The beginning:
In psytrance or psychedelic trance, producers create intricate rhythms and melodies through the use of high-tempo riffs. The genre emerged in the 1990s, primarily in the Goa region of India and subsequently spread globally. The combination of electronic dance music, traditional Indian instruments, and Eastern influences is, in fact, attributed to its origins.
From the UK Underground to Goa!
Mark Maurice organized underground psytrance parties in London during the early days of the genre, bringing the sound to a wider audience through events like “Panjaea.” However, some of the most influential artists from this era include Goa Gil, Raja Ram, Etnica, and Infected Mushroom.
The evolution:
As the genre evolved, it subsequently branched out into various subgenres, such as full-on, progressive, and, equally important, forest psytrance. Subgenres often have unique production styles, tempos, and atmospheres that distinguish them; in addition, today, psychedelic trance remains a vibrant and innovative force within the electronic music scene.
The Psytrance Sub-Genres:
- Full-On: characterized by fast-paced, energetic beats and melodic hooks. (I am a freak of this one!)
- Progressive: focuses on evolving melodies and atmospheres, often with longer tracks and more intricate arrangements.
- Goa: This subgenre is known for its unique fusion of Eastern influences and psychedelic sounds, originating from the Indian state of Goa.
- Forest: inspired by the mystical atmosphere of forests, this subgenre, consequently, features darker and more atmospheric soundscapes.
- Darkpsy: characterized by its dark and menacing atmospheres; moreover, it often features distorted basslines and haunting melodies.
- Suomi: derived from Finnish electronic music culture, it combines psytrance with other genres, such as techno and ambient; furthermore, it showcases a unique fusion of sounds that enhances the listening experience.
- Twilight: a subgenre that blends psytrance with elements of chill-out and downtempo music, creating a more mellow and relaxing sound.
- Neurofunk: characterized by its fast tempo and use of distorted basslines, often blending psytrance with drum and bass influences.
- Psycore: a harder and more aggressive subgenre, featuring intense rhythms and often minimalistic melodies.
- Hi-Tech: focuses on the use of technology in production, often incorporating elements from other electronic music genres like techno and house.
- Goa Trance: an early variant of psytrance characterized by its use of traditional Indian instruments and Eastern influences.
- Psydub: a subgenre that combines psytrance with dub reggae influences, featuring heavy use of reverb and delay effects.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list, as new subgenres continue to emerge within the psytrance scene.
