Art of Trance: Biography, Discography and More | EDM Encyclopedia
Introduction
Simon Paul Berry operates under the moniker Art of Trance, one of several aliases utilized by the English DJ and producer throughout a career spanning from 1993 to the present. Beyond his primary pseudonym, Berry has also released material as Poltergeist and Vicious Circles, while contributing to the trance groups Clanger, Conscious, and Union Jack. His involvement with these multiple projects demonstrates prolific output across various facets of electronic music production.
In addition to his production work, Berry established himself as a label operator by founding Platipus Records, based in London. The imprint initially released only his own tracks before broadening to feature other artists. This dual role as both creator and label head gave Berry direct influence over his release schedule and catalog presentation. Distribution of his recordings evolved with changing technology: vinyl and compact disc formats characterized early releases, with a shift to digital-only distribution taking effect in 2011.
Berry’s remix activities have paralleled his original productions since 1993. The combination of artist, label founder, and remixer roles positioned him within multiple dimensions of the trance music landscape. His London base and label operations connected him directly to the United Kingdom’s electronic music infrastructure throughout a period of significant change in how dance music was produced, distributed, and consumed. Platipus Records served as a consistent outlet for his work, ensuring a steady flow of releases.
The multiple aliases allowed Berry to segment his creative output. While Art of Trance became his most recognized project, the Poltergeist and Vicious Circles monikers provided alternative avenues for exploration. His collaborative work through Clanger, Conscious, and Union Jack added further dimension to his discography, demonstrating an ability to work within group dynamics as effectively as in solo production contexts.
Genre and Style
Operating within the trance spectrum, Art of Trance constructs electronic compositions that prioritize melodic development and textural layering. His productions frequently incorporate acid-influenced synthesizer programming, with TB-303 style resonance and filter sweeps appearing as recurring sonic elements. These acid textures interact with pad-driven atmospheres, creating contrast between sharp, squelching leads and broader harmonic foundations.
The electronic EDM sound
Rhythmically, Berry’s work under this alias favors steady four-on-the-floor patterns with percussion elements that build incrementally rather than shift abruptly. Hi-hat patterns and auxiliary percussion introduce variations that maintain momentum across extended track lengths. The emphasis falls on hypnotic repetition, where small changes create a sense of forward motion without disrupting the groove’s foundation.
His collaborative work with Union Jack and Clanger reveals a different dimension of his production approach. Multiple EDM producers contributing to a single project generates dense arrangements where interlocking melodic lines and counterrhythms create complexity. The solo Art of Trance material allows for more spacious compositions where individual elements receive room to develop over time.
Throughout his career, Berry has maintained a focus on trance music rather than branching into unrelated genres. The Art of Trance recordings emphasize melodic content as a primary compositional element, with synthesizer lines carrying the emotional weight of each piece. Bass lines provide harmonic support while kick drums anchor the rhythmic structure. The overall effect prioritizes atmosphere and gradual evolution over sudden dynamic shifts.
The use of multiple aliases enables Berry to compartmentalize different production styles. While Art of Trance focuses on melodic trance, the Poltergeist and Vicious Circles projects explore different tempos and moods. This separation allows for stylistic experimentation without confusing audience expectations attached to a specific name.
Key Releases
The Art of Trance discography documents nearly two decades of activity, with confirmed releases spanning from 1993 to 2011.
- Deeper Than Deep
- The Colours EP
- The Horn
- Wildlife on One
- Voice of Earth
Discography Highlights
EPs:
Deeper Than Deep arrived in 1993 as one of the first releases under the alias, establishing the project during a formative period for trance music in the United Kingdom. The Colours EP followed later the same year, adding further material during this productive initial phase. Both releases emerged on Platipus Records, the label Berry founded to support his own work. After an extended gap in EP output, The Horn surfaced in 2011 as a digital-only release, reflecting the transition away from physical media that Berry implemented that year.
Albums:
Wildlife on One appeared in 1996, marking the project’s first full-length statement. The album consolidated the sonic direction established through the earlier EP releases. Voice of Earth followed in 1999, presenting new material that reflected three additional years of dj production experience and evolving studio techniques.
The 2001 compilation Platipus: A Beginners Guide assembled material from Berry’s label, serving as an introduction to the imprint’s broader catalog. Tales Of The Unexpected arrived in 2005 with original compositions. Retrospective concluded the confirmed album releases in 2009, looking back across the project’s recorded history.
From the first confirmed release in 1993 to the most recent in 2011, the catalog maintains a consistent label home through Platipus Records. The eighteen-year span of activity encompasses significant shifts in both production technology and distribution methods, with Berry adapting his approach accordingly. The transition from physical formats to digital-only releases in 2011 coincided with the most recent confirmed output, marking a practical evolution in how the music reached listeners.
Famous Tracks
Simon Paul Berry began releasing music under the Art of Trance moniker in 1993, debuting with two EPs: Deeper Than Deep and The Colours EP. These early releases appeared on vinyl, the standard format for electronic music distribution at the time, and established his presence in the British trance scene during a period of rapid growth for the genre.
His first full-length album, Wildlife on One, arrived in 1996. This was followed three years later by Voice of Earth (1999), showcasing a progression in Berry’s production approach across the late 1990s. Both albums were distributed on vinyl and compact disc, reflecting the physical media landscape of the era.
The 2000s saw several compilation releases. Platipus: A Beginners Guide (2001) served as an introduction to the label’s catalog, while Tales Of The Unexpected (2005) gathered various EDM tracks from the vault. Retrospective (2009) looked back over more than fifteen years of output. In 2011, Berry released The Horn EP, marking a shift as the label moved to digital-only distribution from that year forward.
Live Performances
As a DJ, Art of Trance has performed at clubs and festivals across Britain and internationally. Berry’s sets often blend his own productions with tracks from the Platipus Records catalog, giving audiences a direct connection to the label’s specific sound. His background as both a producer and label head informs his DJ selections, allowing him to draw from a deep personal archive when building sets.
Notable Shows
Berry’s live presence extends beyond the Art of Trance name. He has also performed and released material under the aliases Poltergeist and Vicious Circles, each project exploring different angles within trance and electronic music. These alternate identities allowed him to test production ideas without confining himself to a single stylistic box.
In addition to his solo work, Berry has been an active member of several trance groups: Clanger, Conscious, and Union Jack. These collaborative projects brought multiple producers together, creating opportunities for live performances that differed from standard DJ sets. Working within group dynamics offered Berry a chance to build tracks in real time with other musicians, a contrast to the solitary nature of studio production. His groups became recognized names within the British trance circuit, adding another dimension to his performance history beyond his individual alias.
Why They Matter
Art of Trance matters because Simon Paul Berry did not simply participate in the British trance scene: he built infrastructure for it. In 1993, he founded Platipus Records in London, a label that initially released only his own tracks before expanding to feature other artists. This label became a fixture in trance music, providing a consistent platform for a specific strand of the genre throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
Impact on electronic artists
Berry’s decision to launch his own label rather than rely exclusively on established imprints gave him complete creative and financial control over his output. Every confirmed release, from Deeper Than Deep to The Horn, passed through his own hands as both artist and label operator. This dual role is relatively uncommon in electronic music, where artists typically separate production from business operations.
His longevity also stands out. Active from 1993 through at least 2011, Berry navigated multiple shifts in trance music’s popularity and production technology. The transition from vinyl and compact disc to digital-only distribution in 2011 required adjustments in how labels operate and earn revenue. Platipus survived that transition, continuing to release music when many independent labels of its era closed.
Through his aliases, group memberships, and label leadership, Berry occupied several roles simultaneously: producer, remixer, DJ, label founder, and collaborator. That range of activity, sustained across nearly two decades, makes Art of Trance a practical case study in how independent electronic music careers can be structured and maintained.
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