The Sad Trance Music of Today

The trance music of today is often sad and melancholy. It’s as if the genre is trying to reflect the mood of the world, and it’s succeeding. If you’re looking for music to help you relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this is it.

The current state of trance music

Trance music has fallen into a bit of a rut lately. A lot of thenew music being produced is sounding very similar to what came out in the late 1990s and 2000s. While there are still some good tracks being made, the overall quality of trance music has declined in recent years.

The ‘sad’ sound of today’s trance

There’s a particular sound that has become popular in trance music over the past few years, and it’s often been referred to as the ‘sad sound’. This sound is typified by slow, emotive melodies and chord progressions, often with a feeling of nostalgia or sadness.

While this sound has become increasingly popular in recent years, it’s not new – in fact, it can be traced back to the early days of trance music in the early 1990s. One of the earliest examples of this sound can be found in the track “Ocean of Memory” by German trance producer Oliver Lieb. This track was released in 1993, and while it’s not as slow or emotive as many of the tracks being made today, it shares a similar melodic sensibility.

In the years since “Ocean of Memory”, this ‘sad sound’ has become increasingly prevalent in trance music. It’s often used to create an emotional atmosphere in tracks, and many producers have found success by leaning into this trend. Some Trance fans have even taken to calling this style of music ‘crystal meth music’, due to its associations with drug use.

Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the ‘sad sound’ is one of the most dominant trends in today’s trance music.

The lack of creativity in current trance productions

Trance used to be one of the most creative and innovative genres of electronic music. However, in recent years, the genre has become increasingly stale and uninspired. The majority of current trance productions lack the originality and imagination that characterized the early days of the genre. Instead, they rely on formulaic melodies and predictable chord progressions. As a result, many trance tracks today sound indistinguishable from one another.

The over-reliance on presets and stock sounds

In recent years, the trance music genre has become increasingly reliant on the use of preset sounds and stock samples, to the point where many tracks now sound indistinguishable from one another. This heavy reliance on presets has led to a stagnation in creativity and innovation within the genre, and has contributed to the decline in popularity of trance music in recent years.

The lack of interesting chord progressions

While the music of today is certainly more complex than it was 50 years ago, many popular songs lack interesting chord progressions. This can be traced back to the advent of digital production, which has made it easier for artists to produce music with little formal training. As a result, many popular songs rely on simple chord progressions that don’t challenge the listener’s ear.

The lack of engaging melodies

There’s no denying that the landscape of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has changed drastically in recent years. With the rise of new genres and sub-genres, the music has become more and more complex and interesting. However, one thing that many new EDM songs lack is a strong and engaging melody.

In the past, trance music was known for its beautiful, ethereal melodies that would transport listeners to another world. Today, however, many trance songs rely heavily on drum patterns and basslines, with the melodies playing second fiddle. This lack of focus on melody can make the music sound repetitive and uninteresting.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. There are still some trance producers out there who know how to craft a beautiful melody. If you’re looking for some melodic trance music to help you relax and escape the everyday grind, check out the tracks below.

The use of too much reverb and delay

Reverb and delay are two essential effects used in almost every form of music today. They help to create atmosphere and add depth to the soundscape. However, they can also be overused, resulting in a ‘muddy’ or ‘washy’ sound that can make the music sound unfocused and depressing. This is especially common in sad trance music, where the use of too much reverb and delay can create a sense of hopelessness and despair.

If you’re producers are looking to create a more uplifting sound, try using less reverb and delay, or finding alternate ways to achieve the same effect. You may be surprised at how much more enjoyable your music becomes as a result.

The overuse of sidechain compression

In the last decade, sound design in electronic dance music has shifted towards a more aggressive, pumping sound. A big part of this sound is achieved by the use of sidechain compression. When used tastefully, sidechain compression can add energy and motion to a track. When overused, it can make a track sound flat, one-dimensional, and boring.

The overuse of sidechain compression is not just a problem in trance music, but it is especially prevalent in trance. In order to understand why this is the case, we need to understand what sidechain compression is and how it is used.

Sidechain compression is a form of dynamic range compression where the compressors are triggered by an external signal instead of the signal being compressed. This external signal is usually a kick drum or snare drum in dance music. When the kick drum hits, the compressor reduces the level of the signal being compressed. This creates a pumping effect that can make tracks sound more energetic.

However, when sidechain compression is overused, the pumping effect can become too pronounced and distracting. Additionally, overcompressing the signal can make it sound squashed and lifeless. When used tastefully, sidechain compression can add energy and movement to a track. When overused, it can make a track sound flat, one-dimensional, and boring.

The lack of dynamics in trance tracks

In the 1990s, trance music was known for its dynamics. A track would slowly build up over time, slowly adding more and more elements, until it reached a huge climax. Then, the track would suddenly drop all its elements and go quiet, before starting to build up again. This alternation between huge soundscapes and complete silence was one of the things that made trance so unique and exciting.

However, trance tracks today lack this sense of dynamics. Instead of slowly building up over time, they tend to start at full volume and stay there for the entire track. This can make them sound repetitive and boring. It also makes it difficult for the listener to appreciate the full range of sound in a track. When everything is loud all the time, it all starts to sound the same.

If you miss the dynamic soundscapes of old-school trance, try searching for tracks that were released in the 1990s or early 2000s. You might be surprised at how different they sound from the trance music of today.

The overall ‘safe’ and ‘boring’ sound of current trance

In recent years, trance music has become increasingly safe and boring. There is a lack of creativity and experimentation, and the overall sound has become very formulaic. This is a huge disappointment for fans of the genre, who were hoping for something more exciting and innovative.