DJ Solitare @ Apsara 2023

DJ Solitare @ Apsara 2023

Author: DJ Solitare October 15, 2025 Duration: 2:01:01
A recording of the set that I played at the Apsara Festival in Hungary on Saturday August 12, 2023, from 630pm to 830pm. I was given a truly wonderful time slot leading into the final full night at the event, from full daylight at 630pm through to full darkness by the time my set ended at a bit after 830pm, enabling me to do a journey through various moods as the light shifted - one of my favourite things to do, as these transitions were among the most memorable parts of my experiences on the dance floor in the 90s. Things had been super high-energy throughout each day, and I thought it important to provide a bit of breathing space, so I took the risk of starting things a bit more slowly for a gear change in the lead-up to the evening; this led to about half of the dancers leaving for a while, but those who stuck around went through a meandering journey through a range of vibes as well as different speeds - from 130 bpm up to 148 at times, ending at a full-power 140. I had hoped to play Etnica's Screaming Butterfly just before things got dark, so I observed the shift in light in the previous evenings and fortunately was able to time it just right during the set ... and because the artist after me was a bit delayed setting up, I got to put on the Pleiadians epic classic Maia, which ended up blowing the lid off the party and making for an incredibly ecstatic climax to the set. I delayed uploading this recording as there are a few unreleased numbers on here and now that one major one has been issued it was easier to consider sharing the set; I additionally opted to make an edit in one of the most exceptional rarities - unfortunately it's become a norm for folks to rip rare tracks off of online mixes and play them out - so for the purposes of home listening, the extended 'desk mix' of Slinky Wizard's Lunar Juice is about half of its full length and has a couple of fades. The rest of the journey is exactly as it was played ... including one challenging transition where the track's 'drift' made precise mixing impossible - very retro DAT-style! I had a terrific time playing the set and I'm very pleased with the full journey, and I hope you will enjoy it.

For those who feel the original pulse of psychedelic trance, Goa Trance Formation offers a deep and authentic journey. Hosted by DJ Solitare, whose real name is Mark Ainley, this podcast is built on a foundation that spans decades. Mark isn't just a selector; he's a classically-trained musician who maintains a parallel career in the classical industry, bringing a unique ear for composition and structure to the electronic realm. His history is part of the scene's fabric, with active involvement since 1994. Each episode represents his dual allegiance to pioneering labels: the Italian retro-focused DAT Universe and Tsuyoshi Suzuki's seminal Matsuri Digital. What you'll hear is a deliberate fusion, a mixing style that respectfully bridges the genre's formative, organic sounds with the clarity and drive of contemporary productions. This isn't a random playlist, but a curated narrative-a "formation" in both a musical and almost geological sense, layering the old with the new to create something timeless. Listening to this podcast feels like accessing a living archive, where the spirit of Goa is not a relic but a continuously evolving conversation. Expect seamless mixes where classic melodies meet modern basslines, all guided by an insider's perspective on where the sound has been and where it's intuitively heading next. The result is a cohesive, hour-long experience that honors the roots while firmly facing the future, perfect for long drives, focused work, or late-night headphone sessions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 24

Goa Trance Formation
Podcast Episodes
DJ Solitare on Trancendance October 28 2018 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:18
A guest appearance on citr.ca's Trancendance program, in which I speak with host DJ Smiley Mike about my recent experience playing in Belgium, as well as general discussions about the scene, such as DJ set length, the im…
DJ Solitare - Goa Trance Formation (Trance History Vol. 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:07
A spoken introduction to my own introduction to psychedelic trance in Tokyo in 1994, the second of several podcasts that will explore the underground scene as it was evolving at the time and my experiences at this format…
DJ Solitare - Goa Trance Formation (Trance History Vol. 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
A spoken introduction to my own introduction to psychedelic trance in Tokyo in 1994, the first of several podcasts that will explore the underground scene as it was evolving at the time and my experiences at this formati…