Recluse

Recluse is a trance group made up of Espen Gulbrandsen and Thomas Nøkling. The project also appears in the context of raw black metal and dungeon synth, but the core act is the trance collaboration between the two producers. Gulbrandsen and Nøkling first work together on Recluse after meeting through earlier music activity and online releases, with the project developing from a remix of Critical7’s “Lost”, which is picked up by Lost Language.

Thomas Nøkling

Thomas Nøkling, also known as Manipura, is born in Bergen, Norway in 1981. He begins playing piano at the age of eight, then moves into computer-based production and starts making trance at 16. His early influences include Ferry Corsten and Tiësto. He later switches from tracker software to MIDI sequencers and hardware. Alongside Recluse, he uses the aliases Manipura and 34th Assembly. Under Manipura, he focuses mainly on melodic breaks with harmonic and balearic melodies.

Nøkling’s first Manipura track, “Halcyon Days”, is released by Minimal Records in 2004 and quickly becomes one of Sasha’s favourites during the summer. His music is set for release on labels including 3Beat, Loöq, Minimal, Deepblue, Furry Music, CP Recordings and Heavy Rotation. With Stian Klo of Furry Nipples, he forms Seyton, and their track “The Drake Equation” is featured on Global Underground 028. His productions receive support from DJs including Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, Shiloh, Pete Tong, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Hernan Cattaneo and Paul Van Dyk.

Espen Gulbrandsen

Espen Gulbrandsen starts playing instruments at an early age, beginning with clarinet in a school marching band, then piano, then guitar, before returning to piano at 12. He turns to sequencing after finding a basic MS-DOS program on the PC at 13, and continues developing more advanced production tools. He later works with Thomas Nøkling, and Recluse becomes their collaboration project after his mp3.com success under the name Fantasy.

Under Fantasy, Gulbrandsen releases music through mp3.com and builds links with musicians around the world. He is also asked to remix for the Easter West division of Warner France. In 2003 he writes three singles: “Yellow Moon”, “Isle Dauphine” and “Emotional Void”. These tracks receive support from Armin van Buuren, while “Isle Dauphine” also receives support from Tiësto and Paul van Dyk. Through Thomas, he becomes acquainted with Stian Klo and Lars Jacobsen, leading to further collaborations, including work with Lars on melodic balearic progressive house and with Stian on a more rhythm-focused progressive style.