The story behind Zorba
Zorba was the melodic Psytrance side project of GMS partners Riktam Matkin and Bansi Quinteros. The name was already circulating in the early 2000s and became a distinct outlet for lighter, more melodic trance than the pair’s main GMS work. The self-titled album Zorba was released by Shaffel Records in 2003, while additional tracks appeared on compilations including Spun Records releases.
The project remained part of the pair’s wider production network but never replaced GMS as their principal identity. Zorba represents the melodic side of Riktam and Bansi’s output during the early Full-On era and shows how the GMS partnership maintained distinct project identities for different musical directions.
Historical project. The original duo cannot continue in its original form following Bansi Quinteros’s death in 2018.
Origins of Zorba
Created by Riktam Matkin and Bansi Quinteros as a separate project alongside GMS, with material circulating by the early 2000s.
The early years
Early Zorba tracks preceded the 2003 self-titled album on Shaffel Records.
How the career developed
The project continued to appear through compilation tracks and later production references while Riktam and Bansi remained primarily active as GMS and in other collaborations.
Zorba sound
Melodic, comparatively mellow Psytrance with warm morning-oriented harmonies, steady dancefloor grooves and a lighter tonal palette than much of the pair’s GMS material.
Place in psytrance history
Zorba represents the melodic side of Riktam and Bansi’s output during the early Full-On era and shows how the GMS partnership maintained distinct project identities for different musical directions.
Connections and influence
Directly related to GMS through identical core members, while retaining its own name, album and release history.
Zorba today
Historical project. The original duo cannot continue in its original form following Bansi Quinteros’s death in 2018.
Selected releases in the archive
Related projects and collaborations
Artists with overlapping styles
Electric Universe
Boris Blenn’s Berlin-based Goa and Psytrance project, active since the early 1990s and known for melodic drive, live guitar and a large continuously evolving catalogue.
Mekkanikka
Swiss producer Nicolas Oesch’s veteran psytrance project, linking the early Spirit Zone era with later full-on and international festival networks.
Skazi
Asher Swissa’s Israeli electronic project, formed from a punk and rock background and known for fusing Psytrance with distorted guitar and high-impact crossover production.
0101
Short-lived collaboration of Total Eclipse founder Stéphane Holweck and Greek producer Marios Trivyzas, preceding their modern Total Eclipse partnership.
1200 Micrograms
Ibiza-based psytrance supergroup linking Raja Ram and TIP Records with the GMS production axis.
8ternal Beings
8ternal Beings is the Psytrance collaboration of Tristan Cooke and NANO Records label boss Regan Tacon, earliest known on record in 2025.