Biography
Synthetic was a separate psytrance project of French producer Frédéric Holyszewski, better known through Deedrah and, with Christophe Drouillet, Transwave. Active around the turn of the millennium and early 2000s, Synthetic gave Holyszewski another studio sound at a point when Goa trance was rapidly transforming into the tighter and more production-heavy language of modern psytrance.
The project first appeared on releases such as the Metal Gear EP and Cosmos 99, before reaching its clearest full-length statement with 100% Pure in 2002. Issued through the HOMmega/Solstice network, the album included tracks such as Africa, The Time Bandits and Solid. Its sound sits between progressive trance, early full-on and Holyszewski's characteristically precise psychedelic production, while later tracks and remixes kept the name active for several more years.
Synthetic is principally an archival project today. Holyszewski's career continued much more visibly through Deedrah, Transwave and other collaborations, and later reissues or streaming availability should not be confused with a full revival of the Synthetic identity. Historically, however, it captures an important transitional phase in his discography and in the wider movement from 1990s Goa toward early-2000s psytrance.
Origins of Synthetic
Separate credited Holyszewski project.
Early career
100% Pure is the clearest full-album anchor.
How the career developed
Synthetic maintained a separate HOMmega catalogue.
Synthetic sound
Early-2000s Psytrance with progressive-trance and Full-On-era traits: compact rhythmic drive, crisp synthetic textures, melodic hooks and a polished studio sound.
Place in psytrance history
Synthetic represents a distinct branch of Frédéric Holyszewski’s catalogue during the period when Goa Trance was giving way to the more streamlined Psytrance and Full-On production language of the early 2000s.
Connections and influence
Related artists, labels and topics: Deedrah; Transwave; HOMmega.
Synthetic today
Synthetic is principally an archival project identity.
How the sound changed over time
Selected releases in the archive
Related projects and collaborations
Artists with overlapping styles
Astrix
Israeli producer Avi Shmailov’s long-running Psytrance project, known for combining large-scale dancefloor power with detailed psychedelic production and melodic writing.
Domestic
Ido Ophir’s Israeli psytrance project, notable both for its late-1990s roots and for Ophir’s wider influence as a mix and mastering engineer.
Logic Bomb
Swedish Psytrance project rooted in the same forest-party network as Hux Flux, known for precise programming, tightly controlled psychedelia and a complex lineup history.
Oforia
Ofer Dikovsky’s long-running Israeli psytrance project, linking the 1990s Goa era with later Full-On and modern psychedelic production.
Pixel
Israeli Psytrance project of Eli Biton Tal, closely connected to HOMmega and known for a dense collaboration network across Full-On and modern Psytrance.
PsySex
Israeli Psytrance project created by Udi Sternberg and Yoni Oshrat, later continued by Sternberg after Oshrat left to develop Ace Ventura.