Psytrance music: everything you need to know
- 14/04/2023
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Psytrance music is an electronic musical genre that has gained in popularity in recent years.
If you’re new to the world of psytrance, it can be hard to understand what it is and how to dive in.
In this article, we’ll explain everything about psytrance music, from its history and scene to its sub-genres and festivals.
Origins of psytrance
Psytrance, also known as “electronic psychedelic music”, is a subgenre of electronic music that emerged in the 1990s. This musical genre has its roots in the hippie culture and counter-culture movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Psytrance artists were inspired by the psychedelic music of the 60s and 70s, as well as by electronic music production techniques.
Characteristics of psytrance
Psytrance is known for its hypnotic, repetitive sounds, which can last for several minutes or even hours. Psytrance artists often use synthesizers and samplers to create unique, complex sounds and regular, syncopated beat patterns.
Psytrance is also characterized by its fast tempo, which can range from 140 to 150 BPM (beats per minute) or more. Psytrance tracks are often divided into different sections, each with its own rhythm and progression, creating a sense of musical journey for the listener.
Psytrance culture
The psytrance scene is a world unto itself, with its own codes and customs. Psytrance events are often peaceful gatherings of like-minded people, with practices such as meditation and circle dancing. Psytrance festivals are often open-air events lasting several days, featuring psytrance music artists from all over the world. The psytrance community is known for its spirit of collaboration and creativity.
Psytrance festivals
Psytrance festivals are must-see events for fans of this musical genre. The biggest psytrance festivals take place in Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. Psytrance festivals offer fans the opportunity to connect with other fans of electronic psychedelic music, take part in meditation and dance workshops, and discover new psytrance artists.
Impact of psytrance
Psytrance has had a significant impact on popular culture and electronic music in general. It has inspired many electronic music artists around the world, who have incorporated elements of psytrance into their own music. In addition, psytrance culture has influenced other fields such as art, fashion and wellness.
Psytrance subgenres
Psytrance encompasses several sub-genres, each with its own distinct musical characteristics. Here are the most common sub-genres:
Full-on
Full-on is a subgenre of psytrance characterized by catchy melodies and fast rhythms. It is often played at psytrance festivals and is considered an accessible sub-genre for beginners.
Darkpsy
Darkpsy is a subgenre of psytrance characterized by dark melodies and slow rhythms. It is often played at indoor events and can have a more intense atmosphere.
Progressive
Progressive is a subgenre of psytrance characterized by progressive rhythms and hypnotic melodies. It is often played at open-air events and is considered an accessible sub-genre for beginners.
Hi-tech
Hi-tech is a subgenre of psytrance characterized by very fast rhythms and industrial sounds. It is often played at indoor events and can have a more intense ambience.
Forest
Forest is a subgenre of psytrance characterized by slow rhythms and organic sounds. It is often played at outdoor music festivals in natural environments.
The psytrance scene
La psytrance scene scene is a world unto itself, with its own codes and customs. Psytrance events are often peaceful gatherings of like-minded people, with practices such as meditation and dance. Psytrance festivals are often open-air events lasting several days, with psytrance music artists playing on large stages decorated with psychedelic visual projections and laser lights.
Psytrance music emerged in the 90s, with artists such as Hallucinogen and Infected Mushroom. Since then, it has evolved to include many different sub-genres, such as darkpsy, full-on, progressive and goa trance. Psytrance music is characterized by fast rhythms and heavy bass, with elements of traditional electronic music and tribal sounds.
For beginners, it can be difficult to know where to start in the world of psytrance music. First of all, it’s important to know that there’s no “right” or “wrong” style of psytrance – it all depends on your personal preferences. It’s also important to remember that psytrance music is often designed to be listened to live, on a quality sound system, which can differ greatly from listening on headphones.
A great way to discover psytrance music is to listen to online psytrance DJ sets or attend a live event. There are also many psytrance festivals around the world, such as the Boom Festival in Portugal or the Ozora Festival in Hungary, which offer an immersive experience of psytrance culture.
When buying tickets for a psytrance festival, it’s important to make sure that the festival matches your musical tastes and cultural practices. Psytrance festivals may have specific rules and standards of behavior, such as the prohibition of alcohol or drugs. It’s important to respect these rules to ensure the safety of all participants.
