Marie Vaunt on Reimagining Binary Finary's Trance Classic '1998' for Paul Oakenfold's Mission Underground

Some records transcend generations. They outlive the era that created them, becoming touchstones that every new wave of producers eventually encounters. Binary Finary's 1998 is one of those rare records. Its soaring melody helped define trance's golden years, becoming an anthem that still fills dancefloors nearly three decades later. Reimagining a record with that kind of legacy is a daunting prospect for any producer.

For Marie Vaunt, however, it represented something else entirely. "It was a massive honour to take on a track with that kind of history," she says. "I actually owned the original on vinyl back in the day and had it on heavy rotation in my sets, so it is a record that holds a lot of personal meaning for me."

Her reinterpretation forms one of the flagship singles from Paul Oakenfold's Mission Underground album, a project built around the idea of celebrating trance's golden era while presenting it through a contemporary lens. Rather than treating the classics as museum pieces, Oakenfold's vision embraces the genre's original spirit of innovation by inviting a new generation of artists to push those records into unfamiliar territory.

For Marie, that meant resisting the temptation to simply modernise the production. "My main focus was honouring and respecting the foundation of the track by keeping that iconic emotional vibe intact, while bringing it fully into my world with modern production, my signature acid techno elements, and a dark driving edge."

That balancing act sits at the heart of her version. The emotional lift that made 1998 an enduring classic remains firmly intact, but it now arrives wrapped in pounding drums, hypnotic acid lines and the relentless momentum that has become synonymous with Marie's productions. "It is all about balance and understanding the core emotional DNA of the original so you can build around it without overpowering it," she explains. "The original euphoria and melody provide the heart of the track, while my faster, more energetic style give it that modern acid techno energy. When you respect the original harmony, those two worlds do not clash at all. They actually elevate each other and create a really dynamic contrast between light and dark on the dancefloor."

That approach reflects the career Marie has built over recent years. Raised in Japan before relocating to Los Angeles, she has developed a distinctive sound that combines driving acid techno rhythms with dark atmospheres and ethereal vocals. Releases on labels including Drumcode, Fe Chrome, Kneaded Pains, Codex and Autektone, together with support from artists such as Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Hardwell and ASY*S, have established her as one of the most recognisable names operating at the intersection of techno's harder edge and melodic emotion.

It also made her an inspired choice for Mission Underground.

Rather than treating the project as a conventional remix commission, Marie approached it as something much more ambitious. "I definitely saw it as a reinterpretation," she says. "I wanted to keep the soul and iconic melody of the original intact, but I basically built a brand new 2026 production around it. It feels like a bridge between the golden era of trance and the modern acid techno sound. I didn't want to just touch up the original stems, I wanted to rebuild the context around that classic hook so it hits hard by today's standards."

That freedom came directly from Oakenfold himself. "He gave me complete creative trust, which was amazing," she recalls. "I wasn't given a rigid checklist or strict instructions, so I made my own judgment call to build a reimagined 2026 version around the original core. When a pioneer like Paul brings you onboard, you know he wants your specific identity on the track, so I felt very confident leaning heavily into my raw acid sound."

Having spent more than three decades shaping dance music, Oakenfold could easily have become protective over material so closely associated with trance history. Instead, Marie found exactly the opposite. "What stood out to me most was just how open-minded and trusting he is with the artists he collaborates with. Sometimes when people reach legendary status, they get very protective over how things are done, but Paul really empowers you to bring your own vision to the table. Seeing that level of humility and trust from someone who literally helped shape the foundation of global dance music was incredible."

His confidence never wavered throughout the process. "He was actually very hands-off," she says. "He let me run with my instincts from the start, and when he heard the direction I was taking, he loved it. Having a legend give your work that kind of quiet stamp of approval without feeling the need to micro-manage is honestly the best kind of feedback you can get."

The collaboration also arrives at a fascinating moment for electronic music. As techno increasingly embraces melody and emotion once associated primarily with trance, the boundaries between genres have become less relevant than they once were. Marie believes the resurgence of classic trance isn't driven by nostalgia alone. "I feel like classic trance has always had a special place in dance music, and unlike some other trends, it never truly left. It just catches fire in new ways over time. Techno and trance have always shared a lot of common ground when it comes to driving rhythms and emotional builds. Today's audiences are looking for that combination of raw physical energy and genuine emotional release, so blending the two feels completely natural right now."

That evolution is perhaps best illustrated by the way different generations now experience 1998. "Older heads hear that track and instantly get hit with nostalgia and memories of early rave culture, whereas younger clubbers are often experiencing those iconic chords for the very first time as a high-octane acid techno moment," she says. "But what I love is that at 3am in a dark room or on a festival main stage, those two perspectives merge into the exact same energy. The melody is so strong that it transcends generations."

Her own musical identity reflects a similarly broad perspective. Growing up in Japan instilled an appreciation for precision and restraint before Los Angeles encouraged a bigger, more cinematic approach. "Growing up in Japan gave me a deep discipline and a focus on precision, especially when it comes to restraint and leaving space for key elements to breathe. Relocating to LA brought out a much bolder, more cinematic and ambitious side of my production. I take that Japanese aesthetic discipline and pair it with the raw, high-impact drive of the US underground, which gives my records a balance of precision and power."

Working across labels spanning techno, harder electronic music and festival sounds also meant translating a trance classic into acid techno never felt like stepping outside her comfort zone. "Working with different labels and genres teaches you that good music is universal. A solid hook, a great arrangement, and a heavy kick drum will resonate regardless of what specific box people try to put it in. Because I don't confine myself to one narrow lane, stepping into a legendary trance record and translating it into acid techno felt like a very natural extension of what I already do."

That philosophy aligns perfectly with the broader ambition behind Mission Underground. "Mission Underground is all about bridging the roots of the scene with the forward-thinking sounds of today," she says. "My collaboration fits right into that vision by taking one of the most iconic trance records in history and giving it a modern, high-energy acid techno treatment. It represents that exact intersection between legacy and evolution and I'm so proud of how it came out."

The project has also changed the way she thinks about classic records. "It reinforced for me that you shouldn't be afraid of the legacy of a classic track," she reflects. "It can be intimidating to touch a holy grail record, but as long as you treat the original melody with respect and bring your true, uncompromised sound to the table, people will feel that authenticity."

Perhaps the biggest lesson, though, came from watching one of dance music's longest-standing innovators continue to embrace new ideas. "The biggest lesson is that true longevity comes from staying curious, staying open and trusting the next wave of artists," she says. "Paul has been at the top of the game for decades because he never stopped looking forward and empowering new sounds. Seeing how much creative freedom he gave me showed me that real leaders in music don't guard the gates, they build bridges for the future."

In many ways, that's exactly what her version of 1998 achieves. It doesn't attempt to replace a classic or simply recreate its past. Instead, it opens a new chapter, connecting one of trance's defining moments with a contemporary acid techno sound that feels equally at home in today's underground. It's a reminder that the strongest dance records don't belong to one era; they evolve alongside every generation willing to reinterpret them.

Paul Oakenfold – Mission Underground is out now on Perfecto Records. Grab it on Beatport HERE.