Bryan Kearney and John O’Callaghan, with their alias Key4050, join forces with Bo Bruce on a long-anticipated collaboration that has been featured in their DJ sets for months, and is set to become one of the defining trance tracks of an exciting 2026
We are only halfway through the year: June marks the midpoint of 2026 and coincides with the beginning of the summer festival season. We cannot stress it enough, we are witnessing a truly historic year, one that is set to leave a lasting mark and help shape the future of trance. The return of legendary producers, combined with the emergence of a new generation of DJs and producers rediscovering the genre’s most authentic sounds, has made it increasingly difficult to rank the very best releases. We are in the midst of an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm, one that is fueling excitement and passion in a way rarely seen in recent years.
The name Key4050 fits perfectly into this landscape. While the duo is not seeking to reinvent the current sound, it continues to deliver a formula that is both solid and compelling, winning over audiences through a clearly defined artistic identity and a new high-profile vocal collaboration, this time featuring Bo Bruce. The result is Empty Space , a genuine trance anthem that immediately earns its place among the standout productions of this magnificent 2026.
The English singer, whose roots lie in the indie-pop world, can now be regarded as one of the defining voices of modern trance. Following her breakthrough success alongside Gareth Emery on U in 2014, Bo Bruce further strengthened her connection with the genre through a series of prestigious collaborations. In 2023, during the peak of her rise within the trance scene, she teamed up with Bryan Kearney for Shine A Light, before returning the following year with Half Light alongside Ben Gold. That release quickly became one of the most celebrated vocal trance tracks of the season thanks to a combination of qualities that propelled it to immediate success. Last year, Paul Webster revisited Bo Bruce’s Holding The Light, transforming it into a true trance masterpiece and one of the most played and acclaimed tracks of recent years.
Today, a new chapter begins with Empty Space, born from the collaboration between Bo Bruce, John O’Callaghan and Bryan Kearney under the Key4050 project.
The recent artistic journey of the two producers is well known among trance fans. Bryan Kearney is arguably experiencing the most complete and mature phase of his career, having developed remarkable versatility as an artist. In recent years he has demonstrated a strong willingness to experiment, exploring fresh sonic directions in releases such as the recent collaboration with Modeā, Ready To Fly, while also receiving major recognition through his work with Plumb, culminating in God Help Me, which was voted Tune of the Year on A State Of Trance last year. Plumb had previously been featured on one of Key4050’s biggest successes, I Love You from 2020, an anthem that remains widely recognized and frequently played to this day.
Meanwhile, John O’Callaghan has firmly re-established himself among the genre’s elite, delivering a string of productions deeply rooted in the tradition of classic UK Trance. His releases on Subculture continue to earn widespread acclaim thanks to a formula that remains faithful to the genre’s foundations,refined, engaging and capable of retaining its timeless appeal.
Already circulating for several weeks through the sets of its creators, Empty Space is now ready for its official release on Armind and is poised to join the growing list of defining productions from this extraordinary 2026, with the year still only halfway complete.