Maksym Oleksiyevych Honcharov aka Mike Bound- Trance producer from Ukrane.
Was born 23.08.1984 in Novotroitskoe of Donetsk Region. He has been listening to trance since 2000.
Performers such as Paul van Dyk, Cosmic Gate, Darude, Armin van Burren, Kai Tracid, Scooter etc. The first tracks he begins to try to write in 2010. First track was released on Hot Sound Records (Russia). It was progressive trance track "Chords" in HSR Sampler - October 2011 Release under a pseudonym Massive Noise. Next 2 tracks "Earth Angel/4U" was released on COF Recordings in 2013. His style changed when Darren Porter released Terraforming [Monster Digital] in 2014. Maksym fell in love with uplifting trance forever. First work in this style was bootleg on Scooter - Trance-Atlantic with Tau-Rine alias. Next Bootleg on The Quest - C-Sharp was supported by Aly & Fila at Global Gathering 2014 (Stratford, UK). First Ep Summer Calling was released on Entrance Music. In 2017 Maksym opened a label Taurine Music for myself releases. First release "In The Memory" was entered in compilation "Grotesque 300". Tracks and remixes of Tau-Rine was supported by Aly & Fila, Ferry Tayle, Dan Stone, Jorn van Deynhoven, FEEL, Sean Tyas, Darren Porter, Simon Patterson, RAM, Andrew Rayel, Daniel Skyver, Manuel Le Saux, Steve Allen and many more.
His latest track Rush is out now on Reason II Rise music and we did the following interview about it. Enjoy reading it!
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Mike Bound: I learned how to write Uplifting Trance by remixing trance classics. In the summer of 2014, I bootlegged the amazing The Quest - C Sharp. And sent it to Aly & Fila. After some time, I find out that Fadi played it at the Global Gathering (Stratford, UK). It was one of the first major achievements. I was very glad.
The first official release of Summer Calling was very well received by the public. Darren Porter also drew attention to him. It was his Terraforming that had a strong influence on me at the time. My tracks Energy (Extrema Global Music) and In The Memory (feat. Alaera) became part of the compilation RAM, Marco V & Darren Porter - Grotesque 300
And at the moment I'm part of the Reason II Rise Music label!
I also do Ghost Production. And some of the work had support in major radio shows, including A State Of Trance. I'm proud of this too.
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Mike Bound: I have loved all kinds of music since childhood. I could listen to her for hours. Once, at the age of 17, I came across an Acid Rain 2000 cassette.A pirated collection, of which there were many at that time. It started my love for trance music. Then my friend's parents bought a computer (at the beginning of 2000 it was a huge rarity for us). He installed FL Studio 3 or 4 versions there. I don't remember where he got it. It was a demo version of the program. She did not save some plugins in the project. But digging into it was very interesting. Then I realized that I was interested in how electronic music works. Since then, I have gradually tried to write something.
3-Dimitris: Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Mike Bound: Sean Tyas, Darren Porter, Allen Watts.
4-Dimitris: Can you tell us the top 3 tracks from the past that have influenced your sound the most and why?
Mike Bound: Darren Porter - Terraforming - very massive uplifting track. I really like how it sound. Scooter - Trance-Atlantic - one of the best track for all times for me. Epic melody! And maybe Martillo Vago - Por Que No (PlazmaTek Remix). I love these harmonies.
There are actually a lot of them. You won't remember everything at once.
5-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your latest track Rush on Reason II Rise Music. Please tell us how it came about and what was the idea behind it.
Mike Bound: My new track Rush will be released on June 30 via Reason II Rise Music. It was created this spring, although I have had the melody since December, if my memory serves me right. In fact, when you're working on a new tune, it seems like it's just great. But after a while you turn it on and all the magic disappears somewhere. So the idea wasn't great. In the case of Rush, it was the other way around. After a while, it still hooked me, and I began to make a full-fledged track out of it. I immediately tuned in to Reason II Rise. It seems to me that such a plan of ideas just suits this label. By the way, the track is at 142bpm. This is not standard for Uplifting trance today. Usually it is either 138 or 140 bpm. It seemed to me that at 142 bpm the track would sound more energetic.
And the structure in Rush is also different from modern standards. The track has two climactic parts. In early 2000, this structure was commonplace. I wanted the track to stand out in some way among the huge number of tracks that come out every day. Thank God the label didn't mind. There weren't even any edits, as was the case with the previous Revival release. They were small, but still :)
6-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Mike Bound: I always start a track with the main melody. Building the Main Drop. Lead, then Pads, Kick, Sub, Mid Bass, Drums etc. This is followed by a one-note dance part - the introductory part of the track before the pit. Then the pit and everything else.
The main elements of the track (Leads, Pads, Bass etc.) didn't take much time. Day or two.
7-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing that particular track or any specific technical challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome during its production.
Mike Bound: I always fiddle with additional effects and all sorts of small details for a long time. I fiddled with a solo melody for a long time, but I never came up with anything worthy. As a result, it was replaced by vocal inserts. And I think it's even better. In general, it took about two weeks for the track, I think.
8-Dimitris: If you would have the opportunity to change something in your track and maybe to do a new remix what elements are you unhappy with and you are going to change? Is there any artist that you feel would be fantastic to remix this track and why?
Mike Bound: At the moment I like the track the way it is. Maybe a year later I'll listen to it and I'll want to change something. But for now, I'm satisfied. I don't know about the remix. Does he need him? But I would be interested in trying out a Darren Porter or Sean Tyas version.
9- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Mike Bound: I do the main idea in FL Studio. I really like their Piano Roll. Work on a full-fledged track is already in Ableton Live. It is very convenient for me. Never used analog equipment. I don't even understand why it's needed today. Now there are so many VSTs with analog sound emulation that the need for physical synthesizers, reverbs, compressors, etc. simply disappears. Well, this is my opinion.
10-Dimitris: Do you prefer vocal or instrumental tracks? If there are vocals on the track we discuss about tell us about the singer you work with?
Mike Bound: I love both vocal tracks and instrumental. Rush has only vocal samples. In general, the track is instrumental.
11-Dimitris: Are there any vocalists/singers on electronic dance music you aspire to work with?
Mike Bound: I really like the vocals of Jennifer Rene, Susan, Natalie Gioia. I would love to write something with them. In fact, many people like it. As for collaborations with producers, I don't really like collaborations, to be honest. I am selfish in terms of creating music :)
12-Dimitris: Please choose the most powerful lyrics ever included in a dance track and why these lyrics have touched you so deeply and have a special meaning for you?
Mike Bound: How much is the fish by Scooter. Very powerful lyrics! Ha ha ha. This is a joke, of course. I don't really get into lyrics. For me, the atmosphere of the track and the groove are more important. Music says more than words.
13-Dimitris: Do you believe that artwork on your latest track is good and do you believe that artwork can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Mike Bound: The cover is great! This is exactly what I wanted to see on it. I think it conveys the track's energy, speed, adrenaline, etc. well. Probably it will be one of the best covers for my tracks at the moment. I also really like the cover for the track Theseus (Extrema Global Music)
14-Dimitris: Can you pick your favorite top 3 record labels including the one released the track that we discuss in this interview and give us a short comment about why these labels are important to you and the music scene too?
Mike Bound: Hard to say. Every label has decent works.
Reason II Rise Music - this is my type of Uplifting Trance. Beautiful melodies and drive is what I love in trance.
High Voltage Recordings - good label by Allen Watts! (I like Allen's sound!)
Regenerate Records by Sean Tyas. Very beautiful tracks on this label
15-Dimitris: Do you have your own record label? if yes tell us when did you set it up, the reasons behind this decision and your top 3 releases on the label so far plus 2 or 3 releases that we should look after from your label.
Mike Bound: Yes - Taurine Music, but it's frozen at the moment. In th memory (feat. Alaera) - Most popular release.
16-Dimitris: Can you pick up your all time favorite album and tell us why you adore it so much?
Mike Bound: Probably it's Scooter - Sheffield (2000) I still love almost all the tracks from it. Very cosmic and trance.
17-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Mike Bound: Unfortunately, I don't spend much time on this.
18-Do you post videos on tiktok? If yes please reference for us your favourite? What is your opinion about the power of tiktok to promote music releases?Is there any tiktok video created by fans of you with your music worth mentioning?
Mike Bound: I publish, but only videos with releases.
19-Your current Top 3 tracks with short comment:
Mike Bound: Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding - Miracle (Binary Finary's Trance Remix) - The vocals are very nostalgic. In the Uplifting Trance wrap, it's just a break!
York - The Awakening (NRG Trax Extended Remix) - Classic Sound! I like it!
Artbat & Another Life - Breathing - Track is not released yet, but this techno track with massive trance vibes!
20-Dimitris: Please note for all the new talents that read this interview to get some inspiration from you any technical tips in relation to your DJing or music productions. Also any piece of personal or music business' advice that has helped you to progress even further and is worth telling to the new upcoming talents.
Mike Bound: The only thing I can advise is not to be lazy. I myself am lazy and I know that if it were not for my laziness, I could have achieved a lot at this stage. I'm trying to overcome it.
21-Dimitris: Many producers and DJs offer online masterclasses or teach to music production & DJing courses. Do you believe is essential to take part in any of these courses to develop your skills? Are you are offering any of these services? or other related services like ghost-producing or mastering? please tell us about these activities
Mike Bound: I do not conduct master classes and courses. I'm a very bad teacher, unfortunately.
22-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2023? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Mike Bound: Yes, I have. Just finished one. And a few bootlegs are in the process of being written.
23-Dimitris: Can you describe your music as certain music genre such as trance, house, techno or your music exempts these categorizations? What is your opinion about hybrid styles and artists who are attempting to mix influences from various genres in their tracks?
Mike Bound: Energy Uplifting Trance - Something like that.
24-Dimitris: Is your music business your full time occupation and are you able to make a leaving out of your music business (DJ/producer/label owner/teaching or mastering tracks)? If not what other jobs are you doing in order to support your income?
Mike Bound: At the moment I only do music. Also Ghost Production
25-Dimitris: Do you believe that audience should be banned from constantly taking photos or videos during DJ sets or are you happy with these activities?
Mike Bound: I don't see anything wrong with that.
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Mike Bound: Listen to good music. Feel The Trance!
Thanks to Mike Bound for this interview.
Thanks to Tim to Reason II Rise for organizing this interview
Find Rush here
Additional info: