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Trance Review: Oliver Smith - Footprints (Club Mixes) out now on Anjunabeats
Oliver Smith has established himself as a driving force in electronic music and performed at some of the biggest clubs and festivals in the world. With a wide array of releases and multiple aliases under his belt, the London-based DJ and producer is part of the fabric of Anjunabeats, being both the first signing to the record label and the only artist (other than label bosses Above & Beyond) to have featured on all 16 of the label's beloved 'Volume' compilations.
Now, Oliver Smith releases a package of club mixes from his debut studio album, 'Footprints'. The new EP includes a floorfilling rework of 'Love Is A Feeling', as well as head-turning remixes of 'Wash Away' and 'Breathe' from Phillip Castle and Shawn Mitiska.
Canadian DJ and producer Phillip Castle has seen strong support from the likes of Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk, Markus Schulz, Kyau & Albert and more. Hailing from Toronto, Phillip is known for his heavy basslines and euphoric melodies, with a catalogue spanning labels like Enhanced, Future Sound Of Egypt and Find Your Harmony.
Shawn Mitiska is a Denver-based DJ and producer renowned for his melodic sensibilities and emotive productions. Also releasing under the alias 'Mitiska', Shawn is a three time International Dance Music Awards (IDMA) nominated artist with a career spanning over two decades. In 2009, as one third of Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren, he released the trance anthem 'Man On The Run’ with Dash Berlin, which has since been streamed millions of times worldwide.
Released last year, ‘Footprints’ takes listeners on a captivating journey through Oliver’s evolution as an artist. The timeless and hotly anticipated debut album is one of the top requested Anjunabeats releases to date, and is the culmination of a songwriting process that began several years ago.
“I’ve been releasing music for years, but my own album always took a backseat,” Oliver says. “When I finally started the project I had so many ideas and was unsure where to begin. I decided to embrace the process and let the destination reveal itself. This inspired ‘Footprints’, the title for the album, as even the tracks that didn’t make it left an imprint, and were a necessary part of the journey.”
There’s echoes of all eras of Oliver’s sound on ‘Footprints’, from addictive bassline-driven tracks like ‘Legacy’ and ‘Be The One', to stylings of his Anjunadeep alias Meramek in the house-leaning ‘Love Is A Feeling’, and the soaring trance arps in ‘Don't Hold Back’ and ‘Breathe’. The album also sees Oliver collaborate with an eclectic cast of vocalists and songwriters, including Tailor, FARLEY, Benjamin Roustaing and Susie Ledge.
“I wanted to go beyond club music and tell real stories, so I collaborated with some incredible singers and songwriters who brought a whole new dimension to the project,” Oliver says. “I put a lot of thought into making sure every track had something special and truly deserved its place on the album. I think people will recognise the thread that connects all my releases, and hopefully, they’ll enjoy the new directions I’ve explored as well.”
‘Footprints’ also follows a string of hits in recent years that have cemented Oliver’s position at the forefront of dance music. Fan favourites like ‘Lovingly’, ‘Warehouse’ and ‘Be Alone’ rapidly ascended the Beatport charts and added to a discography that’s amassed over 20 million streams to date. In 2018, Oliver mixed the ‘Anjunabeats Worldwide 08’ compilation, which included ten of his own productions and reached the #1 spot on the iTunes dance chart in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Buy/Stream 'Footprints (Club Mixes)': https://anjunabeats.ffm.to/osfp.oyd
Dimitris Kechagias Review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Oliver Smith - Footprints (Club Mixes) [/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]
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Oliver Smith - Footprints (Club Mixes) [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Oliver Smith’s “Footprints (Club Mixes)” EP is a masterclass in modern trance production, exemplifying technical precision and emotive resonance across every aspect of its creation. From the opening bars of “Love Is A Feeling” in its 130 BPM rework, the track demonstrates exceptional rhythm, groove, and drive, with a pulsating low-end that propels the listener forward while maintaining a consistent BPM for seamless integration into club and festival sets. The melodic hooks and harmonic layers are meticulously crafted, intertwining lush pads with euphoric leads that evoke a strong sense of atmosphere and immersion, while the transitions, drops, and build-ups are executed with surgical precision, ensuring energy flow and momentum remain unbroken throughout. The sound design and production quality are of the highest caliber, with Oliver Smith and his collaborators Phillip Castle and Shawn Mitiska employing a rich palette of spatial effects, stereo imaging, and dynamic range management to achieve both clarity and power. Castle’s 128 BPM euphoric proglifting remix showcases an impeccable loudness balance and spatial design, while Mitiska’s 130 BPM reimagining delivers a potent club weapon with inventive use of effects, cue points, and loop potential that maximize crowd reaction potential. Each track maintains originality in arrangement and structure, reflecting a cohesive artistic identity and storytelling arc that will resonate deeply with both long-time trance listeners and new audiences alike. From a scientific perspective, research in music therapy indicates that rhythmic and harmonically rich electronic dance music can have positive effects on mood, mental health, and cognitive performance (Thoma et al., 2013; Koelsch, 2010). The dynamic energy and emotional resonance of “Footprints (Club Mixes)” make it particularly suitable for fitness and wellness classes, where sustained BPM and immersive harmonic layers support flow states, physical endurance, and stress reduction. Studies suggest that music with consistent rhythmic patterns and euphoric tonal progressions can enhance endorphin release and elevate perceived effort in exercise settings (Karageorghis & Priest, 2012), which aligns perfectly with the uplifting and motivational qualities of Oliver Smith’s tracks. By integrating high-level sound design, cohesive storytelling, and scientifically beneficial rhythmic structures, this release exemplifies not just a peak in trance production, but also a soundtrack that positively impacts human mental and physical well-being. The EP’s perfect balance of technical mastery and emotional depth ensures high catchiness, replay value, and unparalleled club and festival suitability. #PureGold Loveit [/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:
Thoma, M. V., Ryf, S., Mohiyeddini, C., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). Emotion regulation through listening to music in everyday situations. Cognition & Emotion, 27(3), 534-543.
Koelsch, S. (2010). Towards a neural basis of music-evoked emotions. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 14(3), 131-137.
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44-66.
Additional info:
