For me, ‘Lifesigns’ by DJ Rodd-Y-Ler (written & produced by Oliver Sasse & Nils Ruzicka) has always been a ‘trance classic’ in my book, but it’s one of those tracks that has always floated around the perimeter. Most will know it as soon as they hear it, but might not be able to name it. But, in my opinion, it’s right up there with countless other trance classics from that era! There was nothing else around that sounded anything like it back then. It was so unique, so futuristic. Eerie but uplifting, trancey & emotive… but absolutely pounding. I couldn’t get enough of it!
It was released in 1997 on Blue Banana Recordings as part of ‘The Art Work EP’ - and I was lucky enough to get a vinyl promo of it around that time. For about 3 years solid I played it in every single set at my residencies at the time (The Aquarium, Rosie O’Gradys, The Boulie and The Metro).. and I basically watched it become an absolutely huge anthem everywhere that I played it!
Roll on 30 years and I just knew that it was time for me to do my own remix of it! It’s actually been sitting in my ‘remix idea’ folder for about 10 years now lol. I’ve given it the exact same ‘respectful’ treatment that I gave my remix of Westbam ‘Wizards Of the Sonic’, so I’ve kept it close to the original but I’ve painstakingly recreated around 95% of the parts/elements to modernise it and make it all sound bang up-to-date.
Big thanks to Oliver and Nils for letting me remix it, and also license it to Outburst Records for this special release, it means a lot to me!
I’ve genuinely shed tears when I’ve played this over the years, it’s just one of those stunning tracks that only comes along once or twice a year!
Release date: 28.08.26
