Solarstone transforms JB Dunckel’s 2024 piano composition “Dolphin” into a 140 BPM Main-Floor Trance release on Black Hole Recordings, arriving October 30, 2026. Drawing inspiration from an unexpected encounter with the music of the French AIR co-founder, the British producer exchanges the intimate character of the original for analogue synthesizers and a full-length, dancefloor-oriented interpretation.
An Unexpected Discovery at Schiphol Airport
The story behind “Dolphin” begins in an unlikely place: Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Following his appearance at Luminosity, Solarstone was waiting for his flight when a fragment of music playing on a departure lounge television caught his attention. Using Shazam, he discovered “Dolphin” by JB Dunckel, one half of the influential French electronic duo AIR.
The composition originates from Dunckel’s 2024 solo album Paranormal Musicality, a collection of 18 instrumental piano pieces exploring atmosphere, improvisation and emotional expression.
Inspired by the discovery, Solarstone initially created what he describes as “a loose cover” purely for his own enjoyment.
But the production soon developed a life of its own.
After introducing the track into his DJ sets as an unidentified production, online interest eventually brought it to Dunckel’s attention. The two artists established contact, and Dunckel responded enthusiastically to Solarstone’s interpretation.
What began as a spontaneous musical experiment had found its way towards an official release.
From Intimate Piano Music to 140 BPM Trance
The musical transformation at the heart of “Dolphin” is particularly fascinating.
Rather than revisiting an established Trance anthem, Solarstone draws on a contemporary piano composition from an entirely different musical environment.
The original’s melodic material becomes the foundation for rich analogue synthesizer textures and a more dancefloor-focused production, bringing Dunckel’s musical ideas into Solarstone’s distinctive electronic world.
At 140 BPM, the Extended Mix occupies the faster end of Main-Floor Trance, while its 7:37 duration provides space for the musical journey to unfold.
It is a meeting of two artistic perspectives: Dunckel’s delicate, atmospheric approach to composition and Solarstone’s long-established commitment to melody, emotional depth and the immersive power of Trance.
A Different Approach to Trance Nostalgia
The choice of source material also reflects a deliberate artistic statement.
Solarstone has expressed frustration with the increasing number of contemporary productions built around familiar 1990s Trance melodies. Rather than adding another revival of an established dance classic, he wanted to explore something less obvious and more emotionally complex.
“Dolphin” takes that idea in an interesting direction.
By drawing inspiration from contemporary piano music rather than recycling a familiar club anthem, Solarstone demonstrates that the emotional foundations of Trance can be found well beyond the genre itself.
That approach feels especially appropriate for an artist whose Pure Trance philosophy has always placed musical substance ahead of passing trends.
TranceAttack Verdict
“Dolphin” stands out as one of the more intriguing creative concepts in Solarstone’s recent catalogue.
Its significance goes beyond the familiar combination of a respected Trance producer and a full-length club arrangement. The decision to reinterpret a contemporary piano composition, rather than another established dance anthem, gives the release a distinctive artistic foundation.
There is something particularly appealing about the journey from a chance discovery at an airport to a production that eventually reached the original composer himself.
More importantly, it demonstrates Solarstone’s continuing desire to explore the emotional possibilities of Trance without relying solely on the genre’s past.
An inspired meeting of contemporary piano music and Pure Trance philosophy, bringing a refreshingly different creative perspective to the 2026 Trance landscape.
⭐️ Rating: 9 / 10
🎧 Perfect for:
- Melodic Main-Floor Trance sets
- Pure Trance enthusiasts
- Emotionally driven, instrumental Trance
- Extended late-night DJ journeys
Release details:
Artist: Solarstone
Track: Dolphin
Style: Main-Floor Trance
BPM: 140
Label: Black Hole Recordings
Release Date: October 31st, 2026
Get your copy here: https://blackhole.lnk.to/Dolphin
Connect with Solarstone:
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Connect with Black Hole Recordings:
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X: https://www.twitter.com/blackholerec
