In Conversation With N Trance

People best remember N-Trance for their string of huge dance hits. With iconic movers like Set You Free and Forever in their back catalogue, they still fuel the dancefloors the world over. As a result, it is little surprise that they still draw a huge crowd as they play sets at nostalgic shows all over the world. As they prepare for an appearance at Reminisce Festival, we caught up with the group's Ben to learn a little more.

Good morning, Ben. How are you?

I'm good. How are you?

Yeah, not bad at all. Let's start with some fun ones... Have you ever eaten a bug?

Yeah, probably unintentionally.

And we need your tips. How are you going to survive a zombie apocalypse?

In zombie apocalypse films, it's common to see old-school US houses equipped with basement bunkers. So you have to purchase one of those and make sure you get all the supplies that you can, or you can barricade yourself into somewhere like a Costco.

And what's your favorite ice cream topping?

Maybe salted caramel.

Oh, nice. And you're going to be a travel agent for us and sell us your favourite holiday destination; where do you recommend?

Let's go with Jamaica. I love Jamaica. Yeah, Jamaica is amazing. Great weather, great people, great culture, great food. So, yeah, Jamaica.

You're going to be like a tree. Which tree do you want to be?

Oak. It's strong, and it's sturdy.

Your favourite type of exercise?

I like weightlifting. I train quite regularly. So yeah, lifting weights to get nice and big and strong and get you focused and able to deliver what you need to do.

Which phone app do you use the most?

That's the question... It depends on which phone. It depends whether it's my work phone or my personal phone. Maybe I'm going to get personal... I frequently travel and use Netflix on my phone. So, yeah, Netflix, I'd say.

Now then, Reminisce is coming up. Tell us a little bit about it.

So Reminisce. I am blessed to do Reminisce each and every year. And we're doing it with a band as well. We've done it for quite a few years. Reminisce is the UK's number-one old school festival, bar none.

20,000 people gathered on a field in St. Helens, Merseyside, with various arenas representing different musical journeys. So it's not, I guess, just for the 80s and 90s babies. You've got music for the naughties, babies, and people even younger as well. However, it is a fantastically well-crafted, well-created, and well-organized festival with great bands and music. And it's an amazing occasion each and every year.

There are a lot of retro festivals; what is it about nostalgia that you think sells in terms of live music?

I think, if I'm honest, it is the things that you were listening to in your youth, the things that got you into creating and formulating your musical habits. It is those things that people always feel drawn back to. Now, obviously, the time when that music was prevalent, that was when there were a lot of very good artists and they created timeless music, timeless sounds.

If you listen to a lot of the kind of nineties and noughties dance acts, some of their songs are just unbelievable. Whereas I think in today's era, I'm not saying that the music's not great and it's not catchy, but it's just not quite as timeless. So when people enter into a particular style of music or a particular time frame in their mind that is linked with great music and great times, then I think it's something that people want to go back to and be reminded of time and time again.

And what are you planning for your own set?

Oh, that I'll not be telling, but it's going to be magic. It's going to be really good. It's going to be a mixture of some of our classics with a few remixes thrown in. It's never a long set in Reminisce because what we always do or what Reminisce organisers tend to do is get loads of acts in, and they do really short, you know, 20-minute punchy sets. So it's going to be jam-packed with our biggest hits and lots of energy.

On Saturday, September 7th, N Trance will perform at the Reminisce Festival. Tickets can be purchased online at www.reminiscefestival.com.

The Reminisce Festival is now in its 10th year, an all-day celebration of 90's old school club tunes and pop with DJs and live acts across 7 stages in St Helens, Liverpool, from midday to midnight. Every year, the festival sells out and now attracts over 20,000 people, with some of the biggest names from 90's pop and club culture returning to perform. 2024 10th anniversary sees Chesney Halkes, Five, Damage, Rozalla, K Klass, N Trance, Oceanic, Alison Limerick, John Martin, Sybil, and Basshunter making a welcome return to this epic party!

More info on N Trance here: https://www.n-trance.co.uk/