STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW

Australia’s Ministry of Sound have been kicking plenty of goals this year with a range of hugely successful releases, and this month they’re steering things in yet another new direction. They’re tackling the trance genre for the first time in Australia with the new Trance Nation double-CD, and they’ve recruited none other than Sony inthemix50 #1 Tydi to help put it together, alongside the UK’s Above & Beyond! Trance has soared in popularity in Australian clubs and festivals over the past 12 months, but even Tydi himself didn’t see this one coming.

“It was a surprise for me when they contacted me last year and said, how would you like to do your own CD?,” Tydi told ITM. However, he’s ensured us he had nothing less than complete control over what went into his mix. “It was really cool to have complete artistic control over it, and to see it come out under the Ministry brand is really exciting. The main thing for me was to be able to focus on the stuff that I’m playing in the clubs… it’s a good representation of where trance is at in Australia.”

For Tydi, it’ll come at the end of a massive 12 months that saw him snare the top spot the 2008 inthemix50 poll, jetting off to Holland to play mainstage at Trance Energy as well as releasing his debut artist album Look Closer (check out the ITM review). With his new mix placed alongside the Anjuabeats powerhouse trio that is Above & Beyond, Trance Nation is sure to be a massive release.

So will he retain the coveted #1 spot in this year’s Sony inthemix50 poll? “There’s no telling how it’s gonna turn out this year. My prediction is as good as yours. ITM’s Angus Paterson talks to Tydi about building a trance nation.

Trance Nation, mixed by Tydi and Above & Beyond, is out now through Ministry of Sound and Universal. Catch Tydi on tour:

Jul 31 – Brisbane, Family
Aug 1 – Melbourne, Chasers
Aug 7 – Maitland, The Brewery
Aug 8 – Auckland, Studio
Aug 14 – Adelaide, HQ
Aug 15 – Cairns, Gilligans
Aug 21 – Sydney, Home
Aug 28 – Canberra, Academy
Aug 29 – Coffs Harbour, Plantation
Sep 7 – Hobart, Syrup