Welcome back, everyone! Today, I want to dive into a topic that greatly affects our creative process and the flow of our tracks – the BPM (beats per minute) of a song. As many of you know, the tempo can influence not only the feel of a track but also our approach to arrangement and the overall listener experience. Here, I'll share some insights from my journey in music production and how different tempos can shape creativity, particularly in the realm of psytrance.
A Brief Background
I began producing music in the early 2000s, working on a style known as “full-on” psytrance, which typically ran at BPMs of 144-147. My early project, Beyond Ecliptic, focused on that intense, high-energy sound. Around 2008, I shifted to progressive psytrance under my current project, E-Clip. At that time, progressive psytrance tempos were typically in the range of 134-136 BPM. However, as the genre evolved, tempos increased, and today, we often see progressive psytrance reaching speeds of 138, 140, or even up to 142 BPM. This trend of faster BPMs isn't limited to psytrance; it's apparent across many electronic genres, including techno.
While there's a new appeal to faster BPMs, I’ve noticed something has been lost in the process – a certain hypnotic, immersive quality that lower BPMs bring to a track.
Hypnotic Arrangements: The Magic of 135 BPM
When I think of progressive psytrance, I think of hypnotic arrangements. In slower BPMs, like 135, the kick and bass create a trance-inducing effect that doesn’t require constant breaks, changes, or drops. This “rolling” kick and bass can hold the groove, serving as the backbone of the track without needing many added elements to maintain interest.
For a long time, I tried to replicate this hypnotic vibe at faster tempos like 138-140 BPM, but something always felt off. I recently revisited some older projects and tracks with these slower BPMs, which didn't demand frequent new elements or complex changes. The groove alone was enough to sustain the track, creating a natural, immersive feel that didn’t need additional sounds to capture the listener's attention. The slower tempo allowed the kick and bass to flow seamlessly, holding the listener in a trance without constantly requiring something new.
Faster BPMs: A Need for Constant Change
In recent years, the trend toward higher BPMs in psytrance and techno seems to demand more from a track. When working at faster BPMs like 138, 140, or even higher, I find myself needing to add more sounds, introduce new elements, and make constant changes to keep the listener engaged. The fast tempo seems to drive the track forward at a pace where the groove alone doesn’t feel like enough, almost as if the speed itself creates a kind of listener fatigue, prompting a craving for new sounds and moments.
In these higher BPMs, it feels like the track demands a higher level of energy much earlier in the arrangement, needing additional layers like snares, hi-hats, and melodic content to elevate the excitement. While this approach certainly has its place, it’s interesting to see how a simple change in BPM can dramatically alter the creative decisions we make.
Returning to Hypnosis at 135 BPM
I recently revisited a project set at 135 BPM, and it reminded me of the power this tempo holds in creating that hypnotic, trance-inducing effect. The kick and bass can carry the track effortlessly, giving more space to the groove and allowing subtle elements to shine. In these arrangements, I don’t feel the need to constantly add new sounds or create drastic shifts. Instead, I can introduce elements gradually, building the track with single-shot sounds or a subtle melody to enhance the atmosphere.
This slower, steadier build is incredibly effective for creating an extended groove that immerses the listener, and it’s easy to find yourself in that hypnotic state where the rhythm takes over. There’s a certain spaciousness that allows each element to breathe, giving the groove the spotlight it deserves.
Does Tempo Shape Your Creativity?
I’m curious to hear if other producers feel the same way about how tempo influences their creative decisions. For me, returning to 135 BPM has rekindled that classic, hypnotic vibe that originally drew me to progressive psytrance. It allows for simpler arrangements with fewer elements while still keeping listeners engaged.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you feel that certain BPMs lend themselves to different kinds of creativity and groove? Does a slower tempo like 135 BPM help you find that trance-inducing flow, or do you prefer the high-energy, rapid-fire feel of faster tempos? Let me know in the comments!
Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you soon with another post!
You're absolutely right. This is MUSIC we're making - not just a series of sounds. Rhythm and Groove are often overlooked by amateur producers that think that placing sounds on a grid is enough. But, if accuracy sounded better then no band would have a real drummer, they'd just program a drum machine. It's the push and pull, the rush and the drag of different elements all working together that only the human mind can understand that produces hypnotic, funky or engaging rhythms. Just as different scales have different feeling (why not just use C Major for every song if it's all the white keys.. so much easier, right?) Equally, different tempos produce different results - even with something as simple…