Black Hole Recordings New Releases – Week 32

Behind every great record is a turning point. This week, those turning points come in many forms: childhood inspirations becoming dream collaborations, friendships finally turning into music, timeless classics finding new voices, and everyday experiences transformed into songs that resonate far beyond the studio.

For more than 25 years, ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ has soundtracked late-night drives, sunrise memories, and countless journeys in between. Continuing Markus Schulz's vision for the iconic series, ‘The Awakening’ opens the first chapter of ISOS 22, blending progressive house, melodic techno, and cinematic electronica into a mix that gradually unfolds from twilight to sunrise.

As the first of three mixes arriving throughout the summer, ‘The Awakenings’ features music from Above & Beyond, Joris Voorn, VER, Matt Fax, Solarstone, Paul Oakenfold, and Markus Schulz himself. For now, only the tracklist for Mix 1 has been revealed, with Nirvana and Nocturnal Voyage still waiting to be unveiled later this season.

One of the greatest privileges of guiding ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ is that each year brings another opportunity to tell a fresh musical story. The destination is always ‘Sunrise’, but the road that leads there is never the same.

- Markus Schulz

Long before Mark Sherry became one of hard trance's defining names, BT was already reshaping the way he thought about electronic music. His groundbreaking productions throughout the '90s and early 2000s helped steer Sherry away from hardcore and toward trance, making this remix of the beloved 2003 classic “Force Of Gravity” far more than another studio project. Preserving the emotion of the original while introducing driving hard trance energy, pounding rhythms, and soaring melodies, Sherry approaches the remix with the respect of someone who changed his own musical path.

BT's early releases completely changed the way I thought about making music and played a huge part in my transition from hardcore into trance. Being asked to remix one of my all-time favorite producers is an absolute bucket-list moment, and I'm incredibly honoured to have been given the opportunity.

- Mark Sherry

After nearly two decades of friendship, Daniel Wanrooy and Virtual Vault finally join forces on a collaboration that feels well worth the wait. Taking Chopin's Nocturne as its foundation, the pair allow its instantly recognizable piano melody to guide the record from beginning to end, gradually surrounding it with delicate trance textures, subtle percussion, and carefully layered synth work. Rather than turning a classical masterpiece into a club record, they let the original composition set the pace, introducing each electronic element with restraint so the emotion behind every piano phrase remains intact. It's a thoughtful interpretation that respects the source material while gently revealing how naturally classical music and trance can complement one another.

Looking up at the night sky has a way of making everyday worries feel a little smaller, and that's exactly the atmosphere Sunlounger and Okafuwa bottle into “Children of the Cosmos”. Wrapped in Roger Shah's unmistakable Balearic sound, the track pairs Okafuwa's stunning vocals, subtle choir harmonies, and gentle melodic techno touches, creating a soundtrack for those rare occasions when the world suddenly feels a little bigger.

Children of the Cosmos was born from the idea that we all need moments of perspective. It's easy to get lost in everyday life and forget who we are, but while we're only a small part of the universe, we're also an essential part of it. I hope this song encourages people to reconnect with what truly matters and remember that we're all connected.

- Roger Shah (Sunlounger)

Not every summer anthem is built for the dancefloor. With “(You Make Every Day Feel Like) Sunday”, JES captures the simple joy of slowing down and appreciating the people and experiences that make life feel lighter. Wrapped in radiant pop production, warm melodies, and her unmistakable vocals, the song evokes letting the sun hit your face, driving down an open road, and realizing there's nowhere else you need to be.

As the opening chapter of her upcoming album Dreamer, “(You Make Every Day Feel Like) Sunday” sets the emotional tone for what's to come, reminding us that sometimes the greatest sense of freedom isn't found in chasing something new, but in finally feeling at home with where you already are.

Inspired by his three young children, Phillip Castle channels a deeply personal emotion into “Your Echo”, a progressive trance production where delicate piano passages, gradually unfolding melodies, and moments of stillness remain just as important as its uplifting peaks. Even as the energy builds, the track never loses its sense of warmth and quiet reflection.

Your Echo is designed to capture the feeling of appreciating life's most meaningful moments before they become memories. It's a reminder to slow down, be present, and embrace the people and experiences that shape us while we still have them.

- Phillip Castle

House music has always had a way of bringing people together, and “Can't Miss” is proof of that. Created by Viktorlöf and Cam Miles without ever meeting in person, the track channels that unlikely partnership into an infectious blend of driving tech house, bouncy grooves, playful vocals, and just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek energy.

Rather than chasing constant drops, “Can't Miss” lets its groove do the talking. Built around hypnotic repetition and a lively club pulse, it's the kind of record where you lose yourself on a packed dancefloor, surrounded by people who may be strangers but somehow feel like old friends.

With “Goodness”, H4lo steps away from darker club moods to embrace a brighter side of his sound. Built around rolling grooves, infectious diva-style vocals, and feel-good energy, the track channels the uplifting spirit of classic house while feeling completely at home in today's clubs.

Rather than chasing dramatic drops, “Goodness” lets its groove unfold naturally, capturing the warmth, positivity, and togetherness that first made H4lo fall in love with house music.

Goodness was inspired by everything I love about classic house music, that feeling when a great groove lifts the whole room. I wanted to capture the warmth, positivity, and togetherness of those late-night dancefloors while giving it a fresh, modern edge. At its heart, it's simply about letting go, feeling the music, and finding a little freedom in the moment.

- H4lo