Belfast DJ and producer Garry McCartney has been releasing acclaimed music as Ejeca for years, helping him become a mainstay of the British house and techno scene. But when he wanted to release some tracks with a nostalgic vibe, he decided to create a new alias. Enter Trance Wax.

“I would say they are focused on different genres,” McCartney says. “With Ejeca the tracks I make and play are house and techno. With Trance Wax, the music is more about nostalgia and melody, a trip down memory lane.”

The Northern Irish artist says that he initially created four remixes of trance records and released them on white label vinyl for fun.

“Since then it grew a small cult following from a lot of big names including Anjuna,” he says. “I then made two remixes for Above & Beyond for their Oceanlab alias — the natural progression was to release original music with them. It’s been great having a goalpost to aim at with a big label. I’ve made a lot of music thanks to this.”

The result of it all is the new Manaya EP, which is described as a celebration of dance music through the ages. There’s more to come — McCartney has been busing in lockdown.

“I’m just as happy in the studio as on tour, I’ve just gone back to basics and worked on new music,” he says. “Made a few collaborations with some heroes that I wouldn’t have been able to ‘lockdown’ otherwise. Music will pay a big role in getting people through this so I see it as a responsibility on my behalf.”

Trance Wax’s Manaya EP is out now via Anjunabeats.

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