This is my genre research for Media.

1. GENRE RESEARCH
GEORGE PICTON-CLARK

2. This is the word cloud I have created
for the conventions of my genre of
Trance. I have listed words showing
things related to the genre, as well as
terminology of things I would like to
see edited into my own music video
which I am creating. I chose the
silhouette of a lady dancing as it
shows emotion and you can see what
she is doing, this form of dance is also
relevant to the music video I am
creating.

3. Genre Development
The genre of trance originated back in the late 1980’s and 1990’s in Germany, Belgium and the
Netherlands. Strictly speaking, trance music is the use of repeating melodic phrases and other forms of
musical effects that help to build up distinct and emotive tension for the listener. The style often uses
peaks and drops to increase the levels of tension which are incorporated into the genre. There are also
typical instruments which are associated with the genre and feature in most of the songs that are
produced within the genre boundaries, these are: Synthesizer, keyboard, drum machines and sequencers.
Early artists of this genre are Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima who collaborated together back in
1991-1994 for electronic soundtracks which featured of video game series such as ‘Streets of Rage’ this
style of music was heavily adopted and promoted in nightclub scenes across Europe, specifically
Megatripolis, a London nightclub. This scene made it internationally acknowledged.

4. Early Productions
of Trance
Early productions of trance music were heavily influenced by the
underground parties and nightclub scenes in the late 1980’s and early
1990’s. A place where vibrant effects and colours filled small rooms full
of excited partygoers. This kind of scene has always been seen as a
landmark within the genre as it is where the roots originate from, many
people in this time went to these clubs to fulfill the full potential of the
genre with all of the equipment such as synthesizers, strobes, and
massive speakers which all brought huge excitement, to this day this
kind of socially engaged enjoyment within the genre is similarly
practiced. From early productions from the genre, vinyl distributions
were heavy and were distributed a lot around the world, however as the
world developed with technological advances, these seem to have
disappeared with very few being available still.

5. Modern Day
The genre as a whole has also benefited from ‘retromania’ which sees older
practices where original equipment is brought back and put into songs, instead of
it all being done completely digitally, which can be seen in projects by Tiesto.
This has developed a resurgence of early sounds into the broad genre. Within
the genre of trance, many of the artists who produce the music don’t necessarily
feature in their videos. Quite a lot of the time, the videos are very abstract and
may just feature actors and stories, a lot of videos are just solely strobe effects
and very bright colours, many songs from this genre don’t even have videos. This
could be due to the audiences, many people who produce trance music don’t
have their eyes set on critical acclaim but do it primarily because they enjoy it
and use it as a pastime. The main ideologies of trance music are focused on
finding different states of emotion with different musical techniques such as
peaks and drops, also a mixing of layers of musical tension build up to climaxes.
The different melodies and atmospheric tones stand alone throughout periods of
time to create different emotions for the listener. From the earliest days within the
genre, drugs seemed to have a heavy influence, this can be seen from late 80’s
and 90’s nightclub scenes in places such as London where this drug taking was
very popular, and alongside the music, people took drugs to reach a higher state
of euphoria to add to the emotional aspects of the music.

6. Artists that fit into the genre
GRIMES
SPOOKY
BLACK
W
ATERMAT
TIESTO

7. This is a music
video which
exemplifies the
genre of modern
day trance.

8. From researching my genre of trance, I have discovered
many of the early scenes within the genre and how the
instruments and equipment played such a major part
within the development of the music. I also discovered
how nightclubs and underground scenes were so
important to many people who are huge fans of the genre
and how important these types of places are even
nowadays, a social hub for the genre to continue thriving.