Berlin-based producer southstar makes his debut on HARD Recs with “Echoes,” a soaring mainfloor trance single out September 19th. The track finds the rising artist at the intersection of techno’s raw drive and trance’s euphoric lift, solidifying his status as one of underground dance music’s most exciting new voices.
Built around ethereal vocals that drift like whispers from a dream, “Echoes” provides a delicate escape from the chaos of everyday life. The voice floats atop elastic basslines and staccato piano phrases, while glistening melodic slides swell and dissolve like bursts of light through water. Restless synth fragments scatter across the mix, creating a sensation of weightless movement. The result is a hardgroove-leaning trance track that balances introspection with forward propulsion—club-ready yet deeply personal.
“For me, music has always been about freedom: the freedom to express myself without limits and to connect with people in a way words can’t,” says southstar. “This release is a reflection of that feeling, and I hope listeners can experience the same sense of liberation when they hear it.”
The single arrives as southstar continues to expand beyond Berlin’s underground scene into the global spotlight. His breakout hit “Miss You” reached No. 11 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Chart and cracked the Billboard Global 200, establishing him as a crossover talent to watch. Performances at Boiler Room: Belfast, collaborations with Empire of the Sun, and tours spanning Australia and North America have further amplified his influence. Upcoming appearances at Escape Halloween in Southern California and the Hotmeal showcase at ADE promise to extend his reach across two of dance music’s most pivotal stages.
At a time when much of contemporary club music leans toward formulaic production, southstar is carving out his own lane—one defined by tension, atmosphere, and raw emotion. With “Echoes,” he delivers a release that embodies his uncompromising artistic vision and reaffirms trance and techno’s enduring power to inspire freedom, release, and collective transcendence.