Gouryella

Gouryella is a Dutch trance group formed in 1998 by Tijs Verwest and Ferry Corsten. The project operates in electronic and trance music and is associated with uplifting trance and related progressive and techno styles.

Formation and name

The name Gouryella comes from an Aboriginal word meaning heaven. The project begins as a collaboration between two established Dutch artists, who work together under the Gouryella name to produce euphoric trance tracks.

Releases and style

Gouryella is known for six tracks: Gouryella, Gorella, Walhalla, In Walhalla, Tenshi and Ligaya. The first release, Gouryella, appears in 1999 and draws strong praise, with remixes by DJ Gigilo and Armin van Buuren. Walhalla also appears in 1999 and includes remixes by Armin van Buuren and Hybrid. Tenshi follows in 2000 and shows a shift towards a more electronic sound, with a remix by Transa. Ligaya appears in 2001 and differs from the earlier singles by including female vocals; its remixes include versions by Paul Van Dyk, Green Court and Airbase.

B-sides, label activity and other aliases

Gorella and In Walhalla are B-sides and are not released in the UK, though they appear on German and Dutch import CDs. The Gouryella material is issued widely across multiple labels, with 20 separate CD releases of the four Gouryella tracks coming from nine different labels. Corsten and Verwest also release two tracks under the name Vimana in 1999: We Came, with the B-side Dreamtime. That alias is used because those tracks are not considered suitable for release under the Gouryella name.

Collaborations and later activity

Gouryella also remixes two tracks for other artists in 1999: Solange’s Messages and Binary Finary’s 1999. Late in 2000, Verwest leaves the project to focus on solo work, and Corsten continues the project on his own for Ligaya in 2001. The group is active from 1998 to 2004.