Andain Billy Gillies -

Ultimately, the artistic dialogue between Andain and Billy Gillies highlights the cyclical, regenerative nature of electronic music. It proves that truly great songwriting and emotive vocals do not have an expiration date. Gillies did not simply remix Andain; he translated their legacy into a new sonic language suited for the modern era. In doing so, he ensured that the "beautiful things" created by Andain decades ago continue to echo across the world's largest stages today.

Enter Billy Gillies, an artist from a completely different era and geographic hub of dance music. Gillies represents the revitalization of the hard-hitting, uplifting trance movement. While Andain’s original catalog thrived on atmospheric restraint and slow-tempo progression, Gillies is known for his signature high-energy style that fuses pure, euphoric trance melodies with the aggressive, driving basslines of modern tech-trance. His approach to music is built for massive festival stages and packed arenas where energy cannot afford to dip. Andain Billy Gillies

Similarly, Gillies' treatment of "Promises" demonstrates his ability to translate classic songwriting into peak-time festival weapons. He preserves the iconic, melancholic vocal delivery that made the original so beloved, but accelerates the heartbeat of the track. By injecting his signature driving percussion and massive, soaring leads, Gillies makes the song accessible to a new generation of ravers who may have never experienced the original era of progressive vocal trance. Ultimately, the artistic dialogue between Andain and Billy

To understand the weight of this musical intersection, one must first look at the foundation laid by Andain. Formed by producer Josh Gabriel and Mavie Marcos, Andain broke through the standard club formulas of the early 2000s. Their music was defined by Marcos’s haunting, ethereal vocals and Gabriel’s deeply progressive, organic instrumentation. Their 2003 masterpiece, "Beautiful Things," remains a pillar of electronic music, characterized by a slow-burning tension and an atmospheric depth that resonated far outside standard club environments. It was a song that relied on space, melancholy, and cinematic buildup—qualities that made it both a massive hit and a difficult piece to remix without losing its soul. In doing so, he ensured that the "beautiful

The magic of Gillies' reworks of Andain lies in his acute respect for the source material paired with his refusal to compromise on modern energy. In his rework of "Beautiful Things," Gillies takes the original, vulnerable vocal track and embeds it into a framework of rapid, rolling basslines and sharp, bright synth stabs. Where the original track lingered in a moody, slow-burning fire, Gillies' version propels the listener forward. He isolates the most emotional vocal hooks and uses them as the ultimate release after high-octane builds. This creates a powerful contrast: the vintage, aching nostalgia of the early 2000s vocal meeting the aggressive, heart-pounding rush of 140-BPM modern trance.

The intersection of electronic dance music history and contemporary high-energy sound design is nowhere more apparent than in the collaboration between the legendary legacy of Andain and the relentless, driving production of Billy Gillies . Andain, an electronic music project originating from San Francisco in the early 2000s, became globally recognized for establishing the emotional, introspective standard of vocal trance. Decades later, Billy Gillies, a leading force in the modern trance scene from Belfast, Northern Ireland, took up the mantle of reinterpreting these timeless classics. Through his celebrated reworks of Andain hits like "Promises" and "Beautiful Things," Gillies masterfully bridged the gap between classic emotional songwriting and the fast-paced, peak-time demands of modern dance floors.

Preventing, predicting, preparing for, and responding to epidemics and pandemics

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will be a reflection of the roles and responsibilities of epidemiologists during the course of the pandemic, as well as lessons learnt will be important for management of future pandemics.

Meet the editors

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will involve engagement of Editors of epidemiology journals on how they promote inclusive publishing on their platforms and how far have they gone to include the rest of the world in their publications.

Old risk factors in the new era: tobacco, alcohol and physical activity

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will delve into the evolving landscape of traditional risk factors amid contemporary health challenges. The aim is to explore how the dynamics of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and physical activity have transformed in the modern era, considering technological, societal, and cultural shifts.

Shafalika Goenka
(Public Health Foundation of India, India)

Katherine Keyes
(Columbia University, USA)

Lekan Ayo Yusuf
(University of Pretoria, SA)

Is it risky for epidemiologists to be advocates?

Session type: Debate
In the current climate, epidemiologists risk becoming non-neutral actors hampering their ability to do science as well as making them considered to be less reliable to the public.

Kalpana Balakrishnan
(Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India)

Neal Pearce
(London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK)

The role of epidemiology in building responses to violence

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Violence has been given insufficient attention and priority in the arena of public health policy, partnerships and interventions. Session will explore what role can and will epidemiology play in improving responses to violence?

Zinzi Bailey
(University of Minnesota, USA)

Rodrigo Guerrero-Velasco
(Violence Research Center of Universidad del Valle, Columbia)

Rachel Jewkes
(South African Medical Research Council, SA)

Ethics and epidemiology: conflicts of interest in research and service

Session type: Panel discussion
This session aims to dissect the complexities surrounding conflicts of interest in both research and public health practice, emphasising the critical need for transparency, integrity, and ethical decision-making.

Racial and ethnic classifications in epidemiology: global perspectives

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will explore the continued predominance of certain types of studies which influence global practice despite the lack of racial, ethnic and geographic diversity is a major weakness in epidemiology.

Critical reflections on epidemiology and its future

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will explore where is epidemiology headed, particularly given what field has been through in recent times? Is the field still fit for purpose? With all the new emerging threats, important to establish whether field is ready.

Teaching epidemiology: global perspectives

Session type: Panel discussion
Understanding how epidemiology is taught in different parts of the world is essential. Session will unpack why is epidemiology taught differently? Is it historical? Implications of these differences?

Na He
(Fudan University, China)

Katherine Keyes
(Columbia University, USA)

Noah Kiwanuka
(Makerere University, Uganda)

Miquel Porta
(Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Spain)

Pharmacoepidemiology: new insights and continuing challenges

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
This session aims to explore recent advancements in studying the utilization and effects of medications on populations, addressing methodological innovations, and novel data sources.

Are traditional cohorts outdated?

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will explore the landscape of traditional cohort studies, touching on their continued relevance in the contemporary research landscape. What are the limitations of traditional cohorts, challenges in data collection, evolving research questions, and potential advancements in study designs.

Karen Canfell
(The Daffodil Centre, Cancer Council NSW/University of Sydney, Australia)

Mauricio Lima Barreto
(Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health, Brazil)

Naja Hulvej Rod
(University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Yuan Lin
(Nanjing Medical University, China)

Have DAGs fulfilled their promise?

Session type: Debate
Critical reflection on why despite their importance in the Methods community, DAGs are not widely included in publications. Session will provide perspective on their utility in future research

Peter Tennant
(University of Leeds, UK)

Margarita Moreno-Betancur
(University of Melbourne, Australia)

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