A new acid-trance version of one of trance music’s most iconic anthems, reinterpreted by the Dutch DJ and producer, has just been released
Since last November, and it’s not like it wasn’t already happening before, Tiësto’s return to the trance scene has reignited both excitement and creativity among artists and peers. It’s not just about his recent releases and what’s still to come, but also the ripple effect he’s creating: a quick listen to his Prismatic is enough to understand how strongly he’s back supporting the trance and progressive side he once seemed unlikely to revisit.
More and more producers are now rediscovering and reworking his classic tracks, and the list keeps growing. Just a few weeks ago, we covered the still-unreleased remix of Love Comes Again (feat. BT) by Mark Sherry.
This time, another key figure in the trance scene, RAM, steps in with his take on one of the most iconic tracks of all time: Adagio for Strings.
The story behind this masterpiece is well known: originally composed in 1936 by Samuel Barber, it was later reimagined in an electronic form by William Orbit in 1999. Soon after, Ferry Corsten delivered one of the first trance interpretations, before the track reached global anthem status with Tiësto, who included it on his 2004 album Just Be.
Over the past two decades, the track has seen countless reinterpretations. Yet somehow, an acid-leaning version still felt like uncharted territory: that gap has now been filled by RAM with his Ram’s Adagio On Acid Mix, released last Friday on Nocturnal Knights Music.
The remix is driven by a solid techno-trance framework, carefully preserving the emotional depth of the original melody. In the final section, it shifts into classic acid textures, closing the track with both character and identity, a reinterpretation that feels respectful yet forward-thinking.
RAM’s previous release also paid tribute to an early-2000s classic: Rapture by iiO featuring Nadia Ali, reworked alongside MIDI Kittyy into a version that certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
We can say that the Amsterdam-based producer is going through a creative phase that can undoubtedly be described as complete, but above all, highly fulfilling. His latest releases consistently feature true trance elements, often created alongside special collaborators. Comfortable navigating through euphoric sound elements, as in Elijah, created together with Driftmoon, and evolving into the more intense vocal trance featured in her latest releases. Among these, her collaboration with Asteroid and Christina Novelli on All Gone (2025) stands out. Finally, it’s impossible not to mention her most “intense” and ever-present partnership with Susana on Back To Light, one of her recent releases.
However, his evolving musical instinct has led him to expand his sound, embracing rave culture and drawing from its influences. The birth of the Digital Culture project is the ultimate proof of this evolution.Looking ahead, RAM will join forces with Richard Durand on April 25 during the Dutch King’s Day weekend: , alongside artists such as XiJaro & Pitch, FAITH MARK and Odette Hayas at Nobel in Leiden.
RAM’s ‘acid’ rework of Adagio For Strings is available on all music platforms.