Hi mate, here are my thoughts on intros. I do actually want to write some trance which has a kick from the start.
- Right, my thoughts (and ramblings) on why i love intros
Basically I just love music which takes the listener on a total journey. Im not saying I myself achieve it in the way i want with tracks i make, (but its my aim). The tracks i like the most from the scene for example in the 90s did this. Thing is, they weren’t all Trance like it is today as such. But certainly took ones imagination as well as their more ‘inner self’ on an expansive journey. You have to start gentle on your inner self as it has to be vulnerable, and trust, in order to be flexible enough to travel…. No one likes to wake up by being punched in the head. Gentle is best.
I think an intro introduces that journey gently and prepares the listener for what is to come. Like starting a day.
They can encourage a range off feelings for a listener if there are different atmospheric types, or different amounts of different sounds going on at either the same or different times. But there has to be a relation to them. After an intro if a producer can pull off putting a hard beat to aspects of that gentle start whilst adding other parts of the ingredients in ones journey then it ( if done right) makes a whole and varied picture throughout. A bit like a book. (As there becomes a lengthy narrative guiding your exploration)
Intro’s are also like a license to create whatever atmosphere you want, a backdrop without any heavy sounds ( like big kick or hats etc) taking over the frequency’s of sounds used. The atmosphere is clearer in a sense, and down to the listener to interpret and engage as they wish through whatever emotions are brought about from within them.
When a painter paints a picture, they begin with just making a few shapes, shades and colours. It then develops and takes shape and when completed can be a completely varied collage of related atmospheres.
I must admit, all that is not usually much help to a DJ when selecting records though apart from for the 1st track he plays ‘unless when the beat does start, the track picks up in an appropriate way’
(This track’s earlier versions actually all started with a kick and the beat and melody grew along side it, but just the above version doesn’t)