Who is Motorcycle? Motorcycle Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like Motorcycle
Motorcycle is an American progressive house group formed in 2003, made up of producers Dave Dresden, Josh Gabriel (together known as Gabriel & Dresden), and vocalist JES. The trio burst onto the global dance scene with their debut single “As the Rush Comes,” a track that topped the US Billboard Dance Radio Airplay chart and became one of the most-played dance radio songs of 2004. 4D4M has been spinning trance and progressive house since the early days, and Motorcycle occupies a special spot in that history. Whether you came up through raves, radio, or Spotify rabbit holes, chances are Adam has dropped “As the Rush Comes” at some point and watched the room go off.
Who Is Motorcycle?
Motorcycle is the collaborative project of three US-based electronic music figures: Dave Dresden, Josh Gabriel, and JES (Jes Brieden). Dresden and Gabriel were already operating as Gabriel & Dresden, a well-regarded progressive house duo out of San Francisco, when they teamed up with Swedish-American singer-songwriter JES to create Motorcycle in 2003.
The name Motorcycle was a deliberate creative pivot. Gabriel & Dresden had established themselves in club culture, but Motorcycle was built around a single idea, a single vibe, and ultimately a single defining track. They spent a weekend together in San Francisco writing and recording “As the Rush Comes,” finishing the core of the track in a single day. That kind of spontaneous energy is all over the final product.
“As the Rush Comes” dropped in January 2004 on Ultra Music and immediately took off. It topped the US Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart in March 2004 and ended the year as the most-played song on US dance radio. Internationally, it hit number 11 in the UK and cracked the top 20 in Finland, Flanders, and the Netherlands. In 2003, it was voted Tune of the Year on Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance radio show, which is about as big a co-sign as you can get in the trance world.
Following the massive success of “As the Rush Comes,” Motorcycle released “Around You” later in 2004, continuing the moody, progressive sound that defined the project. The group also put out “Phoenix” in 2005, adding another chapter to a brief but impactful run. While Motorcycle as a project has not been continuously active, the legacy of their work continues to resonate. Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel have kept busy through Gabriel & Dresden, while JES has maintained a prolific solo career in the trance and electronic space.
The trio represents a moment in time when progressive house and trance were crossing over into mainstream consciousness without losing their emotional core. Motorcycle did not need a sprawling catalog to make their mark. Three releases and one era-defining anthem were enough.
Motorcycle’s Sound Explained
Motorcycle sits at the intersection of progressive house and trance, with a sound that leans heavily into atmosphere and emotion. Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel brought their Gabriel & Dresden signature to the project, which means crisp, layered production with extended builds, sweeping synth lines, and a careful balance between energy and restraint.
JES’s vocals are central to the Motorcycle sound. Her voice has an ethereal, slightly haunting quality that fits perfectly over the wide, oceanic arrangements Dresden and Gabriel build. On “As the Rush Comes,” the lyrics are sparse but intentional, written from a deeply personal place about letting go completely and feeling alive in a moment. That emotional specificity is part of why the track still connects.
Production-wise, Motorcycle tracks move slowly and intentionally. The builds are long. The drops pay off. There’s a cinematic quality to how their music unfolds, which is why so many DJs and remix producers have returned to “As the Rush Comes” over and over. Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Dash Berlin, and Cristoph have all put their stamp on it. Each remix interprets the core emotional idea differently, which speaks to how much DNA is packed into the original.
If you’re into EDM subgenres and want to understand where progressive trance came from, Motorcycle is a textbook case. Their music represents the moment when dance music was at its most emotionally ambitious, before the genre splintered into harder, more aggressive directions.
Top Tracks by Motorcycle
As The Rush Comes (Original Mix)
The one that started it all. Released in January 2004, this track topped the US Billboard Dance Radio chart and became the most-played dance song of the year. JES’s vocals ride over a progressive house arrangement that still sounds timeless. If you know one Motorcycle track, it’s this one.
As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Chillout Mix)
A stripped-back, downtempo version of the original that trades club energy for late-night intimacy. The production opens up, the tempo drops, and JES sounds even more vulnerable than usual. This is the version you put on at 3am when the party winds down and everyone is still feeling it.
As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Remix)
One of the most beloved alternate versions, this remix layers lush string arrangements over the track’s foundation. It pushes the runtime past ten minutes and builds with a patience that most producers wouldn’t dare attempt. Truly epic in the original sense of the word.
As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Mix)
A companion piece to the Sweeping Strings Remix, this version captures the same orchestral ambition in a slightly different arrangement. The strings swell in different places and the overall feel shifts enough to justify having both in y4D4M’s collection.
As The Rush Comes (Armin van Buuren’s Universal Religion Remix)
Armin’s remix adds harder trance energy to the original framework. The tempo pushes up, the synths get more aggressive, and the track takes on a festival-floor weight that makes sense in the context of his A State of Trance universe. A definitive version for trance purists.
As The Rush Comes (Dash Berlin Remix)
Dash Berlin brings a melodic trance approach that leans into the track’s emotional core while tightening the arrangement. At under four minutes, it’s the most radio-ready of the remixes and a solid introduction for listeners coming from the progressive trance side.
As The Rush Comes (Above & Beyond Dynaglide Remix)
Above & Beyond were at the peak of their influence when they took on “As the Rush Comes,” and it shows. The Dynaglide Remix has a dreamy, floating quality that fits the Anjunabeats aesthetic perfectly. This version has aged particularly well.
As The Rush Comes (Cristoph Remix)
A more recent remix that brings a darker, deeper techno-influenced approach to the classic. Cristoph strips back the sentimentality and focuses on groove and tension, which results in a genuinely different listening experience. Good proof that the original is versatile enough to survive radical reinterpretation.
As the Rush Comes (Bryan Milton & Rayan Myers Remix)
A fresh take from two rising producers who find new melodic angles in a well-worn track. This version has a more modern progressive house sensibility and works well in contemporary DJ sets. Solid evidence that Motorcycle’s music keeps inspiring new producers.
As The Rush Comes (Markus Schulz Coldharbour Remix)
Markus Schulz takes the longest approach of any remixer, letting the track breathe across nearly twelve minutes. The Coldharbour mix is intense and hypnotic, designed for dark rooms and long sets. If you want to understand what trance DJs mean when they talk about journey, start here.
Around You
Motorcycle’s second single from 2004 continues in the progressive house tradition of “As the Rush Comes” but with a slightly more reserved energy. JES’s vocals are front and center again, and the production from Gabriel & Dresden gives the track that same sense of forward motion and emotional depth.
Phoenix
Released in 2005, Phoenix was Motorcycle’s third and final single. It has a warmer, more hopeful feel than the debut, with production that nods toward the mid-2000s trance sound that was dominating festivals at the time. JES brings her usual emotional precision to the vocal performance.
As The Rush Comes (Space Motion Extended Mix)
Space Motion puts a modern progressive house spin on the classic, adding rolling basslines and a cleaner, more polished production style. This one works well in 2020s DJ sets where the original might feel dated to newer audiences. Smart reimagining of a timeless idea.
As The Rush Comes (Space Motion Remix)
A companion to Space Motion’s Extended Mix, this version plays differently in the mix with a tighter edit and different breakdown structure. Collectors and DJs who want options will appreciate having both, as they hit differently depending on the context of a set.
As The Rush Comes (Genix Extended Mix)
Genix brings a driving, modern trance approach that bridges the classic sound of Motorcycle’s era with contemporary production techniques. The extended arrangement gives DJs room to work with, and the energy builds to a satisfying peak. A good entry point for listeners who came up on newer trance.
Why 4D4M Vibes With Motorcycle
There’s a specific kind of connection that happens with certain records. Not nostalgia exactly, but something more like recognition. Hearing “As the Rush Comes” for the first time felt like the music already knew something about how the night was going to end. That’s a rare thing.
What draws 4D4M to Motorcycle is the confidence in the emotional clarity of their music. A lot of dance music hedges its bets, keeps things vague, builds for the sake of building. Motorcycle committed. “As the Rush Comes” has a specific feeling it’s going for and it hits that feeling every single time. That kind of precision in production is something worth studying and respecting.
The fact that one track spawned so many genuinely great remixes also says something. Artists like Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, and Markus Schulz don’t invest their best work in tracks that don’t deserve it. The remix culture around “As the Rush Comes” is its own testament to how much DNA the original contains. Each remixer found something different to pull out of it, which means the raw material is extraordinary.
From a DJ perspective, Motorcycle tracks are versatile. The original works in almost any progressive or trance set. The chillout mix is perfect for back-room moments. The Sweeping Strings version is a closer. You can build entire movements within a set around just this one artist’s catalog. That’s genuinely rare for a group with only three singles to their name.
The most influential EDM artists often don’t have the biggest catalogs. What they have is the right music at the right moment, executed at a level that makes it permanent. Motorcycle did that. Three singles, one iconic track, and a legacy that keeps getting remixed because it keeps being worth remixing. That’s the move. That’s the standard 4D4M aims for with every record.
Also, JES as a vocalist is massively underrated in the broader conversation about electronic dance music’s evolution. She’s not just a feature, she’s a co-writer and a genuine creative force. The way she inhabits the emotional space of a track, without oversinging or undercutting the production, is a skill that most vocalists in this space don’t have. Motorcycle wouldn’t be Motorcycle without her.
Motorcycle Discography
| Release | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| As the Rush Comes (Single) | 2004 | Debut single on Ultra Music. #1 US Billboard Dance Radio. UK #11. |
| As the Rush Comes (Collected, Pt. 1) | 2004 | Compilation of remixes including Dash Berlin and Markus Schulz versions. |
| As the Rush Comes (Collected, Pt. 2) | 2021 | Second collection of remixes featuring Space Motion and Genix. |
| Around You (Single) | 2004 | Second single from the Motorcycle project, continuing progressive house direction. |
| Phoenix (Single) | 2005 | Third and final single. Warmer tone, more classic trance production feel. |
| As the Rush Comes (Cristoph Remix) | 2019 | Single release. Darker, techno-influenced reinterpretation by Cristoph. |
| As the Rush Comes (Bryan Milton & Rayan Myers Remix) | 2022 | Modern progressive house take on the classic by rising producers. |
| As the Rush Comes (Space Motion Remixes) | 2021 | Extended Mix and Remix by Space Motion, released on Memento Records. |
Live & Touring
Motorcycle as a live entity was always tied to the broader careers of Dave Dresden, Josh Gabriel, and JES. Because Gabriel & Dresden were actively touring during the same period Motorcycle was releasing music, the trio appeared at festivals and club nights throughout 2004 and 2005. Their live presence was embedded in the global trance and progressive house circuit that was thriving during that era, with events like A State of Trance, Godskitchen, and Cream providing the stages.
“As the Rush Comes” became a fixture in DJ sets worldwide, even for artists who were not directly affiliated with Motorcycle. Armin van Buuren, who voted it Tune of the Year on his radio show, played it constantly. This indirect touring presence, through the hands of other DJs, extended the reach of the track far beyond what the group itself could have achieved.
Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel continued to tour heavily as Gabriel & Dresden through the 2000s and into the 2010s, and the Motorcycle material was part of that live story. JES has maintained her own touring schedule, performing at electronic music events globally, and frequently revisits the Motorcycle era in her sets and performances.
The sustained interest in remixing “As the Rush Comes” has kept the track alive in club culture in a way that functions almost like an ongoing tour. Every time a new remix drops, the track enters rotation again. The Space Motion and Genix remixes in the early 2020s gave DJs fresh versions to play in modern festival contexts, meaning Motorcycle’s music has never really left the floor.
FAQ
Who are the members of Motorcycle?
Motorcycle is made up of three members: Dave Dresden, Josh Gabriel, and JES (Jes Brieden). Dresden and Gabriel are best known as Gabriel & Dresden, a San Francisco-based progressive house duo. JES is a Swedish-American singer-songwriter who has had an extensive solo career in the trance and electronic music space. The three came together in 2003 specifically to create Motorcycle and released music between 2004 and 2005.
What is Motorcycle’s most famous song?
Motorcycle’s most famous song is “As the Rush Comes,” released in January 2004 on Ultra Music. The track topped the US Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart in March 2004 and ended the year as the most-played song on US dance radio. It also hit number 11 in the UK and reached the top 20 in several European countries. The track was voted Tune of the Year on Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance radio show in 2003.
What genre is Motorcycle?
Motorcycle is a progressive house group with strong trance influences. Their sound sits at the intersection of both genres, combining the long, atmospheric builds and cinematic arrangements of progressive house with the emotional intensity and melodic synth work associated with trance. Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel’s background as Gabriel & Dresden was in progressive house, and JES brought a trance-adjacent vocal sensibility that pushed the project into that crossover space.
Is Motorcycle still active?
Motorcycle as a group has not released new original material since the mid-2000s. However, the legacy of their music remains active through ongoing remix releases. New remixes of “As the Rush Comes” continue to appear from producers like Space Motion, Genix, and Cristoph, with releases as recent as 2021 and 2022. Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel still operate as Gabriel & Dresden, and JES maintains an active solo career in electronic music.
Where is Motorcycle from?
Motorcycle is based in the United States. Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel worked out of San Francisco, California, where much of the recording for “As the Rush Comes” took place. JES (Jes Brieden) was born in Sweden but has spent significant time in the US. The group is generally categorized as a US act, and their debut single was recorded in San Francisco according to the credits on the original release.
How many albums did Motorcycle release?
Motorcycle did not release a full-length studio album. Their discography consists of three singles: “As the Rush Comes” (2004), “Around You” (2004), and “Phoenix” (2005). Despite the limited output, the impact of those three releases, particularly “As the Rush Comes,” has been substantial enough to cement their place in electronic music history. The original track has been remixed by over a dozen major artists across two decades.
What artists sound like Motorcycle?
If you like Motorcycle, you’ll likely connect with Gabriel & Dresden (the production duo within Motorcycle), Above & Beyond, Armin van Buuren, Dash Berlin, and Markus Schulz. All of these artists operate in the progressive house and trance crossover space and have either remixed Motorcycle or share similar production sensibilities. For the vocal element, JES’s solo catalog is an obvious starting point. Artists like BT, Paul Oakenfold, and Delerium also occupy a similar emotional and sonic territory.
Listen to Motorcycle
Motorcycle Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Motorcycle on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | Motorcycle on SoundCloud |
| Discogs | Motorcycle on Discogs |
