Music has the power to transform you. It can lift your spirits or bring you to tears. Some people turn on music for quiet reflection, and others enjoy it with thousands of their closest friends, seeking an otherworldly experience. Enter the world of Goa Trance, a hypnotic electronic dance music style that will transfer your consciousness to another universe.
What Is Goa Trance?
Goa Trance is an electronic dance music style that originated in the early 1990s on Goa’s sun-kissed beaches in India. Enthusiasts define the genre by its pulsating rhythm, hypnotic melodies, and ethereal atmosphere that is supposed to immerse you in a transcendent state, unleashing euphoria and urging you to move your body. Samples often used in science fiction movies or works of great thinkers add to the psychedelic experience. Fans of the genre are generally nature lovers, travelers, and connection seekers.
History of the Genre
Goa Trance began as a musical style closely connected with the region’s psychedelic culture during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the beachside paradise of Goa, India.
Influenced by different musical traditions, early pioneers started on a sonic journey to develop a sound that would symbolize the spiritual and transformational experiences of the Goa scene. Goa Gil, Raja Ram (of Shpongle fame), and X-Dream were among the pioneers who helped establish the sound of the genre.
Listen to the iconic track that laid the groundwork for the genre, The Infinity Project – Stimuli:
Goa Trance witnessed a surge in popularity in the mid-1990s, resulting in the development of record labels dedicated to the genre, such as TIP Records, Flying Rhino, and Dragonfly Records.
As the new century approached, the Goa trance scene began to evolve. Psytrance and Full-On, two faster and more progressive subgenres, began to take over the initial and traditional Goa sound. These newer forms kept the essence of Goa Trance but added a more driving and powerful intensity to the sound.
Difference Between Goa Trance and Psy Trance
Goa Trance was the first iteration of Psy (Psychedelic) Trance music as we know it today. The terms are used somewhat interchangeably when referring to Goa Trance, but the same is not true when referring to Psy Trance. That is to say: all Goa is Psy, but not all Psy is Goa. Goa can be distinguished by its more organic sounds, often using instruments and inspirational sounds from its origins in India.
Where Can You Hear it Now?
While the sound has evolved, the spirit of Goa Trance lives on. For the full Goa Trance lifestyle experience, you must attend a festival with other like-minded folks. Portugal’s iconic Boom Festival is a great example. It happens every two years in Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, typically in sync with the full moon. More than just a music festival, it celebrates alternative culture.
Another place to experience Goa Trance is at a famous New Year’s Eve beach party in Goa. Go straight to the source!
Moreover, several contemporary artists still draw inspiration from Goa trance, such as the three Israeli duos Infected Mushroom, Vini Vici, and Astral Projection, as well as other projects, such as E-Mantra or Electric Universe.
Three tips for using Goa Trance in your creative projects:
- Pay attention to the audio quality of your project and how the listener will receive the sounds. Goa Trance has very subtle sounds that sound best in stereo through a high-quality sound system or headphones. A good example of these intricate sounds can be found in Psychedelic Dream Of India Goa Trance by Borth_Music.
- The high BPM of Goa Trance lends well to chase scenes. Picture your protagonist being chased through the dark alleys of a cruel city to Room Spinner by TTSynth.
- Don’t forget your end credits! Immerse your audience in a sound bath like Vedic Mantras by Stock19 while they read the names of everyone who contributed to the project.
Goa Trance is a tribute to music’s transforming power of sound, reminding us that music can take us to mystical places, enlighten our spirits, and connect us to a greater collective consciousness. A Pond5 music subscription gives you access to original Goa Trance tracks.
Visit the Pond5 Playlist to explore more niche and unexpected music. Each month will feature a different genre, and a new free track is available for your next project!