Miika Kuisma (Ten Questions with...) Exclusive Interview

Miika Kuisma is a legendary Finnish producer of trance and other electronic music genres, who has released music under solo projects such as Anaemic, Lost Method, and his own name. He has also participated in groups such as AR52, Droidnoise, DualSpin, Fluid In Motion, and Subliner. Miika shares his thoughts on trance music. Check out this exclusive interview with Visions of Trance.

1. What is Trance music to you?

It's hypnotic or euphoric dance music driven by drums and bassline, filled with atmospheric melodic landscapes, at any level from simple repeating melody all the way to grand symphony.

2. How do you perceive the state of the current trance music scene?

The kind of trance we saw peaking around 98-2000 is something I call prototype trance. Since that this style has been growing in all directions and influenced many other genres so much it’s hard to say what’s not trance now.

For example, when I listen to modern progressive house or melodic techno it often sounds like early trance. I think we can find trance at any level of intensity and speed these days.

3. What are your goals in producing trance music?

I don't set goals but sometimes I wish there was more moments when inspiration happens at the time when I can express it!

4. Who was your inspiration to start producing trance music?

There were many, such as Cosmic Baby, Oliver Lieb, Sven Vath, Westbam, Astral Projection. Although it wasn't called trance back then, it was rave, dance or house.

5. Which song are you most proud of and why?

It's really hard to say.. I think there has been few moments when it really felt like I had made something special, for example when finishing "Timegate", or my remix for Ryan G "Emoticon" or "Smoky Room".

Twan van Loon and Miika before two interviews for Muzikxpress

There has been some proud moments also, such as when Paul van Dyk played my remix of For an Angel on his radio show, or when getting into compilation such as Trance Master which was special CD series to me before I had any releases. Dreams coming true.

6. Will your future releases be collaborations with other artists? Are you more into solo productions?

No plans to collaborate but I'm open to it of course.

7. What inspires you to create trance music?

When I go to parties and I see how it can make people enjoy themselves and forget their daily worries.

8. What hardware and software do you use to create trance music?

My primary setup is Mac Mini M4 and Logic Pro, then I have a MIDI keyboard and Mackie HR824 speakers. That's about it!

9. How do you perceive the influence of social media on the career development of a trance artist?

It's complicated. It's great that artist and audience can connect and interact. At the same time I believe that artist also need some level of isolation from the world in order to be creative. So, constant interaction is probably not good.

Also I can see that if music is main source of income, there must be incredible pressure to get noticed and social media is required for that, and all that content creating is away from studio time.