This discussion weaves through the nostalgic resurgence of trance music, examining its roots and impact on pop today. The team highlights FKA Twigs' innovative take on 'Eusexua,' exploring themes of love and consciousness. They delve into The Weeknd's 'Hurry Up Tomorrow,' unraveling its emotional journey through fame and isolation. Unique sounds and genre-blending techniques illustrate how both artists are reshaping the music landscape, making it an insightful exploration of contemporary pop and its connections to the past.
46:50
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The podcast highlights the resurgence of trance music's popularity in contemporary pop, exemplified in projects by FKA Twigs and The Weeknd.
FKA Twigs' album 'Eusexua' explores emotional themes through trance-like soundscapes, while The Weeknd's 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' navigates fame's complexities with similar sonic elements.
Deep dives
The Influence of Trance Music
Trance music is described as a significant genre within the electronic dance music landscape, characterized by its euphoric melodies and repetitive beats that create an uplifting, hypnotic experience. This genre emerged in the late 1980s and saw its peak popularity from 1998 to 2001, largely fueled by cultural shifts and the prevalence of party culture. Pioneers like Sven Väth established the genre through tracks that combined techno beats with emotional, melodic elements. The various subgenres of trance, such as uplifting and acid trance, contribute to its rich diversity, showcasing the genre's evolution through time and its influence on the dance music scene.
FKA Twigs and the Concept of Eusexua
FKA Twigs introduces her album 'Eusexua' as a representation of love and emotional resonance within electronic music, blurring the lines between pop and trance. The album draws inspiration from her experiences in Prague and represents a sonic journey filled with ethereal melodies and lush synthesizers, suggesting a trance-like state. Twigs' work aims to evoke feelings of universal connection, as seen in the title track, where she leverages repetitive motifs and emotional vocals to create a sense of euphoria and transcendence. Despite being labeled techno, the elements of Eusexua reflect a deeper narrative and emotional connection to trance music, aligning it with the genre's essence.
The Weeknd's Sonic Evolution
The Weeknd's album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' explores themes of alienation and the struggles with fame while attempting to shed his character from previous projects. This final entry in a trilogy reflects a range of musical styles, showcasing a tapestry of influences, including Brazilian funk and trap hip-hop, yet also incorporates trance-like elements. The Weeknd's use of lush synths and pulsating beats aims to immerse listeners into a trance-like state while navigating the complexities of life and love. Despite the album's diverse sounds, the search for a cohesive identity resonates as oscillating between life and death—capturing the essence of a trance experience.
Trance Revival and Contemporary Pop
The discussion centers on whether contemporary pop music might indicate a revival of trance, emphasizing the genre's potential to infiltrate mainstream charts. The emergence of tracks by artists like FKA Twigs and The Weeknd carries hints of trance characteristics, sparking curiosity around a resurgence in popularity. However, the overlapping dynamics of electronic music genres create a complexity in identifying what constitutes true trance, as sounds evolve and blend across different styles. The ongoing dialogue suggests a need for listeners to engage with the music scene’s underground currents to fully understand the evolving landscape of trance in today's music industry.
In last month's episode predicting the coming year in pop, one of the team's predictions was that trance music – the ethereal, dreamy subgenre of electronic music popular around the turn of the century – would make a comeback on the charts in 2025. And even though we're less than two months into the year, we're already seeing the tides of nostalgia bring this club-oriented music come back into fashion. This episode of Switched On Pop, Nate, Charlie, and Reanna take a look at trance music: where it came from, what it sounds like, and if we can hear it in two of the year's most anticipated records: The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow and FKA Twigs's EUSEXUA. Does it trance?
More
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own bingo card!
Songs Discussed
KLF "What Time is Love? (Pure Trance Mix)"
Sven Väth "L'Esperanza"
Robert Miles "Children"
Paul van Dyk "For an Angel"
Ian Van Dahl "Castles in the Sky"
Tiësto "Adagio for Strings"
Darude "Sandstorm"
Charlotte De Witte "Universal Consciousness"
FKA twigs "Two Weeks"
FKA twigs "Cellophane"
FKA twigs "Tears in the Club" feat. The Weeknd
FKA twigs "EUSEXUA"
FKA twigs "Drums of Death"
FKA twigs "Perfect Stranger"
FKA twigs "Room of Fools"
FKA twigs "Childlike Things"
The Weeknd "Wake Me Up" feat. Justice
The Weeknd "Open Hearts"
The Weeknd "The Abyss" feat. Lana Del Rey
The Weeknd "Timeless" feat. Playboi Carti
The Weeknd "Give Me Mercy"
The Weeknd "Red Terror"
The Weeknd "Sao Paulo" feat. Anitta
The Weeknd "Reflections" feat. Travis Scott & Florence + The Machine