:: Biographie :: Art of Trance ::

[System.S]

As the most recognized guise for Platipus Records chief Simon Berry, Art of Trance has become one of the most esteemed producers of trance, primarily due to the timeless success of "Madagascar" and the growing importance of his record label. Like many of the other mid- to late-'90s producers, Berry discovered his love for electronic dance music after hearing much of the late-'80s Chicago and Detroit tracks that made their way over to Europe. At the age of 19, he followed his impulsive passion and moved to London where he could soak up more of the music he had heard on his record collection. Frequenting clubs such as Troll and Chemistry, he fell in love with Hardfloor's proto-trance classic "Acperience" and set out to make his own take on the sound. The resulting record, Deeper Than Deep, was the first release on his Platipus label and soon caught the attention of Carl Cox. After Cox agreed to remix the track in 1995, it climbed the charts and brought Berry's name to prominent levels. Following this success, Berry collaborated with future Terra Ferma producer Claudio Guisanni as Union Jack, resulting in another hit, "Two Full Moons and a Trout." A year later Berry released a full-length album as Art of Trance on Platipus, Wildlife on One, that furthered his career and also served as one of the first full-length albums to feature the proto-trance sound that was quickly evolving in Germany and the U.K. Unfortunately, just as he was completing his second full-length release in 1997, his studio was burglarized, which was a major setback. Yet he moved on, releasing his biggest hit yet in late 1998, "Madagascar," which climbed the charts with the aid of Ferry Corsten's amazing remix. Then in 1999, his second album, Voice of Earth, finally appeared, solidifying Berry's role within the trance community as one of its top producers.

by Jason Birchmeier