How did trance music develop in Germany during the 1990s?

Trance music originated in Germany, with Frankfurt serving as its primary hub during the 1990s. Initially, the genre was characterized by a hard, minimalist, and hypnotic sound, exemplified by the 1992 track "The Age of Love (Watch Out for Stella Club Mix)," a remix by the German duo Jam & Spoon.1

As the decade progressed, the style evolved significantly. By the mid-1990s, trance had transitioned into the most lushly melodic form of electronic dance music, eventually producing international successes such as the 1995 hit "Children" by Robert Miles. While Germany—and specifically Berlin—became a global epicenter for techno following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the development of trance remained a distinct stylistic contribution from the German club scene, reflecting the broader influence of synthesizer melodies and machine rhythms that defined the era.12