So here we are … and here it is. 25 years after the first took the mix comp scene by storm and set a new high bar in the process, we’ve arrived at the twentieth ‘In Search Of Sunrise’. For a landmark occasion this momentous, an exceptional edition was required, and with a six-mix/disc/DJ odyssey, that’s exactly what series guardians Black Hole Recordings have delivered.
Before all that though, a little history!
With the millennium on the then horizon, October the 10th 1999 saw DJ Tiësto’s first ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ touch down into a glowing comp climate. Already trailing heat through his previous series (‘Magik’), anticipation was way high. However, its reception outmatched even Tiësto and Black Hole’s expectations, with the Dutchman mixing seven in total, before parting creative ways with the series.
ISOS returned in 2010 under the stewardship of one-time Tiësto protegee Richard Durand, who delivered six editions and introduced co-mixing to its dynamic. Having ‘visited’ India, South Africa and his native Amsterdam, sounds diverged once again and Richard departed the series in 2015, at which point it went on a well-earned three-year hiatus.
Doing away with the city/country hopping, but retaining the co-mixing dynamic, Markus Schulz became ‘Sunrise’s new standard-bearer in 2018. It’s a position he retains to this day, with ‘In Search Of Sunrise 20’ marking his 7th (Tiësto-equalling) outing. That DJ democracy has since allowed many other co-spinners to leave their ‘ISOS’ mark, Gabriel & Dresden, Andy Moor, Jerome Isma-Ae, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Kyau & Albert and Ilan Bluestone among them.
That brings us then to where ISOS stands in the late summer of 2024, when Black Hole revealed their plans for the 20th ‘Search’. Solarstone became the first of the six mixers unveiled, with Johan Gielen’s Airscape, Super8 & Tab, York, ZOYA and (naturally!) Markus followed in weekly succession.
Highest highs amongst its 100+ track highlights then!? Well, that’s a tough one, so maybe better to pinpoint some of the extraordinary legacy moments its six mixes touch on. York beginning his mix with his ‘Reachers Of Civilisation’ … as Tiësto did 25 years before him!? Unquestionably classy! Or indeed finishing with ‘Farewell to the Moon’ – possibly the most ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ title of all time!? Markus seeing out his disc with his ‘lost’ 2019 ISOS remix of Accadia’s undulating ‘Into the Dawn’ – would be another. And who could resist Solarstone calling back ‘Solarcoaster’, or Super8 & DJ Tab, 'Helsinki Scorchin’ - prime movers in the ‘003 – Panama’ and ‘004 – Latin America’ editions!? Or Markus and ZOYA’s nods to Chicane, perhaps the most ISOS-embodying producer there is!? We could go on … (and on!) but at its core, ‘In Search Of Sunrise 20’ amounts to 6 DJs, 100+ tracks, 450+ musical minutes and 25 years of electronic music history, all celebrated through one milestone release.
The album is available to order now as a six-disc-boxset, six-mix digital release, triple-vinyl, and through all good streaming channels.
MIX CD 1: Solarstone
01. Soul Alt Delete - You Need to Let Me Go
02. Solarstone - When I Dream (William Byrne Remix)
03. Foxhill - When the Morning Comes
04. Pablo Gargano - Open Up
05. Sinful Biz & Façade - Captivate
06. Orkidea - Dance of Life
07. Sean Tyas & Enigma State - Lately (Azure Mix)
08. Aerium & Julian Del Agranda - Flawless
09. Luigi Di Mare - Infinity
10. Solarstone - Solarcoaster (Aquarius Remix)
11. Slusnik Luna - Let Me Breathe
12. Mario De Caine - Patagonia
13. Effen - Majesty
14. Tom Bro - Balearic Islands
15. Solarstone - Release
01. Soul Alt Delete - You Need to Let Me Go
02. Solarstone - When I Dream (William Byrne Remix)
03. Foxhill - When the Morning Comes
04. Pablo Gargano - Open Up
05. Sinful Biz & Façade - Captivate
06. Orkidea - Dance of Life
07. Sean Tyas & Enigma State - Lately (Azure Mix)
08. Aerium & Julian Del Agranda - Flawless
09. Luigi Di Mare - Infinity
10. Solarstone - Solarcoaster (Aquarius Remix)
11. Slusnik Luna - Let Me Breathe
12. Mario De Caine - Patagonia
13. Effen - Majesty
14. Tom Bro - Balearic Islands
15. Solarstone - Release
MIX CD 2: Johan Gielen presents Airscape
01. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Beach Pearl [Robert's Theme - Intro Mix]
02. Airwave - Caribbean Sunrise
03. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Love From Above (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
04. Daniel Wanrooy - Lost Lake
05. Kyau & Albert x John Grand - Under My Skin
06. PARAFRAME - Radiance
07. Mark van Rijswijk - Solaris
08. Daniel Wanrooy & Rafael Osmo - High Tide
09. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Pacific Melody (Kryder’s Balearic Breaks Mix)
10. David Broaders - Interplanetary
11. Tim Besamusca - Myth
12. Johan Gielen presents Airscape featuring Arkayne - In The Dust Where Love Is Gone (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
13. Woody van Eyden & Cheryl Barnes - Salty Skin (Woody van Eyden at Sunbreak Instrumental Remix)
14. Northern Project & Abbey8k - Not Going Back
15. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Piano Del Sol (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
16. Johan Gielen & Pierre Pienaar - Benguela
17. DJ T.H., Jam Da Bass & Julie Thompson - Oceans
01. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Beach Pearl [Robert's Theme - Intro Mix]
02. Airwave - Caribbean Sunrise
03. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Love From Above (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
04. Daniel Wanrooy - Lost Lake
05. Kyau & Albert x John Grand - Under My Skin
06. PARAFRAME - Radiance
07. Mark van Rijswijk - Solaris
08. Daniel Wanrooy & Rafael Osmo - High Tide
09. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Pacific Melody (Kryder’s Balearic Breaks Mix)
10. David Broaders - Interplanetary
11. Tim Besamusca - Myth
12. Johan Gielen presents Airscape featuring Arkayne - In The Dust Where Love Is Gone (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
13. Woody van Eyden & Cheryl Barnes - Salty Skin (Woody van Eyden at Sunbreak Instrumental Remix)
14. Northern Project & Abbey8k - Not Going Back
15. Johan Gielen presents Airscape - Piano Del Sol (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
16. Johan Gielen & Pierre Pienaar - Benguela
17. DJ T.H., Jam Da Bass & Julie Thompson - Oceans
MIX CD 3: Super8 & Tab
01. maybe - Intoxicated
02. Scorz & Sirolf featuring Diandra Faye - Missing Piece
03. Modera & Andrew Burrow & Susie Ledge - Dominoes
04. Kryder featuring Sarah de Warren - Lights Out (Dominiq Vanquish Remix
05. John Grand - Ruby
06. Cosmic Gate & Christian Burns - Brave (Sean Tyas Remix)
07. Jesabel - You
08. Super8 & Tab x LÜRUM featuring LYCA - Hold The Fire
09. Kyau & Albert - Cascading Waterfalls
10. Mofasa - Awakening
11. SØNIN & JS - Brighton BOP
12. DT8 Project - Destination (Super8 & Tab Remix)
13. Super8 & DJ Tab - Helsinki Scorchin’
14. ilan Bluestone - Echoes Of Courage
15. Push vs Beico - Enter Your Soul
16. Tim Clark - Feel You Now
17. Super8 & Tab - Flare
MIX CD 4: York
01. York - Reachers Of Civilisation (In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
02. Above & Beyond featuring Zoë Johnston - Crazy Love
03. Kyau & Albert - Photographs
04. Steve Brian x Torsten Stenzel x Nazzereene - Weighed Down
05. Re:Locate & Simon Anthony - Skylight
06. Gabriel & Dresden - Kinetic Cinema
07. Activa pres. Solar Movement - Eclipse
08. The Space Brothers & DT8 Project featuring Andrea Britton - Never Felt This Good
09. Elysian - Now We Are Free
10. Torsten Stenzel featuring Mahe - Never Give Up
11. Talla 2XLC presents Zyrus 7 - 1998
12. Torsten Stenzel - Interstellar [Cornfield Chase] (York’s Back In Time Mix)
13. Wavetraxx vs. Jaron Inc. - Summerbreeze [PT. 1] (Wavetraxx Mix)
14. Torsten Stenzel featuring Grim Reaper - Sleepwalking
15. York - Farewell to the Moon (Torsten Stenzel Sunset Mix)
MIX CD 5: ZOYA
01. ZOYA - Crystal Cove
02. Nils Hoffmann & Kasbo featuring Vancouver Sleep Clinic - Running In A Dream
03. Paradoks - Flourish
04. ZOYA - Bright Star
05. Lumïsade - Orange Theme
06. Chicane featuring Moya Brennan - Saltwater (Kryder Remix)
07. Armin van Buuren & AVIRA vs Chicane - Offshore
08. Volaris - Tygar
09. Above & Beyond - Sun In Your Eyes
10. The Thrillseekers - In These Arms (Gundamea Remix)
11. ZOYA - Eternity
12. ZOYA - Gravity
13. ZOYA - Riverside
14. Cosmic Gate & Diana Miro - Nothing to Hide
15. TMPST & Dee Ocean - How You Feel
MIX CD 6: Markus Schulz
01. Chicane - Sunstroke (DC Symphonic Rehearsal Mix)
02. Late Night Alumni - Empty Streets (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise 20 Remix)
03. Giuseppe Ottaviani & Ferry Corsten - Magenta (Milkwish Remix)
04. Markus Schulz presents Dakota - Stereo 11AM
05. Eelke Kleijn - Lately
06. Siskin - Fly Away (Hel:sløwed Remix - In Search of Sunrise 20 Revision)
07. Airwave - When The Sun Comes Back (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Reconstruction)
08. Stereo Underground - The Last Dance
09. Estiva - Via Infinita (Marsh Remix)
10. Tim Besamusca - Prometheus
11. First State featuring Anita Kelsey - Falling (Dave Neven presents OCATA Remix)
12. Mees Salomé - Apart
13. Bart Claessen & Raz Nitzan pres. Who.Is - We.Are (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Remix)
14. Rex Mundi - Opera Of Northern Ocean (Mike EFEX presents Sun Theory Remix)
15. BLR - My Precious
16. The Quest - C Sharp (ALAT Remix)
17. Daxson - While We Wait (In Search of Sunrise 20 Revision)
18. The Thrillseekers presents Hydra - Affinity (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Reconstruction)
19. Markus Schulz & Emma Hewitt - Safe From Harm (William Schneider Remix)
20. Accadia - Into the Dawn (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Remix)
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