Wavetraxx - Million Miles To Go [Pure Trance NEON]

[Julian Del Agranda]

Cant believe this wasn’t posted yet. After three (!) crappy Armin topics in a matter of hours, I had to post some actual good trance.

So here’s ’Million Miles To Go’ by Wavetraxx, out now on Pure Trance NEON.

The track is modern but a sophisticated piece with respect to the genre. Top production.

 

[Trance4Ever]

I Pre-orderd this release instantly based on the preview like a week ago. Sad anthem like huge melody from Wavetraxx my fav track so far other then hard trance stuff. Reminds me of Dutch trance a bit


One of my favourites by track by Wavetraxx is called Traveller. Always hits the spot for me, I adore this track so much kinda a hybrid between standard + hard trance (perfect mashup of these two styles).

 

[Archon]

Well, now that I invested 3.5 minutes (7 now that I hit replay) to listen to this, I'll invest a few more to comment on it.

Obviously, it's an attempt at mid-00s sad-anthemic trance, with sad piano melodies and huge arpeggiated melodies. And it works, it has potential! Maybe it's not my thing anymore, but I can still recognize there is something here. And it will be liked, no doubt about it.

That said, I think the execution leaves a bit to be desired. I'll elaborate in a few bullet points what I think limited this track's potential:

• Those buildup snare rolls add a touch of cheapness to it. I don't think that's the way to build up to a climax of a track like this. Snare rolls are too obvious, and they just don't work, period. The entire transition from breakdown to climax doesn't produce any emotion. It's just there, it's a tool rather than an expression.
• The kick + bassline combo I don't think works well in the climax, when combined with the main melody. Something sounds slightly off there. The rolling bassline pattern is also pretty obvious, bit psyish because the notes are so short.
• The drums/percussion are pretty obvious as well, no creativity. Yeah just pick any drum loop from the Vengeance pack or whatever and it will fit, but nothing more than that. I have a feeling it was just slapped on because it does the job - and left like that.

I appreciate most of the work was spent on the melodic ideas - which is great! - but that's still not the whole package. At least not for me. If you've got the melodic ideas nailed completely, why not invest a bit more time to bring everything else to the same level?

 

[Trance4Ever]

Well, now that I invested 3.5 minutes (7 now that I hit replay) to listen to this, I'll invest a few more to comment on it.

Obviously, it's an attempt at mid-00s sad-anthemic trance, with sad piano melodies and huge arpeggiated melodies. And it works, it has potential! Maybe it's not my thing anymore, but I can still recognize there is something here. And it will be liked, no doubt about it.

That said, I think the execution leaves a bit to be desired. I'll elaborate in a few bullet points what I think limited this track's potential:

• Those buildup snare rolls add a touch of cheapness to it. I don't think that's the way to build up to a climax of a track like this. Snare rolls are too obvious, and they just don't work, period. The entire transition from breakdown to climax doesn't produce any emotion. It's just there, it's a tool rather than an expression.
• The kick + bassline combo I don't think works well in the climax, when combined with the main melody. Something sounds slightly off there. The rolling bassline pattern is also pretty obvious, bit psyish because the notes are so short.
• The drums/percussion are pretty obvious as well, no creativity. Yeah just pick any drum loop from the Vengeance pack or whatever and it will fit, but nothing more than that. I have a feeling it was just slapped on because it does the job - and left like that.

I appreciate most of the work was spent on the melodic ideas - which is great! - but that's still not the whole package. At least not for me. If you've got the melodic ideas nailed completely, why not invest a bit more time to bring everything else to the same level?

Surely that's AR managers job to request the artist to re tune/re shape the track before agreeing to release it?

I feel this artist did really well with the melo and piano so kuddos should be granted and rest is a dispute for the label as Wavetraxx doesn't release this type of stuff normally?

 

[Archon]

Surely that's AR managers job to request the artist to re tune/re shape the track before agreeing to release it?

I feel this artist did really well with the melo and piano so kuddos should be granted and rest is a dispute for the label as Wavetraxx doesn't release this type of stuff normally?

I am not sure I understand the purpose of this comment - care to elaborate?

 

[Z Dobrej Woli]

Well… melody is really similar to Armin van Buuren - Down To Love and A.R.D.I. - Premonition… too much if you ask me.

 

[wavetraxx]

Hello together

I came across this forum by chance and read your discussion.

Compared to many other artists, my music doesn't sound as modern. I somehow got stuck in the year 2000 - 2005. I really still use some old Vengeance sample libraries (I really need to replace them).

My focus is really always on the melody and I don't care much about the drum loops. But I think the kick/bass combo works quite well.

Music is always a matter of taste. I know my strengths and my weaknesses. I make music purely for pleasure and earn almost nothing.

I have no A&R managers, no sound engineers, no producers who deliver my songs in perfect Armin van Buuren quality. My songs really aren't perfect.

But there is soul in every one of my songs. I associate an emotion with every melody. If I'm sad, my melodies become melancholic, if I'm happy, my songs become cheerful.

And when I listen to the Beatport charts or other charts, I often realise that some kind of template has been used and everything sounds almost the same. When I compare the productions that were released in the past, I still remember the melodies today. There are music productions a dime a dozen, but very few of them stick in my mind. At least that's the case for me. Maybe I'm just getting old.

Thank you for listening to my music. I really appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Chris, wavetraxx.com

 

[proxi]

You're a trance hero of mine, so it's automatically interesting to read your thoughts. I like this track, and many others of yours. I especially like ones that are that epic that they lead into a second breakdown and drop. Bit of a personal thing for me.

This release has got feeling and freshness, yet retains your signature sound. I think Das Boot will be my favourite Wavetraxx tune though, forever

 

[Jetflag]

I really still use some old Vengeance sample libraries (I really need to replace them)

Don't, if you must: Add to them.

 

[Z Dobrej Woli]

@wavetraxx don’t get me wrong, this single is just not for me, but - for example - I enjoyed most of your recent „Second Wave” album You’re a living legend anyway (I even found one of your old remixes on vinyl during last summer - that was pretty unexpected )

Good luck with next releases

 

[wavetraxx]

@proxi There are a few more similar songs just waiting to be finished. There are a few classic trance productions that sound similar. My problem is rather that I have more ideas than time to realise them. I need to get faster at producing.

@Jetflag I just bought the kick samples from Sean Tyas the other day, that should be enough for a few years now.

@Z Dobrej Woli I always try out lots of different things. The album is a good example. There are songs that would never find their way to Beatport. These are just songs that I think are cool and HTE has given me the freedom to put whatever I want on the album. I think the track Bubble-Gum is great, for example, but nobody will probably ever play it. I always say, be creative, be brave, do something that others don't do because they can't or don't dare. It would be much much much easier if I just produced the standard uplifting trance. The label search would be much easier because that's exactly the sound the labels want and can sell. But at some point I told myself that I don't have to produce what others expect from me, but what I personally enjoy and have fun with.

 

[Julian Del Agranda]

kick samples from Sean Tyas the other day

I think your production sounds great. No need for modern “thumping” kicks, all other producers already use those. Keep it up!

 

[Jetflag]

I second @Julian Del Agranda 's comment @wavetraxx

That being said, looking forward to any future productions from you even if they include Tyas kicks

 

[Halon]

Is it the same Wavetraxx who made hard trance in the early 2000s?

 

[proxi]

Is it the same Wavetraxx who made hard trance in the early 2000s?

The very same.

 

[Electronlyman]

This is different than what I'm used to from Wavetraxx. Not aggressive, but purely melancholic, classical sound. Feels similar like Airbase from back in his best days.

Nice production indeed!
I didn't feel it at first, but it grew on me!

Btw also loved
DJ Centaury & Wavetraxx - Lazarus 2020 (Wavetraxx Extended Uplifting Mix)
Proper goosebumps Hard Trance like back in the day!

@wavetraxx for me you'll always be a legend, for creating Das Boot (Original Hardmix) !! It's one of my favourite tracks ever, so much emotion in this one, it's priceless really.
A really special tune.

 

[wavetraxx]

@Electronlyman Thank you very much.
@Halon Jup, thats me.
@Jetflag haha
@Julian Del Agranda

My next release will be a very old school happy trance track on Drizzly Eclipse called "Smile". After that comes some harder stuff. And then a few more very trancey productions, possibly with vocals. Let's see.

I still have no idea exactly what Wavetraxx is. Sometimes it's trance, sometimes it's acid, sometimes it's hard trance. Somehow depending on my mood and creativity.

If anyone is interested in producing music, I show on Patreon how I arranged the song Million miles to go, which sounds / synts I used. The video is freely available on Patreon.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/arragement-track-98557188?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

 

[Halon]

@wavetraxx Awesome! Great that you joined Trancefix. You are a legend man Twan from musikxpress should do an interview with you at some point

https://www.youtube.com/@muzikxpress

 

[mrwright]

Absolutely love this track, great work @wavetraxx and massive congratulations for having it featured on PT10

 

[Trance4Ever]

This track just reached a new level of sadness for me, its even sadder than Healswille sanctuary & Ancient world collab between Dj Shah & Signum. Almost on par with Fire & Ice - Para Siempre level of sadness.