being pulled from under me, and my emotional progress wasn’t solidified in time to handle it.
I attached myself to trance harder and harder, especially to their uplifting tracks. The messages and feelings of positivity legitimately saved my life, and I do not say that lightly. Every time I needed an emotional boost, I’d listen to their music among others, and it gave me everything I needed.
Doors Opening with Respect my Region
My friends really began to notice that my passion for trance was a positive and fundamental one, and Rikki Jenkins recommended my name to Respect my Region.
On the same exact day Joey Brabo reached out to me, the Lucky 2017 lineup dropped, featuring a Future Sound of Egypt Stage. It was the first time outside of Tomorrowland that Aly & Fila had their own stage at a festival. My very first article with RMR was promoting that event.
I have no idea how I was granted permission to interview Fadi, but I was. I had only a handful of articles here, zero experience interviewing artists, and here I was speaking to one of my idols. Needless to say, I was absolutely starstruck! There were so many more things I would have talked about with him had I not been so nervous.
A “Million Voices” Proclaiming the Good Times Were Finally Here
With the confetti falling from above, and the melody of Million Voices washing over the crowd, I couldn’t help but cry. It felt as if this were the finish line of years of hard times. The song was my anthem since the buildup to Paradiso. While I thought I had finally figured out what the song meant to me, one more surprise was yet to unfold.
Only three days after Lucky 2017, I got a message from a former coworker. She told me that her sister had been asking a lot about me, and wanted to talk with me. I knew her from school and had talked about her at work, too.
Talking with her felt so natural and real. I showed her Aly & Fila’s music, proclaimed my love of trance, and that night was only the beginning of our fruitful relationship. We’ve been together for almost eleven months now, and Million Voices will forever be “our song”.
If only we could have Fadi DJ our wedding, right? In all seriousness though, one day when we do get married, we want to be with only our closest friends at The Gorge. I don’t know how likely another Aly & Fila set at The Gorge will be in the coming years, but to us, there would be no better way to tie the knot.
If you want something real, you should go see them, too.
To me, my connection to the music is so deep that I’d never miss a performance by these incredible musicians. Of course, I know I’d be hard-pressed to find people who have as much of a connection to their music.
With that being said, I know that everyone in the audience will feel something. Even if you’ve never heard of trance in your life, I guarantee, something inside of you will change. These producers have created such intricate, multi-faceted works of art that move your body and your soul.
Expect to see my girlfriend and I, right in the middle of the dance floor, transcending reality. We hope to see you there with us, too.
Check out this breathtaking performance from Aly & Fila to get an idea of what the live experience is like:
Aly & Fila Live!
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