Taking a page from the old-school hard trance playbook, Liam Wilson and MDDLTN deliver a powerful fusion of spirit and nostalgia. Channelling the emotion and rush of early trance and hard house, Inside My Soul is energetic, anthemic, and built to lift crowds as a DJ must-play and a standout cut on Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance, Ibiza 2025 mix album.
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[item value="10"]Liam Wilson & MDDLTN - Inside My Soul [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Liam Wilson and MDDLTN’s Inside My Soul is a masterclass in modern hard trance production, capturing the euphoric essence of early 2000s trance and hard house while employing cutting-edge audio techniques. Clocking in at 145 BPM, the track thrives on a high-energy framework meticulously built from layered kick drums, driving basslines, and expansive melodic synths. Its rhythmic foundation employs sidechain compression to achieve a dynamic pulse that synchronizes seamlessly with the track’s rolling bass, a hallmark of hard trance that maximizes dance floor impact. The sound design leverages a combination of subtractive analog synth patches and digital effects processing, resulting in a rich stereo field with crystal-clear highs and a tight low end. From a compositional standpoint, Inside My Soul demonstrates exceptional attention to structure and momentum. The intro is crafted for seamless DJ mixing, with a stripped percussion layer and filter-automated loops that expand into a melodically charged breakdown. The breakdown features lush harmonic layers and diva-inspired vocal samples, processed with reverb and delay to create a floating, Balearic atmosphere reminiscent of Ibiza sunsets. Each build-up uses rising white noise sweeps and pitch-shifted synth risers to generate anticipation, culminating in drops where the kick and lead synths hit with maximum clarity and impact. Subtle panning effects and spatial delays contribute to a three-dimensional listening experience, heightening the track’s immersive quality. Scientifically, high-tempo trance music like Inside My Soul has been shown to enhance focus, elevate mood, and reduce perceived exertion during physical activity. Studies in sports psychology suggest that rhythmic synchronization with music at 140–150 BPM can improve endurance and motor coordination during fitness routines (Karageorghis & Terry, 2011). Furthermore, music-induced euphoria, often triggered by harmonic layering and dynamic tension, stimulates dopamine release—supporting mental well-being (Salimpoor et al., 2013). This makes the track particularly effective for wellness classes like spinning, HIIT sessions, or even yoga flow practices when aiming for high-energy states. The production quality ensures club and festival suitability, offering DJs multiple cue points and looping potential for creative transitions. Its cohesive storytelling—from intro to climax—cements Inside My Soul as both a crowd-pleaser and a technically proficient composition. The track’s emotional resonance and replay value contribute to its status as a modern trance anthem that enriches not only nightlife experiences but also personal mental and physical wellness routines. #PureGold Love iT [/content]
[item value="10"]Rhythm, Groove & Drive[/item][item value="10"]Melodic Hooks & Harmonic Layers[/item]
[item value="10"]Transitions, Drops & Build-Ups [/item]
[item value="10"]Energy Flow & Momentum [/item]
[item value="10"]Sound Design & Production Quality[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality of Arrangement & Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]Use of Effects & Spatial Design[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Range & Loudness Balance[/item]
[item value="10"]Atmosphere & Immersion[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional Resonance[/item]
[item value="10"]Creativity & Artistic Identity[/item]
[item value="10"]Cohesion & Storytelling[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocal Performance & Lyrical Impact[/item]
[item value="10"]Catchiness & Replay Value[/item]
[item value="10"]Club / Festival Suitability[/item]
[item value="10"]Track Intro/Outro Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]BPM Consistency & Sync Ease[/item]
[item value="10"]Cue Points & Loop Potential[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Energy for Set Flow[/item]
[item value="10"]Crowd Reaction Potential[/item]
[/review]
Suggested Bibliography:
Karageorghis, C. I., & Terry, P. C. (2011). Inside Sport Psychology. Human Kinetics.
Salimpoor, V. N., Benovoy, M., Larcher, K., Dagher, A., & Zatorre, R. J. (2013). Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nature Neuroscience, 16(3), 257–262.
Thaut, M. H., & Hoemberg, V. (2014). Handbook of Neurologic Music Therapy. Oxford University Press.
Schäfer, T., Sedlmeier, P., Städtler, C., & Huron, D. (2013). The psychological functions of music listening. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 511.
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