Hiroyuki ODA

Hiroyuki ODA crafts a sound that feels like looking at a futuristic cityscape through a perfectly polished lens. It is trance at its most aerodynamic and luminous, characterized by incredibly sharp digital leads and melodies that seem to ascend forever. Unlike the darker or more industrial sides of the genre, his work is shot through with a sense of optimism and wide-eyed wonder, often evoking the vastness of the sky or the deep ocean.

What truly sets him apart is his background as an illustrator and animator, which seems to bleed into his musical architecture. There is a visual, almost cinematic quality to his arrangements, where every synth pluck and white-noise sweep feels precisely placed to create a sense of motion. His work under the HSP alias brings in a more playful, frantic energy, but his main output remains the gold standard for high-fidelity, melodic Japanese trance.

Start with 'Transmigration' to hear the track that broke him onto the international stage, then dive into the album 'Thirty' for a masterclass in progressive energy. It is music for people who want to feel the rush of a peak-hour club set even when they are just wearing headphones at home.