York: "Ibiza in the 90s and 2000s was something special"
Torsten Stenzel, better known by his alias York, reflects on his rich musical journey and the special moment of contributing to the iconic "In Search of Sunrise" series 25 years after its inception. As a pivotal figure in the trance scene, York's career has come full circle, mixing a disc for the 20th edition of the legendary compilation series.
Torsten, was there ever any chance you wouldn’t start your mix with "Reachers Of Civilisation"?
No, there wasn’t. Honestly, for me, it’s a full-circle moment. Tiesto started the very first "In Search of Sunrise" with that track in 1999, and now, over 20 years later, I’ve started mine with it. It’s my legacy. I was also waiting for the right moment to remix it myself, and suddenly this opportunity came up. What a great gift.
It truly was! Now, how did you go about updating it?
I thought about it a lot, wondering if I should take it in a ‘deeper’ direction or make it more intense. In the end, I decided to give it a more energetic feel. You also have what might be the ultimate sign-off track for a series bearing the name "In Search Of Sunrise". Tell people about that! Oh yes! "Farewell to the Moon" – it fits perfectly with "In Search Of Sunrise". The remix is a great summary of that sound. Since it’s the last track in the mix, it’s quite a banger, but also super melodic and has a strong retro 2000s vibe.
Did you have any sense, when you first heard the "In Search Of Sunrise" album, that it would turn into the extraordinary series it has?
Actually, yes! I thought it could become the "Café del Mar" of trance. I was living in Ibiza at the time and was heavily influenced by the island. I also heard the album for the first time there and met Tiesto at Pacha back in the day.
Oh yes, I remember visiting you at your villa in Ibiza back in 2000. So, is Ibiza the place you most associate with "In Search Of Sunrise", or is there another country, city (or island) that comes to mind more quickly?
Exactly, oh yes, I remember now, hahaha! I’ve seen sunrises all over the world, but Ibiza in the 90s and 2000s was something special. I think I would associate it the most with ISOS, yes. People are still awake after a long club night and watch the sunrise on the beach. It’s a bit of a cliché image, but also the most realistic scenario on the island.
Looking back over the tracklists, what’s your favorite track (other than "Reachers", perhaps) that’s been compiled onto an "In Search Of Sunrise" album?
Tiesto’s "In Search Of Sunrise" remix of Delerium’s "Silence" would be my absolute favorite. When Sarah McLachlan’s vocals start, honestly, I could still cry.
The music of "In Search Of Sunrise" is perhaps renowned for having both a sound and a feel. How would you summarize that in three words?
Maybe something along the lines of desire and longing. ISOS was also never overly commercial like many other mix albums, so I’d also say it’s cooler and more tasteful than many of its competitors.
How did you approach the flow of your disc’s mix?
It’s clearly a journey that starts with less energy and builds up with some surprises. I imagine myself dancing to it, so it doesn’t have super long, dragging drops, etc... I think it flows nicely.
Are there any exclusives, premieres, or purpose-built tracks on York’s mix that you’d like to highlight?
Well, yes, there’s definitely some candy on there! As we mentioned, the new ISOS mix of "Reachers of Civilisations", and then there’s a new Torsten Stenzel track that will be released on Pure Trance. It’s called "Never Give Up", co-written by my youngest daughter, who is also narrating a fantastic poem on it. Then there’s "Sleepwalking", a brand-new track that’ll be released on Andrew Rayel’s label. Labels and friends were very supportive, giving me some of the newest releases, including quite a few unreleased tracks. I was delighted to get Above & Beyond’s "Crazy Love" and Activa’s "Eclipse" on there, so the mix is really fresh.
Excellent! Final question then. We imagine you’ve seen some of the finest, but what’s the best sunrise York has ever found?
In Antigua, a tiny island in the Caribbean where I’ve lived for the last seventeen years. The sunrise here is incredible.
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