| N-Trance | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Quartech, State of the Art, Freeloaders |
| Origin | Oldham, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | PWL / 380 Records (1992–1993) All Around the World (1993–2018) |
| Members | Kevin O'Toole |
| Past members | Dale Longworth |
| Website | n-trance |
N-Trance (/ˈɛntrɑːns/) are a British electronic music group who were formed by Kevin O'Toole and Dale Longworth in 1991. The group is known for their European hit songs "Set You Free" and "Electronic Pleasure", and their covers of the 1970s disco songs "Stayin' Alive", "D.I.S.C.O.", "Shake Ya Body", and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". They had 14 charting singles in the UK during 1994–2004.
History
Early years (1990–93)
Kevin O'Toole and Dale Longworth formed N-Trance in 1990, after meeting at Oldham College in Greater Manchester, where they were both studying sound engineering and they were signed by Pete Waterman's 380 Records (a sub-label of PWL). Vocalist Kelly Llorenna sang on their first song, "Set You Free", recorded at Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme in July 1992. It was not released as a single and N-Trance bought out their contract with 380 Records. They then signed to a new label, All Around the World in September 1993.
By this point N-Trance had developed their live shows and were gaining popularity. On their new label, "Set You Free" was released as a single in 1993, rising to No. 82 in the charts.
Breakthrough (1994–96)
Main article: Electronic PleasureIn 1994, "Set You Free" was re-released achieving a higher chart position of No. 39. N-Trance's next single was a Eurodance song called "Turn Up The Power", the radio mix and official single included vocals from Viveen Wray, and a rap by T-1K. This song peaked at No. 23.
After a number of years performing live over the UK, N-Trance's popularity and the reception towards "Set You Free", had increased significantly. The song was re-released again in 1995 and became a major hit, reaching No. 2 in the charts and being certified Platinum in the UK, after selling over 600,000 copies. The single was also released in other European countries and Australia.
The group recorded their first full-length album, Electronic Pleasure, in November 1995, which featured seven vocalists including David Grant, Viveen Wray and musicians such as Vinny Burns and Snake Davis.
Their next single, a cover of the Bee Gees hit "Stayin' Alive", was not only a massive international hit, but also featured a vocalist who would help define N-Trance's sound in the future, Ricardo da Force, former rapper with The KLF. Upon its release in the UK it debuted at No. 2 and internationally it became one of the biggest UK exports of 1995, reaching No. 1 in Australia and being top 5 in a number of European charts.
Second album (1997–99)
Their second full-length album, Happy Hour, was released in 1999.
Hit singles from the album included cover versions of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and Ottawan's "D.I.S.C.O.", and the hardcore techno clatter of "The Mind of the Machine", which featured the actor Steven Berkoff. Viveen Wray was the N-Trance vocalist on "Paradise City" which hit number 28 in the UK charts.
Third album
In February 2009, the group released The Mind of the Machine as their third album. Two new tracks ("Free Running" and "The Earth Is Dying") were recorded to go with the recordings previously made in 1997. The album was released as digital download only.
Other projects
See also: Freeloaders (band)- From 2005 to 2006, the founders of N-Trance, Kevin O'Toole and Dale Longworth, reached No. 9 in the UK Singles Charts with their single, "So Much Love to Give", released using the alias of the Freeloaders. They also released an album Freshly Squeezed on digital download.
Discography
Main article: N-Trance discography- Electronic Pleasure (1995)
- Happy Hour (1998)
- The Mind of the Machine (2009)
References
- ^ "Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the '90s, Vol. 67". Popdose. 10 June 2013.
- ^ "N-Trance". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ MacNeill, Kyle (11 January 2017). "It's a Quarter of a Century since N-Trance's "Set You Free" Put Clubland on the Map". Vice. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Adolfsson, Niklas. "N-Trance". Dance Artist Info. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- "N-Trance". Discogs. Retrieved 14 October 2024.