From: Rotterdam, Netherlands
DJ style: “The sound that is back! Trance.”
Best known for: “My hair and my smile.”
Fave tune of 2018: “Eon ‘Knocker’.”
Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2018: “DIM3NSION.”

Part of the original wave of trance megastars, Ferry Corsten has stuck to his beloved genre, even while many of his contemporaries have jumped ship in favour of more lucrative styles of dance music. This loyalty has served the Dutch DJ and producer well, and in 2018, with the style resurgent, he’s continued to advance the trance cause. His new project UNITY found him working with famous advocates and newer names alike, from Paul Oakenfold and Jordan Suckley to DIM3NSION and Saad Ayub. “I aim to enrich the trance scene through collaborations with as many trance artists as possible and so bring an exciting sound,” Corsten tells DJ Mag.

Part of the money earned from UNITY will go to VH1’s Save The Music charitable foundation, which aims to help restore music programmes in US schools.

Corsten was no slouch in the DJ department either this year, playing everywhere from Beta in the States to Womb, Japan, Creamfields and Ministry Of Sound in the UK and at Mysteryland in The Netherlands. Clearly, the trance faithful are along for the ride.

Words: BEN MURPHY