How on Earth is this reality?!
That is the question on the minds of every trance fan in Seattle since the lineup for Lucky 2017 dropped Friday evening.
How are we so fortunate to have not only a Future Sound of Egypt artist, not only Aly & Fila themselves, but an ENTIRE STAGE of FSOE vibes!?
Something that must be addressed to those who do not follow trance is the fact that only festivals like Tomorrowland have ever been this fortunate to welcome the most cutting edge label in dance music in this fashion. So, even if you are not (yet) a fan of trance music, you definitely have to catch a set or two on this stage and experience this for yourself.
Now, I know trance is a very complex subgenre with a loyal following of those who understand it, so I wanted to give you a preview for what to expect from these artists. If you have any openings in your schedule, you do not want to miss these acts!
— Aly & Fila —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNRcsjdD23R/?taken-by=alyandfila
How many artists have performed in front of the Pyramids of Giza? How many artists, year after year, have their own stage at marquee events like Tomorrowland and Ultra?
Speak to anyone who follows trance, and they are sure to know the names Aly and Fila. As Pete Tong once said, “they are without doubt Egypt’s biggest musical exports”, and with four studio albums, eight compilations, and 37 singles, he certainly is right. They have also been voted into the DJ Mag Top 100 poll every single year since 2008.
Aly El Sayed Amr Fathalah (Aly) and Fadi Wassef Naguib (Fila) have known one another since kindergarten, and began producing in 1999 at the age of 18 in Cairo. Their sound quickly gained support from trance titans of the time, being played out by the likes of Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, and Paul van Dyk, even reaching the number four spot on dutch dance music charts by 2002. Since then, Aly and Fila has become a gold standard for trance music worldwide.
Their recent single “Unbreakable”, featuring Spanish lyrics, was voted as the best trance track of 2016 by listeners of Armin’s A State of Trance podcast.
While only Fadi tours, both work on music together in the studio, creating masterpiece after masterpiece for our listening pleasure while mentoring up-and-coming artists like Ferry Tayle, Arctic Moon, and Darren Porter, just to name a few. Their unique blend of soaring synths and hard bass is a gem for dance music at large, not just for trance.
Believe me when I say, you DO NOT want to miss this set! They played at Paradiso last year on day one at the Oasis stage, and without a doubt, it was the best set of the year. Dare I say it, this set will be even better.
— Ferry Tayle —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKDcDsKDdvK/?taken-by=ferrytayle
My personal favorite artist in the dance music scene today is without a doubt Frenchman Ludovic Meyer, or as he is known onstage, Ferry Tayle.
He started with music at the young age of 7, learning the saxophone and playing jazz, until 1999 when he purchased his first decks and began mixing at the largest club in Eastern France. Gaining support from house DJ David Guetta in the mid-2000s promoted his name into the limelight, and fast forward to 2015, he signed with Future Sound of Egypt.
His sound is, in my humble opinion, the very definition of trance music. The level of euphoria in every track is unmatched; not even Aly & Fila can beat these angelic arias! While he can create some of the most beautiful sounds to ever grace human ears, he can also create razor sharp kicks and basses that deliver quite a punch.
If you want to feel like you are soaring through the air, arms spread wide, above every problem and care in the universe, this is exactly where you need to be. Simply put, you will probably never have this opportunity again here in Seattle. This has the potential of being the greatest set you’ll ever see at a USC event, of ALL time.
— Ørjan Nilsen —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJNzSqdABMG/?taken-by=orjann82
The biggest name in trance from the icy country of Norway started his career in 2006. He has circumnavigated the globe since then, playing the worlds best clubs from Sao Paulo to London, New York to Sydney, and everywhere in between.
With two studio albums and a third in the works, and a selection of music from across the spectrum of trance, Ørjan never fails to deliver an energetic and diverse show. He was recently here for Paradiso 2016 on day two at the Oasis, and it was nothing short of fire.
For those who haven’t had much of an exposure to trance, I recommend this artist as he makes such a complex subgenre accessible to the average listener.
— Simon Patterson —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNUK__NDDgU/?taken-by=djsimonpatterson
Originally from Belfast, Simon Patterson has a special midas touch; He has an astonishing 21 consecutive Beatport #1 singles! Originally a talent scout for multiple labels, Simon began DJing at a prominent London nightclub in 2000, and his signature blend of psytrance and tech trance will get your feet moving and your heart pumping.
He is consistently seen on the biggest stages of the world, from EDC and Ultra in the states to Tomorrowland and Luminosity in Europe, as well as A State of Trance events across the globe, to name a few.
What will make this set extremely special will be his visual effects. If you are someone who loves a good lightshow, this set will blow your mind.
— Mark Sherry —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMwTHjWgpbI/?taken-by=marksherry
Who loves tech trance!? Mark Sherry, from Scottland, is absolutely red hot, rising among the ranks of trance producers and DJs worldwide with support from Aly & Fila, Guiseppe Ottavianni, Ferry Corsten, Paul Oakenfold, and many more.
While he has flown under the radar until the early 2010’s, Mark Sherry has quickly become one of the most recognized names in trance music, having multiple Beatport trance #1 singles. He was blessed to have a contract with Spinnin Records in 2010 which catapulted his sound into the mainstream.
Since Seattle is considered to be the bass capital, I’d recommend curious bassheads to give this a shot. Tech trance blends the euphoria found in traditional trance with hard and crunchy bass; it would be the best way to transition into this subgenre.
— ReOrder —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPIRi8xAhO9/?taken-by=reorderdj
Slavic DJ Tibor Tomecko is no stranger to darker and harder sounds. He began in 1998, at the age of 14, producing many different subgenres, but he always felt trance was his calling.
Something about his style is so unique, as he is able to blend progressive and melodic synths with a bass that can be heard from blocks away from the venue. As with all Future Sound of Egypt artists, this harmony of light and dark is what keeps people moving all night long, begging for more.
If you love trance like I do, or you are just getting into the culture, this set will be one to remember. The kicks will be heard and felt from outside the Tacoma Dome.
— Jordan Suckley —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN966ZfDrAp/?taken-by=jordansuckley
Oddly enough, this tech trance superstar began DJing after winning a mixing contest at his university, while he was studying business. Who knew that it would lead him to tracks at #1 on iTunes Dance charts, record deals with Armada Music and Black Hole Recordings, or a spot on the BBC Radio 1 mixshow “In New DJs We Trust”?
His big break was meeting Gareth Emery on a flight to Northern Ireland, where Gareth requested that he do a remix for a song of his on his Northern Lights album.
If you’re ready to get crazy, and I mean absolutely bananas, these tech sounds will be your perfect solution!
— Monoverse —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGrl3eSGnxw/?taken-by=monoverse
Breakthrough artist Santos Torres has already seen support from the largest labels in trance music, from Future Sound of Egypt, to Coldharbor Recordings, and Armada Music. Monoverse also has a mix show on the leading online trance radio service, AfterhoursFM, which continues to gain followers with each podcast.
He even has his own label, Enmotion Music, which aims to deliver cutting edge sounds from the underground community.
Monoverse will surely bring an ambient and chill opening set for these legendary artists. This will be a perfect set to start your night of fun at Lucky 2017!
