In the ever-evolving landscape of dance music, artists frequently restrict their creative expression to a single genre. However, achieving legendary status necessitates the courage to transcend boundaries. This is precisely what iconic electronic artist Ferry Corsten accomplishes with his sixth studio album, Connect.
Connect seamlessly fuses a diverse array of styles, embodying the enduring legacy of a timeless force in electronic music.
Released now, Connect represents the culmination of over three decades of groundbreaking contributions to electronic dance music that have profoundly shaped the global music scene. Renowned for his numerous chart-topping hits, chart-topping remixes, and genre-defining tracks under his own name and various aliases, Ferry continues to push the boundaries of dance music. Connect is an expansive journey through his career-spanning exploration of genres, including trance, house, progressive, and techno, all united by his signature sound and masterful emotional storytelling.
The album features a roster of contemporary artists, including Marsh, 22Bullets, Silva City (Alan Fitzpatrick & Reset Robot), the rising trance group SUPERSTRINGS, and more. Connect effortlessly weaves the sounds of nostalgia with the sounds of the present, each track contributing to a larger vision that reflects Ferry’s belief in the limitless power of music to connect individuals, communities, and the world around us. By skillfully balancing nostalgia with cutting-edge innovation, Connect exemplifies the evolution of electronic music in both artistry and technology, featuring AI-generated vocals that showcase the transformative potential of technology in the realm of music creation.
On the album, Ferry Corsten said: "Connect is a journey through the different phases of my career and showcases my evolution as a music producer. While I may be best known for trance, I've explored a range of genres over the years—house, progressive, even techno. This album is a culmination of those styles, woven together across tracks in dynamic layers and moments. If you’ve followed my music, I hope you’ll recognize these influences and hear the depth and variety within this sound."
Each track on Connect resonates with Ferry Corsten’s unmistakable trance roots, yet each establishes its own distinctive trajectory. The album’s title track, “Connect,” serves as both its lead single and conceptual centerpiece, encapsulating Ferry’s unwavering passion for music that transcends conventional boundaries. Seamlessly integrating techno, house, and trance, the track embodies the album’s central themes of unity and diversity.
A thread of innovation permeates the album through the incorporation of AI-generated vocals, infusing Ferry’s sound with a novel and futuristic dimension. This creative leap underscores his unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries. The lyrics celebrate music’s universal capacity to unite, making Connect an apt flagship for the project.
Expanding upon this core, progressive tracks such as “Belong To You” and “Fulfillment” exude a sleek and driving energy, while “Stay Aware” builds upon this sound with a profoundly emotional undertone. “Total Eclipse” and “Just Breathe” venture into breakbeat territory, introducing a mysterious and dynamic element. “Just Breathe” stands out as a high-energy exploration of trance and breakbeat, skillfully blending lush, atmospheric pads with a propulsive rhythm that captivates listeners.
Nostalgia permeates classic trance-inspired tracks such as “Yes Man,” “Chaos” (a collaboration with Silva City, the alias of techno luminaries Alan Fitzpatrick and Reset Robot), and “Remember,” crafted with the rising group SUPERSTRINGS.
“Chain Reaction,” true to its name, underwent months of iterative revisions, ultimately emerging as one of the album’s standout moments. A quintessential Ferry Corsten composition, it harmoniously combines melodic richness, powerful dynamics, and uplifting vocals, culminating in a crescendo that encapsulates his mastery of emotional storytelling through sound.
For enthusiasts of the golden era of dance music, “Wish” transports listeners back to the 1990s with a nostalgic yet contemporary perspective. The album commences with an emotionally resonant track, “Back To Life,” a collaborative effort between British DJ and deep house producer Tom Westy. Featuring poignant vocals by Lauren L’aimant, the song conveys the fortitude required to overcome challenges within a relationship, offering a glimmer of hope for second chances. This theme of emotional resilience persists throughout the album, culminating in “Where The Mountains Grow,” a captivating collaboration with Chris Howard that delivers powerful melodies and profound emotional intensity.
“Connect” stands as a testament to Ferry Corsten’s artistic prowess, skillfully weaving together progressive, house, breakbeat, and trance elements into a cohesive and captivating musical journey.
“Connect” is now available for purchase on Flashover Recordings through Armada Music.
Tracklist:
1. Ferry Corsten & Tom Westy - Back To Life
2. Ferry Corsten - Connect
3. Ferry Corsten feat. Chris Howard - Where The Mountains Grow
4. Ferry Corsten feat. MERYLL - Chain Reaction
5. Ferry Corsten & SUPERSTRINGS - Remember
6. Ferry Corsten & Marsh - Fulfilment
7. Ferry Corsten feat. Diandra Faye - Stay Awake
8. Ferry Corsten feat. Sierra Volt - Happy Hour
9. Ferry Corsten feat. Chris Howard - Total Eclipse
10. Ferry Corsten - Yes Man
11. Ferry Corsten - Just Breathe
12. Ferry Corsten - Wish
13. Ferry Corsten & Silva City - Chaos
14. Ferry Corsten & 22 Bullets feat. Couche - Belong To You
15. Ferry Corsten - Mind Trip
KEY POINTS
• Album Genre: Seamlessly fuses a diverse array of styles, including trance, house, progressive, and techno.
• Artist’s Background: Ferry Corsten is an iconic electronic artist with over three decades of groundbreaking contributions to electronic dance music.
• Album’s Theme: Connect reflects Ferry’s belief in the limitless power of music to connect individuals, communities, and the world around us.
• Album Concept: A journey through Ferry Corsten’s career, showcasing his evolution as a music producer and exploring various genres like trance, house, progressive, and techno.
• Title Track Significance: “Connect” serves as the lead single and central theme, representing unity and diversity through its seamless integration of different genres.
• Innovative Elements: AI-generated vocals add a futuristic dimension to the album, reflecting Ferry Corsten’s commitment to pushing musical boundaries.
• Album Theme: Emotional resilience and second chances in relationships.
• Standout Track: “Chain Reaction” is a quintessential Ferry Corsten composition with melodic richness, powerful dynamics, and uplifting vocals.
• Genre Fusion: “Connect” skillfully combines progressive, house, breakbeat, and trance elements.
Something to take away from Connect:
Ferry Corsten’s sixth studio album, “Connect,” blends various electronic music genres, showcasing his evolution as a producer. The album features collaborations with contemporary artists and incorporates AI-generated vocals, highlighting the fusion of nostalgia and innovation in electronic music. “Connect” is available for purchase on Flashover Recordings through Armada Music.
About Ferry Corsten
Hailing from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Ferry Corsten’s illustrious career is exemplified by a passion for music that began as a hobby and spiralled into a full-blown profession, as he continues to push the boundaries of trance music as much today as much as he did in his fledgling career. This is highlighted by his latest project UNITY, a concept launched in 2018 that will see Ferry collaborate with iconic trance acts throughout the year with the vision of uniting the Trance community for a bigger cause. Ferry has partnered with VH1’s Save The Music Foundation, an organisation formed to reinstate music programs for children, which has helped 2,100 schools to date.
Ferry's music is widely respected in every genre, from techno to house to trance and in 2022, he was recognized for his outstanding contributions to music by being knighted as an Officer in the Order of Oranje-Nassau by the Dutch King and Mayor of his hometown. With his motto "The Musical Journey is the Destination," Ferry Corsten's visionary attitude, approach, and contributions to the music industry have kept him at the top of his game and will continue to do so in the future.
The first of these collaborations came in the form of icon Paul Oakenfold, a track that Billboard hailed as the “perfect starting point for UNITY”, following up with collaborations with the likes of DIM3NSION, Jordan Suckley, Saad Ayub and most recently ‘We’re Not Going Home’ with Ilan Bluestone, with more high-profile UNITY collaborations due imminently moving into 2019. This project follows on from Ferry’s 2017 sci-fi concept album ‘Blueprint’, a full length for which Ferry worked with House Of Cards screenwriter David H. Miller to complete, and which includes narration from Amazing Spider-Man and Exorcism Of Emily Rose actor Campbell Scott. 2018 also saw Ferry place in DJ Mag’s Top 100 poll for the 8th consecutive year, rising 15 places and extending his ranking as the longest serving Dutch DJ in the poll, capping what was an impressive year.
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