Inside Latin America: The future of trance - Part II

Inside Latin America: The future of trance - Part II

13 August, 2008 | 5.37PM

• Written by: Alicia Music Group
• Filed under: Music News: latin america, santiago nino, vandit

Following the first part of “Inside Latin America: The future of trance,” it’s now time to unveil if Latin American DJs can really succeed and continue to produce the kind of music they’re used to do when their work requires them to go abroad to really become successful, outside of the continent.

Some used to say that new big trance names on the rise, such as Santiago Niño (the first Latin American artist on Paul van Dyk’s Vandit label), DC Project, Heatbeat, and Noizzer (one-half of Da Groovemakers), should leave Latin America and broaden their horizons by going to Europe, where it’s said “they’ll succeed.”

Is it true?

To most, Latin America is becoming a continent where talent is in abundance, events are more fun and more enjoyable than anywhere else, and “creativity” is a major word.

So, why don’t European DJs head to South and Central America, like most super events and superclub DJs are starting to?

A few years ago, Creamfields - one of the world’s largest dance music events - was only held in the UK, Spain, Turkey, Russia, Czech Republic, and other European countries.

Today, the event is heading to cities like Punta Del Este (Uruguay), Lima (Peru), and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

While “difficult to explain,” the main reason for this is because some big names feel comfortable experiencing different vibes, something they’re not used to seeing while touring the jolly-old England, Ibiza, and Germany itself.

Still, Creamfields is not the only super event that takes place in South America with trance and progressive DJs as headliners.

Argentina’s South American Music Conference (SAMC) is known for including in its line-up none other than trance hero Ferry Corsten, Adam Beyer, and hundreds of other DJs who play for crowds numbering 40,000 and more.

Indeed, the SAMC can be named as one of the world’s premier dance music events.

Colombia’s Summer Dance Festival, annually held on Cartagena’s beaches, is known for being one of South America’s biggest dance events with more than 10,000 people in attendance.

Last year, we saw trance mastermind Armin van Buuren headlining the festival’s line-up along with some other world-league DJs that only come to South America once or twice a year, like Sander van Doorn, Deep Dish, Cedric Gervais, Axwell, Mark Knight, Antoine Clamaran, ATB, Judge Jules, Dirty South, Donald Glaude, the list goes on and on.

A pretty impressive line-up for being, as commonly thought, a South American dance event.

Every year after the festival ends on January 5th, its promoters and other industry people (TV, magazines, radio) interview the DJs, who at the time sat it was one of their best appearances ever.

The interviews can be summarized into one sentence:

“South America isn’t the continent with the biggest events and the biggest venues, but it’s the place with the kind of people you won’t find anywhere else. The vibe is excellent, the people are nice, and there are countries where a return is a must.”

Latin America, in fact, is where some of today’s top DJs have came from.

Do Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, Gui Boratto, and Mario Ochoa sound you familiar?

Despite piracy, small venues, and the small percentage of growth in regards to the people who acquire music in a legal, secure way, there are artists who are spreading this Latin American vibe all over the world with their music, their infectious, innovative sound.

Guatemala’s Santiago Niño [pictured], one of today’s most respected trance producers in Latin America, is supported by the likes of Marco V, Paul van Dyk, Markus Schulz, and Martin Roth, amongst others.

While Santiago is on the Vandit imprint, Dub Tech, Istmo, Relic, Diego Gomez and Fernan “Boom” Cardona (DC Project) are on Overline, Neuroscience, Alicia, and Unlove.

That clearly shows that it doesn’t matter whether trance musicians release their music on international labels or not, as they’ll always be listened to.

As a comment in the last entry regarding Latin American trance, a Beatportal member said about DC Project: “Honestly, these guys could save trance.”

Could it be that Latin America is the place for these people to become the world’s most requested trance DJs, considering how the scene has evolved during the last couple of years?

It’s a fact that trance isn’t dead in Latin America. So, if they go to Europe, where “trance is off the radar,” what will be next for their music?

Leave your thoughts below.

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• Check out Santiago Niño on Beatport