California has a long history of pushing a unique kind of inspired positivity in music. Look at such classics as “Good Vibrations” and “California Dreamin’” by The Beach Boys and The Mamas and Papas, respectively. Even Village People and Pet Shop Boys got in on the action with the iconic “Go West” liberation anthem. Indeed, California for such a long time has been a place to aspire to be. So it’s no wonder that some of the most exciting action in the trance music space is going on in the Golden State.
Adam Morris is a rising star on the Californian trance scene. Hard-hitting, pulsating techno beats drive his uplifting, melodic trance stylings that come front and center in a trio of back-to-back outstanding 2017 releases. “New Life” showcases epic, upfront trance bravado and a very lush electro soundscape. To boot, Morris pairs up with up-and-coming German trance artist on the emotive and very high energy “Into the Light” track. In that same vein, Morris’ latest single “Quartz Hil” gives more of the driving trance becoming so indicative of the California EDM scene. Adding more spice to his electronica mix, Morris paired up with L.A.-based EDM/R&B/rock songstress Katty McGrew for the edgy pop trance of “I See You” - which finds the two blending their talents for a melodic ride through Morris’ inspired electronica virtuoso. On this one, McGrew’s beautiful and haunting vocals glide alongside Morris’ hyper-trance soundtrack that amount to fierce diva trance. Further upping the ante, Sacramento-based EDM DJ producer Igor Dyachkov polishes off “I See You” with his tight, techno-tinged trance treatment.
McGrew has been a long-standing artist on the California trance and EDM scenes and also pushes a rock agenda. She followed up “I See You” via her feature on 2017’s “The Evolution” by Zheno and Macbass vs. Hadler where the Los Angeline vocalist awesomely finds herself in the midst of some major, trance-infused ‘big room’ house music drama. Not to be outdone there, McGrew also shines on the trance-tinted, funky house “Get Down” by Australian EDM outfit BiTMORE and also the high energy of the “Endless Echo” trance banger from Tom Vanko and Alex T.
Like his fellow “I See You” collaborators McGrew and Morris, Dyachkov is a fixture too on the trance music scene. For some time now, the Russian transplant turned Californian has been established on the euro trance scene via labels like Vendace and Trance MIssion. Garnering support from such trance heavy hitters as Markus Schulz and Paul Oakenfold plus Dash Berlin, Dyachkov has certainly made a mark in the EDM space. His unique brand of trance ferocity took Morris and McGrew’s “I See You” opus to dazzling heights. On top of his remixer chops, Igor has released a slew of on-point trance singles like “Generation” and “Never Look Back” on Prague’s stellar Silent Shore trance music label where he showcased his unique flair at creating a soundscape that is both hard-driving and industrial yet melodic and heartfelt at the same time.
Morris, McGrew and Dyachkov certainly push an inspired musical agenda on California’s trance scene. They are certainly making waves in today's electronic dance music scene and further perpetuating California’s iconic musical history. And that's what's up.
