A Fate Of Trance: Meet Zhiroc, The Producer And DJ Keeping The Uplifting Genre Alive
The state of trance in Singapore is in good hands with Zhiroc (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
If house music is a spiritual thing, where does trance hang on the vibe ladder? For local trance producer and DJ, Zhiroc, it levitates amidst the upper echelons of euphoria. Trance is one of those persistent genres that have stood the test of time, with an impenetrable durability that was forged in the ’90s. Zhiroc keeps its sentimental tradition alive, churning out trance that carries not a shy tinge, but a cornucopia of musical melodrama – as it should. He employs elements that will sound comfortably resonant and nostalgic amongst trance zealots, forging tracks with anthemic hooks, heavenly vocals, classical tones and hyperactive beats. While trance has weathered the waves of evolution like almost every other genre out there, it remains firm in its identity with devoted sticklers like Zhiroc at the wheel.
Zhiroc holds trance close to his heart as it is not only the sound of his youth, but the artform that would illuminate his path as an artiste. As a trained pianist, he naturally merged his wisdom of the orchestral idiosyncrasies of classical music with the luminous, big-moment splendour of trance. You’ll detect this influence in his expanding repertoire of original tracks, all bearing a polished, world-class patina that’ve won the attention of trance labels like Tecnomind Music (Spain), Abora Recordings (US) and Singapore’s own 7Colours Records. In fact, Zhiroc has played an instrumental role in fostering the local trance terrain alongside a blooming family of DJs, producers and promoters. While trance in Singapore might not be as prolific as its heyday in the 2000s, it remains a niche genre that’s amassed a loyal community. And it’s people like Zhiroc who are keeping the spirit of trance alive.
In this interview, Zhiroc elaborates on his growth as an electronic producer and selector, the state of trance in Singapore and why it will never perish. At least, not while he’s around.
Zhiroc has been producing since the early 2010s (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
Hi Zhiroc! Let’s kick off with your origin story. What first made you fall in love with trance music?
Hi Kevin! Thank you for having me. To be honest, I cannot exactly remember how it happened, but I came across “An Angel’s Love” by Alex M.O.R.P.H. featuring Sylvia Tosun on YouTube when I was in high school. Whenever I listen to that track, it always brings me into a state of trance. It feels like driving through the causeway on a quiet night. It is a truly emotional experience, which made me dig further into the genre and discovered orchestral trance with tracks such as “Escape” by Airbase, “The Love That Lasts The Longest, Part 1” by Sound Apparel and “Great Expectations” by Sergey Nevone & Simon O’Shine. Orchestral trance resonates deeply with me as I was trained classically in music, and it brought that emotional experience to a whole new level.
How long have you been DJ-ing, and what are some of your big personal wins over the years?
I began DJ-ing in 2017 during my first year in university when I joined SUTD Scratch and was selected to participate in the Sentosa DJ Spinoff a few months later. I was quite stoked and humbled as that was the first time I got to meet DJs outside my school and even compete with a couple of foreign DJs.
2018 was quite a life-changing year. I became the Vice-President of SUTD Scratch and headlined the Chingay 2018 after-party at the Marina Bay Float, spinning in the presence of our Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, who was the Guest-of-Honour. That was my first large scale event and undeniably the most memorable. I then ventured out of SUTD Scratch and made friends with NUS SYNQ where I got my first gig independently. It was an underground rave held at Piedra Negra where I got the opportunity to spin trance in front of a live audience for the first time which made me really happy. This rave also introduced me to Fish Winters, who roped me into Rainbow Productions and 7Colours Records. I then joined G.O.D. (Group of DJs) in 2019 and TRANCE4M in 2020.
“Fun fact: the reason I started producing was not because of trance.” (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
From 2018 till the start of COVID-19, I have DJ-ed in several venues such as Canvas Club, Get Juiced, D’Underground Club, 360 Lounge, Empire Sky Lounge, Clarke Quay Fountain and the list just goes on. The genres range from commercial EDM to underground genres such as trance, psy-trance, techno and hardstyle. My first headliner set was at 360 Lounge where I premiered my first psytrance EP. As for my final gig at Canvas held right before our government announced the closure of clubs due to COVID, I played a techno set. That night was on fire and the club was so packed. No one would expect that to be our final club night.
Another major trait of yours is that you dabble in production as well. Was it difficult to embark on this production journey? It's a gruelling labour of love, wouldn’t you say?
Yes, it is no doubt a gruelling labour of love haha. I did not feel that it was difficult to embark on this production journey as I was just having fun. Fun fact: the reason I started producing was not because of trance. I listen to a lot of rock, metal and hardcore music and always wanted to be in a live band. However, I did not know anyone playing in a band back then. I was looking randomly on YouTube and saw people making metal music without a band using their DAW. It was an eye-opener and that got me started on my first one-man band project where I released a metal track in 2013. I also made another hardcore track and self-released my first uplifting trance track in 2015, after learning some basics of electronic music from a classmate. To be frank, I was using FL Studio wrongly back then, not even knowing what an EQ is!
Zhiroc has spun at venues like Canvas, Piedra Negra, and D’Underground to name a few (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
I was enlisted into National Service two months after and I had not touched my DAW ever since. I did not expect to get back into music production in 2018. When I first got to know Fish Winters in the underground rave organiser chat group, he asked if anyone in the group was interested in music production. He says he knew a simple method to get started. That piqued my interest and that was how I met up with Fish at his home and joined Rainbow Productions and 7Colours Records. Fish introduced me to sampling and Sony Acid and this process helped me build a proper foundation for music production. With constant feedback from Fish, Joshen and Saibat, I released my first psytrance EP with 7Colours Records in 2019 as well as a couple of bootlegs.
However, I find that sampling was quite limiting. I decided to watch YouTube tutorials to learn how to properly use my initial choice of DAW, FL Studio, and finally got to understand how to properly use the effects rack and VSTs and finally produced my first trance track, “Pulsating Hearts” which was signed to Tecnomind Music in 2019. My track, “From You” with Rebecca Louise Burch on vocals, also got signed to Abora Recordings in 2020. I was over the moon as this orchestral label is one of my dream labels. I then became a mentee of Adam Ellis to improve my production skills.
As a trance producer, what are some of the key elements that you focus on – say synths, percussions or vocals – that might differ from other genres?
I think a trance synth is distinctively different from other genres. However, I would not say I focus on any particular element. I think for trance, the overall atmosphere that the different layers bring together is key. Trance has relatively more layers than commercial EDM genres and bringing the best out of all the layers is a challenge, musically as well as in the engineering aspect. However, I am quite particular about the breakdown for uplifting trance. I cannot stand a short and simple breakdown with just pads and no counter melody. It must be emotional.
I notice there’s often a flurry of melodies in your tracks, especially with piano-inclined sounds.
Yes, I am classically trained with a ABRSM Piano Grade 8 in both Practical and Theory. That explains my piano-inclined sounds, hoping that one day, I can actually use a piano while I DJ – just like Sefa.
“If you keep improving, you will get to that stage one day, and that is all that matters.” (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
What is your personal philosophy when creating a new track? Do you have rules that must never be broken?
I think in music, rules are meant to be broken, if it sounds good of course. My personal philosophy is to just enjoy the process and then, the product. I guess the track I produce must be something that I can feel and relate with; something that I can play on repeat even after several years down the road.
How do you feel you’ve grown as a producer? Do you feel that it gets easier or more pressurising, especially now that you’re getting more label recognition?
I have definitely grown more mature mentally. Waiting for a label response itself is already a test of patience haha. I think it gets both easier and pressurising. Easier, as I get to explore different genres more easily with the foundation I built up. Pressurising, as you want to improve and get better. However, one thing I tell myself is never to get pressurised from comparing yourself with others. Different people have different abilities; he may take one year and I may take five years to get to that stage. But it does not matter. If you keep improving, you will get to that stage one day, and that is all that matters.
As a musician, it’s natural to fall into creative slumps or pits of self-doubt. How do you get yourself out of that hole?
Listen to different genres of music and listen to music whenever you can. It helps a lot.
“Trance has its own crowd but there is always potential for other genres to join in, which can help grow the different communities.” (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
Now on to the bigger picture. What can you tell us about the trance community in Singapore? There seem to be a few collectives keeping the spirit of trance alive.
The Singapore trance community is very small. There are a few collectives such as TRANCE4M, Trance Republic, Rainbow Productions/7Colours Records, etc. The number of active producers can be counted with my two hands, and we are all a part of a few collectives. This means our collectives intertwine which makes us a close-knit community.
Why do you think Singaporean punters have a soft spot for trance?
Trance is a very emotional genre of EDM which I think is very underrated. I am biased, but I would say that trance melodies can be some of the most beautiful yet complex. Singaporeans who like it probably feel the emotions the genre brings.
On the flipside, you have others that might say that trance falls on the ‘cheesy’ side of dance music. What do you have to say about that?
To be frank, I cannot relate to this. But I do know that there are sub-genres of trance that trance purists call ‘cheesy’, such as those that incorporate big room house to be coined ‘trouse’ or vocal trance with ‘cheesy’ lyrics. I, myself, do not really care if it is ‘cheesy’ or not. If I vibe to it, it is good music. But if I do not vibe to it, I will still try to appreciate it. Different people have different tastes, and they can agree to disagree.
In your opinion, how does trance coexist with other electronic music genres out there in the scene?
Trance has its own crowd but there is always potential for other genres to join in, which can help grow the different communities. Just look at it in the aspect of DJ-ing. I think trance is a very friendly genre as it has a wide range of BPMs. Progressive and deep house transitions easily into progressive trance. Commercial EDM can transition into ‘trouse’. Once you go up to a higher BPM with tech-trance and hard trance or even psy-trance, you can transition into hard dance. Techno is even friendlier with trance. It can be in the opening (lower BPM) or closing (higher BPM) of a trance set.
“I want to spread the love of trance, and bring more people into a state of trance.” (Credit: Courtesy of Zhiroc)
And lastly, what do you hope to achieve or inspire in the trance scene as Zhiroc?
Personally, I just enjoy making music. It is a channel for me to destress as well as to channel my emotions. For the trance scene, I tend to play more unknown tracks in my sets so that people will be exposed to more underrated and unknown producers with hopes of taking away something new. As cliché as it sounds, I want to spread the love of trance, and bring more people into a state of trance. Trance can be life-changing.
Follow Zhiroc on his Facebook and Instagram page, and listen to his trance repertoire on Spotify.
