[Event Review] Paul van Dyk Fuses The Best Of Trance With The Power Of Techno Through VENTURE X

We caught up with the legend himself during one of his more recent shows in South America.

Paul van Dyk needs no introduction. Widely considered one of the pioneers of Electronic Dance music, it’s been 30 years since he released ‘For An Angel’, a record that would change Dance music forever and would set the bar for the tone of Trance tunes for years. A legendary figure, we were lucky enough to have a night under the spell of his hypnotising live sets, as he brought his groundbreaking VENTURE X show to Santiago, Chile.

VENTURE X

A fairly new “venture” of his, VENTURE X debuted last year, and it represents total freedom for the German pioneer. It is a concept literally marketed as simply playing what Paul thinks sounds best, and with a distinct flavour of Progressive, Trance and Techno. This way, he promises to bring attendees to a voyage with a clear departure harbour, yet an unknown destination.

With the vibes already through the roof, fans eagerly awaited the master’s arrival at the booth, and when he finally did at 1:30, he made sure to do so in style. Teasing iconic melodies every now and then and carefully weaving them with Peak-Time Techno beats from fellow teammates — and himself —, Paul’s two-hour-thirty set was, quite literally, a venture, and we were a part of it.

As the main act, van Dyk delivered a performance that exceeded expectations. The crowd was captivated by his seamless blend of classic tracks and new releases. Highlights included his timeless ‘For An Angel‘, his remix of the iconic ‘Café Del Mar‘, and his latest single, ‘Love Is Enough‘. To my delightful surprise, although we were at a VENTURE X show, he spun the SHINE Mix, a heavily Trance-focused record which I suspected would make me tear up when I reviewed it some weeks ago. And indeed did I shed a tear at the club.

Of course that moment in which he faded in ‘Love Is Enough’ is a core memory I cherish from the night, but another really wonderful moment I got to witness was: there was a lady upfront with a message printed on paper, it went along the lines of “I’m Paola, thank you and thank God for your music, you’d make my night if you played Café Del Mar’“. I’m not kidding, she held that sign up for an entire hour and thirty before Paul actually played the track. And the four minutes that succeeded live in my head rent-free. Just HOW HAPPY she was, she screamed and jumped all throughout the record, she thanked him, and she cried a bit too. That’s the power of music for you all.

I recorded a wee bit of it, and enjoyed the rest. So if you want to witness a bit…

Beyond his incredible music, van Dyk’s down-to-earth personality shone through. He took the time to interact with fans, posing for pictures and smiling throughout his two-and-a-half-hour set. His genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for his audience created a truly unforgettable experience. He’s grateful for them too, as you’ll read in our interview with him, coming soon. (Oops, did I spoil something?)

Well yes, we did sit down with Paul van Dyk himself and chatted about a handful of things. So I guess, now that I’ve mentioned it, a final core memory I’ll carry with me forever is having got to meet him. He, who introduced me to Trance back when I was playing Need For Speed Underground 2 as a six-year-old and his ‘Nothing But You’ was a part of the soundtrack, was right there, in front of me, and not anywhere else in the world.

We did talk about a bunch of stuff. That’s coming soon folks.

Overall, Paul van Dyk’s VENTURE X concert in Santiago was a night to remember. His masterful performance, coupled with his approachable demeanour, made for a truly special event. And I believe, at least for me, what went down that night can be summarised with: