HISTORY OF TRANCE NATION

February, 10^th 1994 – this was not just a usual day for the still quite young dance scene at that time: It was the birthday of “TRANCE NATION”. The first edition of this brand new CD series was called “TRANCE NATION ‘94” and when it was released no one thought about the future of it, of course. No one expected that this series might become the longest lasting dance compilation series of Germany one day, one of the biggest and oldest mix album series worldwide, one of the most successful series for Trance and Progressive House all over the world and definitely one of the most legendary mix album series at all.

The inventors of TRANCE NATION were Jens Thele and Jan Schwede, who started it on a label called “Club Tools”. This was one of the most successful dance labels at that time. The first editions sold directly about 70.000 copies.

Of course, the sound of TRANCE NATION in these years was completely different to how it is now. Trance was still in the fledgling stages and sounded rougher and not as grown-up as today. And it was much faster, too! The biggest artists in the early 90ies were Jam & Spoon, Marusha, Paul van Dyk, Ultra Sonic, RMB, Microwave Prince and all that artists felt really honored, to be featured on TRANCE NATION. Guys like Emmanuel Top, one of the greatest heroes at that time, sent DAT Tapes handwritten labeled by himself to the office of Club Tools. It was something completely new at that time, to license dance tracks from producers from abroad, as Germany was the biggest dance market in the world. But everyone wanted to be part of TRANCE NATION.

The concept of TRANCE NATION was nearly the same, as it is still today: a two CD package with really a lot of high quality Trance sound on both CDs. Some editions included a third bonus CD as well. TRANCE NATION was always a mix album – mixed and compiled by the hottest DJs of the scene. The exclusive DJ for the first years was Jens Mahlstedt, who became a superstar with his smash hit “Loops & Tings”. He was responsible for the first editions of TRANCE NATION, later on DJs like Shahin & Simon (became later on very popular with their “Underdog Project”), Phoenix & Lacoon, Sven Dohse, DJ Arek and Azzido da Bass became the mixers of the CD. And not to forget Heller & Enkie, of course, who remained the hosts of TRANCE NATION for the longest time at all until today. Over the years more than 1.000.000 copies of TRANCE NATION were sold!

With the changing DJs, also the sound of TRANCE NATION changed within the years. The heads behind the series changed, too. Jens Thele founded “Kontor Records”, which became the most successful German dance label and also Jan Schwede started to work for this new company. Ministry of Sound in UK started their own edition of the TRANCE NATION series, mixed by DJs like Ferry Corsten, ATB or Judge Jules. It features the typical UK Trance sound. Within the years the concept of the German series changed slowly. It became more and more ambitious and a new artwork was evolved. The first big change was done in 2000 with the editions “TRANCE NATION 1-00” and “TRANCE NATION 2-00”. The concept of these releases was quite similar to the English edition. But this change came to fast – these CDs were ahead of the times. The usual Trance market in Germany became more and more influenced by commercial stuff, but TRANCE NATION featured the underground styles of U.K. – therefore these two volumes were not as successful, as the former CDs in the past. The guys at Club Tools decided to take a break and to define this already legendary series in a new way.

Only a short time later Aga Heller joined Club Tools as its new department manager. He re-launched the series and TRANCE NATION 16 and 17 were released within one year. The artwork reminded of the very early first releases, but in an up-to-date style. Aga Heller stepped gently forward. He knew that he had to satisfy the underground heads, but also the more commercial orientated dance fans. So he decided to put some more commercial tracks on CD 1 and a club influenced DJ set on CD 2. This was the start for Heller & Enkie at Trance Nation. Heller & Enkie did well: TRANCE NATION became successful again and well respected in the scene, too.

A short time earlier TRANCE NATION also became an event series. TRANCE NATION took place at Space Ibiza as well as in several clubs in Germany, Poland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands and several other places. Residents of these events were Andrew Bennett and Heller & Enkie, as they are all still today. Later Tom Cloud joined the team as well. All in all more than 150.000 people visited TRANCE NATION parties until today. TRANCE NATION became additional part of “Nature One” with an own big dance floor. Nature One is Germany’s biggest dance event with nearly 60.000 visitors each time and artists like Markus Schulz, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Woody van Eyden, M.I.K.E., Harry Lemon, Perry O’Neil and a lot more played at the Trance Nation Floor.

In 2003 Aga Heller left Club Tools and Heller & Enkie started their own label “Supra Recordings”, where artists like Armin van Buuren, Gabriel & Dresden, Nalin & Kane, Markus Schulz and a lot more released their tracks. Also TRANCE NATION moved to this new label. The changing process moved forward slowly from volume to volume. TRANCE NATION 18 was released as the first 3-CD package since quite a long period again. This was the first edition with two dj mixes and only one CD containing single tracks as full maxi version. Guest DJ was André Visior, who had big chart success a year before with two singles. Next one was Woody van Eyden, the Dutch guy, who lives in Germany since a lot of years and who is one of the most successful pioneers of the worldwide trance scene. Afterwards Alex M.O.R.P.H. moved to the decks to deliver a dj mix for TRANCE NATION 20. Alex is known for his awesome productions and remixes for top artists, like Armin van Buuren. And TRANCE NATION 21 included a DJ set of Tillmann Uhrmacher, one of Germany’s biggest Trance DJs with a lot of huge productions in his portfolio, like “On The Run”, which entered the U.K. sales charts on position 14. TRANCE NATION 22 was released in 2006 with a guest mix by Misja Helsloot. He is definitely one of the biggest stars of the Dutch trance scene next to Tiesto and Armin van Buuren.

All of these CDs also included a dj set by Heller & Enkie, of course. And especially their sound changed within the years. But this should not amaze anyone: they both started djing more than ten years ago, played at legendary clubs, like “M1 The Club” in Stuttgart, “Tresor” in Berlin and at events, like the “Loveparade”. Their sound developed from early Trance to House to Techno and back to Trance. But “Trance” is not “Trance” for them. For Heller & Enkie it is quite simple: "Trance is not a genre for us, Trance is a melodic and pushing sound and not this dizzy stuff with vocals, with predictable structures and many drum whirls. Trance can be, actually, everything, from Progressive House to Techno. We do not want to be fixed on anything." They are known for euphoric music with high claim, influenced very much by the Progressive House scene.

Soon TRANCE NATION will celebrate its 15 years anniversary. Trance Nation was released in territories,such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Indonesia, USA and Russia now. And further territories will follow soon. And also the great events will take place all around the globe within the next years, of course.