In 2011, much of the EDM narrative revolved around one trio: The Swedish House Mafia. The SHM hype was inescapable, and much of it was justified.

But for all of SHM’s accomplishments, their 2011 paled in comparison to the monumental achievements of the mighty Above & Beyond. Sure, the print media (this publication included) paid more attention to SHM, but the A&B story was alive and well on social platforms — particularly the #TATW hashtag. This year, A&B released “Group Therapy (its second artist album), put together yet another breathtaking mix album — Anjunabeats Vol. 9, and celebrated the 400th episode of its weekly radio show, Trance Around the World.

The TATW 400 official video tells the touching story of one young Lebanese fan, Tony Sawma. The second-year college student is a Beirut resident who lived through the devastating bombings of 2006. In the video, Tony talks about war’s damage to Beirut’s physical and social condition, and how trance music is helping to heal those wounds.

The video culminates with Tony joining Above & Beyond on stage to drop the synth line to “Sun and Moon.” It epitomizes everything we know and love about the trance family.

Categories: Music