Ferry Corsten has just launched his Trance Mixing Masterclass course with us, sharing decades of knowledge from the genre’s evolution. To celebrate, we’re looking back at the career moments that didn’t just define one DJ’s journey…but shaped trance music itself. From bedroom productions to packed festival stages, these are the moments that made Ferry a legend.
1. System F – “Out of the Blue” (1999): The Track That Changed Everything
Ferry made this in his bedroom studio using one of the first Roland JP-8000s in the Netherlands. The marketing became legendary – just seven white label promos with a stamped phone number on them created such a buzz that labels started bidding without even knowing who made it. Pete Tong flew to Amsterdam to sign it at the airport, the track hit UK Top 20, and trance was never the same.
2. Birth of Gouryella with Tiësto (1999): Creating Heaven
Ferry met Tiësto in a Rotterdam record shop where they bonded over melodic trance. They created “Gouryella” together – the name means “heaven” in Australian Aboriginal language – and it became both artists’ biggest hit at the time, reaching #15 in the UK. They followed with “Walhalla” and “Tenshi,” creating a trilogy that defined turn-of-the-millennium trance and influenced everyone from Above & Beyond onwards.
3. Trance Nation Goes Platinum (2000): Bringing Trance to the Mainstream
Off the back of “Out of the Blue,” Ministry of Sound asked Ferry to compile the Trance Nation series. It became one of the best-selling dance compilations in UK history and went platinum. Ferry would mix six volumes in total, bringing trance from the clubs into people’s homes and proving the sound could work as a listening experience, not just a dancefloor weapon.
4. Full On Ferry Revolutionises Live Shows (2007): The Back-to-Back Revolution
Rather than solo DJ sets, Ferry created the Full On concept – back-to-back sets with hand-picked artists and proper stage production. The first show was at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Stadium, bringing in everyone from Alesso to Cosmic Gate. It sounds obvious now, but Ferry pioneered this collaborative festival format that’s become standard today.
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5. Tomorrowland’s Full On Stage (2013): 360,000 Witness Trance’s Return
Ferry’s Full On concept got its own dedicated stage at Tomorrowland’s 10th anniversary across two weekends. Over 360,000 fans attended, and the Full On stage became the beating heart of trance at the world’s biggest festival. At a time when many were saying trance was “over,” Ferry proved the genre could still command massive crowds when done right.
6. New World Punx with Markus Schulz (2013): When Legends Unite
After several spontaneous back-to-back sets, Ferry and Markus Schulz announced New World Punx. Their debut show at Mansion during Miami Music Week 2013 sold out immediately, and they went on to play Madison Square Garden at A State of Trance 600. The project showed how two masters from different eras could create something fresh whilst respecting trance’s roots.
7. Gouryella Returns: “Anahera” (2015-2016): The Resurrection
Ferry brought back Gouryella with “Anahera” in 2015 – it topped Beatport’s trance chart and was voted tune of the year on A State of Trance. But he didn’t just release a track; in 2016 he created a full Gouryella live show with stunning production that toured worldwide, hitting EDC, Ultra Europe, Tomorrowland, and Beyond Wonderland. The documentary “Gouryella – From The Heavens” captures the entire journey.
8. Corsten’s Countdown 500th Episode (2017): Eight Hours of History
In January 2017, Ferry celebrated a historic milestone with an 8-hour live broadcast of Corsten’s Countdown from his hometown Rotterdam. The CC500 special event wasn’t just a radio show – it was a celebration of the world’s only interactive EDM weekly music chart show that had broadcast to over 40 countries via 210 radio stations. It proved Ferry’s commitment to nurturing the scene went beyond just playing gigs.
9. WHAT THE F Concept (2020): All Aliases, One Night
Ferry finally brought his long-held vision to life with WHAT THE F – open-to-close sets combining System F, Gouryella, and Ferry Corsten all in one massive show. “To be able to play a proper open to close set with just your own music is like a dream come true,” he said. The classics, new music, and tracks people never knew he made, all in one full audio-visual experience. It was the ultimate celebration of three decades of production.
10. Gouryella 25th Anniversary at ADE (2025): A Quarter Century Celebration
Ferry brought together a stellar line up of friends including Markus Schulz and Cosmic Gate to celebrate 25 years of Gouryella at a one-of-a-kind daytime show during Amsterdam Dance Event in October 2025. Teaming up with iconic partners Transmission Festival and Dance Valley, this huge event was an immersive experience that celebrated the legacy and longevity of trance music.
Finally…
These ten moments tell trance music’s story from underground phenomenon to mainstream success, through the difficult years when many abandoned the sound, and back to renewed global popularity. Ferry didn’t just witness this evolution, he shaped it at every turn.
What makes Ferry’s story particularly powerful is his consistency. While others chased trends, Ferry evolved without losing his identity. He experimented with different sounds but always returned to those euphoric melodies that made him fall in love with trance in the first place.
His new Trance Mixing Masterclass isn’t just about technique – it’s about understanding three decades of evolution. From those seven white label promos to his own stage at Tomorrowland, he’s seen it all. And now he’s ready to share everything he’s learned about creating those peak moments that define trance.
Click here to learn more about Ferry Corsten’s Trance Mixing Masterclass
Phil Morse
