Etasonic (Ten Questions with...) Exclusive interview
André Heringlake aka Etasonic (Andre H, Mystairium) is a German producer, remixer and DJ in the electronic music scene (Uplifting-, Progressive Trance, Chillout, Ambient). The project was founded in 2007. In the same year he had his debut with the first single „Melloair“ (Dark Noize Recordings) followed by many releases and remixes on different labels. Since the Year 2015 he is exclusive signed on Abora Recordings (USA). Etasonic has a monthly radioshow (Sky Department), every 4th Tuesday of a month 19:00 – 20:00 CET on 1Mix Radio and some guestmixes on different global radiostations. André shared some interesting information about his thoughts on Trance music. I invite you to the interview conducted exclusively for Visions Of Trance.
1. What is trance music to you?
For me, trance music is one of the genres that can create a combination of emotionality, spirituality and energy like few other music styles. At most, classical music, which I also love very much, can also create this connection. Here I would like to clearly differentiate classic trance music from dance or hands-up music, which are often declared as trance because of the sounds used. There are also great songs in the latter two music genres, but they don't contain this emotionality and spirituality. That's why I don't count it as classical trance music.
2. How do you perceive the state of the current trance music scene?
Well, trance undoubtedly had its peak in the 90s and early 00s. There was media support from the radio stations of the time, especially in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as worldwide. But music videos were also broadcast on television stations such as MTV and VIVA. In addition, the sound was of course also played in the big clubs, especially in Ibiza.
When airplay from the above-mentioned media gradually decreased and trance music was increasingly displaced in the clubs, a new source of distribution emerged: internet radio. Fortunately, there are countless web stations that continue to support classic trance music, whether the classics or the new releases.
In addition, social media such as Facebook or Instagram and even TikTok also help to keep trance music alive. It is also thanks to portals such as YouTube, Spotify or Twitch that productions in the trance area continue to find their way to people. I notice that trance still has a pretty large fan base and is now being rediscovered by younger people.
What you can definitely see is that there are still plenty of new releases. Some are classic trance as we know it, but also with new elements adapted to the trend. Unfortunately, trend often means that the focus is very much on "fast-pacedness". This means that new productions are only noticed in a very small time frame, because a flood of new releases comes days later and it quickly becomes confusing and one or two productions unfortunately get lost. Even when I look at the length of the tracks, I have to say that the trend these days is more in the direction that a track can no longer build up slowly like it used to, but is cut quite short to the essentials. I think that's a shame, although by the way, there are of course still many tracks in the classic 7-8 minute extended version.
Well, it remains to be seen where the path of development will lead in the coming years.
3. What are your goals in producing trance music?
Music is the language of my heart and soul and I am happy when I can reach other people and trigger something in them through my compositions and productions and touch them. It is less a goal that I strive for than the drive that I have when I sit down in the studio and compose and produce a track... To touch people through my language of music.
4. Who was your inspiration to start producing trance music?
Well, what inspired me to make music in general was my interest in music and audio technology. I started recording radio shows with cassettes and records as a child around the age of 12. Music has always played a role in the family.
Later, while other friends were playing football/soccer outside, I experimented with broadcast technology, microphones and other audio devices in my room. Some time later I started to build my first "tracks" with a computer and a sequencer program. Then the first synthesizers and samplers came along and I started to program them seriously and combine everything into a studio setup. That's how the first tracks developed.
To be honest, I can't say exactly who inspired me with regard to trance. I think there were several "building blocks". But in general I've always been very interested in atmospheric music and also classical music. I love deep sounds, pads, soundscapes and melancholy melodies but also catchy harmonies. I will probably never produce rhythm-based music or hip-hop in my entire life, simply because I can't (okay, you should never rule anything out, haha). But I need the melodies, harmonies, pad sounds and the mood that this type of music creates. That's why I love ambient music so much.
If I were to name a name, it would definitely be Vangelis, who has unfortunately passed away. He was a great composer.
5. Which song are you most proud of and why?
I wouldn't call it proud. I would rather say grateful and happy, actually for all the songs that I have been able to produce and that have been released. I am also grateful that I have been able to do a lot of remixes and that there have been one or two collaborations. I was particularly pleased with the great remix of my track "Flying In A Dream" by RAM, enhanced with Cari's beautiful voice. But I am also grateful for many other great remixes that have been made for my songs.
Nevertheless, I would like to name a song that has taken on a special meaning for me. It is "When You're Gone". When my beloved mother died some time ago, the sentimental version of the track was one of the songs that was played at the funeral. If you want to look at it from that perspective, it actually made me proud and it was a great honor.
6. Will your future releases be collaborations with other artists? Are you more into solo productions?
To be honest, I tend to work solo because I usually have a very specific approach. But there have been one or two collaborations and I don't think it will be the last. But the focus is definitely on "solo".
7. What inspires you to create trance music?
There is not much to say about it.
1) Mood
2) Nature
3) Perfect Melody
4) Studio technology
8. What hardware and software do you use to create trance music?
Oh, I love hardware. I always need something I can play around with, press or turn, haha. I started with real devices back then and started making music at a time when there were actually no software plugins and most of the stuff came from a sampler or synthesizer from the 90s. I still love my Roland digital synth, which I used to produce complete tracks at the beginning, as well as the well-known Roland JP8000 synthesizer. This duo, plus a sampler and a software sequencer, were my workhorses back then. I still have the devices today. Later, many other machines were added, especially the Access Virus synths. Virus sounds can actually be heard in almost all of my tracks. There were also so many great devices from Waldorf, Korg, etc.
But time didn't stand still and at some point I also used software synthesizers. The u-he company deserves special mention here. I love the REPRO 1, which is particularly good for bass, even if it can't match the dry bass of the Waldorf Pulse 2, haha.
We live in wonderful times in terms of music. I'm definitely at home in both worlds.
9. How do you perceive the influence of social media on the career development of a trance artist?
In my opinion, social media is the #1 springboard for a career today, whether we're talking about trance, music in general or other things. Times have changed very quickly. You can become famous very quickly, have a career to a certain extent, but you can also be gone just as quickly because the next person is already there. I would say social media is both a blessing and a curse. It's a bit like online dating, haha.
10. Finally, what would you like to say to your fans?
Oh, that's very simple. Thank you for your support and stay true to the music and artists you like. If it's trance music, I would of course be particularly pleased if you continued to support all the great artists, producers, DJs and clubs out there, because together we are strong.
Thank you for the interview and stay tuned ;)
André aka. Etasonic
References:
1Mix Radio, Abora Recordings, AEZ Recordings, Afterhours FM, Airstorm Recordings, Ascendence Audio, Atelier Club Prague, Beyond the Stars Recordings, Black Hole Recordings, Blue Soho Recordings, Dark Noize Recordings, Defcon Recordings, Digitally Imported, Discover Trance Radio, Dream Dance, Edel Records, Entrance Music, Fly Warp Recordings, Gary D. pres. D.Trance, Gent Trance Division, Grotestque Festival, Just Music Records, Klubbstyle Media, Linger Records, Language Of Trance, Magic Island Recordings/ Armada, Mellomania, Mellomania Summer Cruise, NRJ Group, Only One Recordings, Sensual Bliss Recordings, Shah-Music, Soul Waves Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Sundance Recordings, Radio Sunshine Live, TFB Records, Trance All-Stars Recordings, Trance.fm, Uplifting Only Radioshow, Veritas Recordings, ZYX Music
LINKS:
www.facebook.com/etasonic (official)
www.facebook.com/derhering (privat)
www.discogs.com/artist/etasonic
Contact:
mail@etasonic.com
