This is one post out of a series celebrating our favorites of trance in 2023. Specifically, this post has to do with the The Best Tracks of 2023. Please click here for the December Mix Competition Information, or click here for results on Best Album, Best Label, etc. and our survey results!

Welcome ladies and gentlemen of r/trance for the Top 20 Trance Tracks of 2023 Results as voted by you, viewers and listeners of r/trance!

Last month, I provided you details and a Google Survey link for voting on the Top Tracks of 2023, and you responded!

Before we get into the full results, a few tracks that just missed out:

25) Will Rees - Sanctuary

24) Will Rees – Natural World

23) Bryan Kearney Vs Karney - Compromise

22) The Noble Six – Astral Projection

21) Aly & Fila X Chapter 47 X Richard Bedford – Edge of Tomorrow

Before we get into the list....

Our Honorable Mention

This was the track with no restrictions that you felt either didn’t (or couldn’t) make your personal Top 5. This category did allow unreleased bootlegs first played in 2023.

The Honorable Mention for 2022:

Lange – Drifting Away (Marsh Remix)

If you want to see all the songs (include some progressive house and other genres) that people felt were superb in 2023, you can check out the Full List Here.

But now let’s get down to business….

Let’s count down the Top 20, detailing the Top 5. Drumroll Please

#20

Gareth Emery Feat. Sarah de Warren – Vertigo

#19

Solarstone - Vision

#18

Daxson – When Tomorrow Comes

#17

Bryan Kearney & Bo Bruce – Shine A Light

#16

RAM – Medellin Madness

#15

Cold Blue – The Morning After

#14

Lostly – Reach You

#13

Craig Connelly and HALIENE – Other Side of the World

#12

Cold Blue – Dance of the Giraffes

#11

Factor B – Connected (Lostly’s Change of Season Remix)

#10

Maria Healy - Reputation

#9

Armin van Buuren & Rank 1 & Ruben de Ronde & Ferry Corsten – Destination (ASOT 2024 Anthem)

#8

Gareth Emery featuring Maria Lynn – Missing You (Ben Gold Remix)

#7

Hel:Sløwed and Amber Revival – If You Only Knew

#6

Giuseppe Ottaviani & ilan Bluestone - Futuro

#5

John Askew – Aces Hi

We start off our Top 5 countdown with a trance and tech DJ and producer from the UK whose been in the scene for over 20 years now. It’s John Askew – part of the VII crew and AA Meeting (with Activa) – out with another banger of a track.

Some say it’s his best melody in a while, with some waiting for its release for months after testing on the club circuit. Others may have been put off with the melody in the first few minutes.

What we do know is that it made enough of a splash to reach our Top 5 this year. It also marks Askew’s debut release on Armind – which, considering the tracks released on Armind in the 2000s and 2010s, shouldn’t be a huge surprise.

Released on Armind in March, here’s what the label had to say:

John Askew's debut original on Armin van Buuren's Armind imprint, 'Aces Hi' is exactly the uplifting masterpiece you'd expect from one of trance music's staple producers. From its limitless energy to the main melody drench in euphoria, this track will make any mainstage crowd go bonkers.

#4

Paul van Dyk, Marc van Linden, and Sue McLaren – Beautiful Life (Shine Ibiza Anthem 2023)

We continue on with a summer release from Paul van Dyk, Marc van Linden, and Sue McLaren (who contributes vocals as well). This was released just before Paul van Dyk started his returning summer residency at Ibiza. Paul van Dyk noted that in creating this uplifting anthem that “times can be tough, for us personally and looking at what is happening in the world…but life is wonderful. We must allow ourselves to live it…and enjoy those beautiful moments…”

This was released on VANDIT Records in June.

#3

Estiva – Via Infinita (Marsh Remix)

As part of an album release, Estiva crafted the lovingly beautiful “Via Infinita”, which was released as a single in March. It was a track that captured fans of trance and progressive house as the song revolved around that special synth refrain.

Another artist that has been having a breakout year in the progressive scene, Marsh, put his spin on it, giving the track a trancier feel while still keeping that melodic synth throughout.

The original reached #36 on ASOT’s Top 50 of 2023 and was Ruben de Ronde’s personal #1, with Marsh’s Remix being Ferry Corsten’s personal #3 this year.

A standout track from two talented producers, and it’s exciting to see what 2024 has in store.

This was released on Colorize in September.

Marsh puts his spin on Estiva's 'Via Infinita'! It's a stunning remix up next on Colorize as British producer Marsh remixes 'Via Infinita', one of the standout records to come from Estiva's 'Infinita' album. Marsh brings a striking energy to the original, injecting it with a rolling bassline that thrusts the remix forward, anchored by a bold kick drum and luscious, effervescent melodics. It's a triumph of a remix that fans of Estiva's are sure to love.

And now your number 1 song….

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#1

I know what some of you are thinking.

“Wait, where’s #2?”

The truth is – there is no #2 song this year. Because for the first time ever, we have a solid tie for first place. These songs had the same number of total points. These songs had the same number of votes. Not just total votes either, but the same number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place votes. There is literally no separation between these two songs. So without further ado, your #1 songs of 2023 in alphabetical order:

Ben Gold featuring Zoe Low – Rest of Our Lives (Paul Webster Remix)

Will Atkinson – Cosmic Heartbreak

First we’ll talk Ben Gold and Paul Webster.

The original of this track was released in 2022 and did well with trance fans, reaching #7 in our Top Tunes list and made it to #2 on ASOT’s Top 50. Ben wanted to create a track detailing a relationship coming to a crossroads, weaving piano, uplifting melodies, and vocals as the title track for his 2022 album. This year, the Irish tech-trance producer Paul Webster gave it an energetic jump and injected the track with his subgenre flavor while turning up the BPM from 135 to 144 for a sublime summer banger.

Some commenters on the track mentioned that they’ve listened to the track “at least 50 times since it came out [and it] gets better with each listen” and was one of the defining tracks of Luminosity Beach Festival.

Released on Armada Captivating in July, the label notes:

Supercharging the title track of Ben Gold's sophomore studio album, Paul Webster delivers an incendiary remix that picks up the pace big time. Vocal-laced, energetic and as magical as the original version, this rendition of 'Rest Of Our Lives' is the kind of track fans marvel at.

Let’s talk Will Atkinson now.

This producer from Glasgow should need no introduction for those trance listeners, old and new. He’s been making constant bangers since 2009, including favorites such as Numb The Pain, Victims, and Telescope alongside remixes of classics like Dogzilla’s Without You and JES’ Imagination.

His tracks have been some of the most upvoted on r/trance, and from 2014 through 2021, he’s had a release in our Top 3 every single year. It was only last year that this 8 year streak was broken – but he still managed to squeeze into our Top 20 with Long Way Home.

But he’s back with a rebound straight to #1.

Comments when this was posted on Reddit made it clear that Will should stick with this style of trance instead of his Helpline productions as this was a 140 BPM banger.

Released on VII in April.

The master of Power Trance returns. If you loved Last Rave On Earth, If you loved Telescope, if you loved Stimulation... then buckle up. Will Atkinson presents his latest trance masterpiece - Cosmic Heartbreak. A rocket propelled record that gets the blood pumping and the heart filling with pure emotion. This is the track we've all been waiting for and here it is - right in time for Summer and festival season.

Congratulations to Ben Gold, Will Atkinson, and Paul Webster for the Tunes of the Year 2023 on r/trance!

Here’s some playlists!

YouTube Playlist

Spotify Playlist or Alternative Link

Spotify URI: spotify:playlist:3pLHJEyAuc81fAO3ANPEuy

Apple Music Playlist

For additional details, see the pinned comment.