We’ve been singing “I’m sorry, baby, you were the sun and moon to me, I’ll never get over you, you never get over me” for 15 years now, the chorus of a track that changed the way trance music is perceived
When their remix of Home by Chakra was released in 2000, followed a year later by their iconic reinterpretation of What It Feels Like For A Girl by Madonna, the melodic direction emerging from London and rapidly gaining global traction, was already evident: elegant atmospheres, ethereal vocals, and a refined, powerful sound quality set them apart from the very beginning.
Above & Beyond went on to redefine the genre throughout the first decade of the 2000s, establishing themselves as leaders through a philosophy centered on sonic exploration and a distinctly understated public presence. Their influence was further confirmed within the A State Of Trance community, where they achieved three consecutive Tune Of The Year wins with No One On Earth feat. Zoë Johnston (Gabriel & Dresden Remix) (2004), Air For Life with Andy Moor (2005), and Good For Me feat. Zoë Johnston (2006, but released in 2007).
As the late 2000s gave way to the early 2010s, the trio began a transition that would reshape the perception of trance both within their label Anjunabeats and across the global scene: the question at the time was as simple as it was disruptive: could a track be slower, more commercially accessible, and still be considered trance?
Today, the answer may seem obvious given how much the genre has evolved, but in 2011 it marked a genuine turning point: DJs and radio shows began embracing more progressive-leaning sounds, gradually moving away from the traditional 138 BPM framework that had long been associated with trance, albeit with some initial concern about disappointing long-time fans, a concern that ultimately proved unfounded.
In this context, Sun & Moon was released on March 20, 2011, by Above & Beyond together with Richard Bedford, realized who had previously worked with Jono, Paavo and Tony on tracks such as Stealing Time, Liquid Love and Alone Tonight years earlier: the track marked a clear shift away from the faster, more euphoric sound of their earlier work, embracing a more song-oriented structure with progressive trance influences, an approach that would help define the next chapter of their career.
Its unforgettable chorus: “I’m sorry, baby, you were the sun and moon to me, I’ll never get over you, you never get over me”, combined with its instantly recognizable drop, quickly became one of the defining moments of 2011. The track resonated immediately in live sets, notably during their performance at A State Of Trance 500 and, in the years to come, associated with the classic “Push The Button” moment, when Above & Beyond invite a few fans on stage, stopping the track just before the drop and encouraging them to press the button on the console to trigger the track to resume. It also marked the first major highlight from the album Group Therapy, released on June 6, 2011, which solidified their new artistic direction and later gave its name to their new radioshow, in 2012, replacing the legendary Trance Around The World.
Despite its immediate impact, Sun & Moon of Above & Beyond has continued to grow in stature over time, remaining a staple in their DJ sets and one of the most recognizable tracks in their catalogue: for many listeners and fans, Sun & Moon is essentially – the – Above & Beyond track.