Ayla

Seminal German trance producer Ingo Kunzi worked under multiple pseudonyms such as DJ Tandu, Intrance, D-Sign, and Karuma, yet achieved his greatest recognition with the 1996 classic “Ayla,” issued under that exact moniker. He began creating music at the age of five. Drawing early inspiration from Supertramp and Pat Metheny, Kunzi first operated within the rock milieu, constructing his personal studio in 1985 and handling demo recordings for rock acts until electronic sounds caught his attention through Cosmic Baby and Talla 2XLC’s Moskwa TV endeavor. His initial breakthrough arrived via the Intrance collective, whose 1993 single “Te Quierro” reached number 16 on the German charts—an impressive achievement during electronic dance music’s nascent phase. Subsequent releases “Always,” “Dosta,” and “Visions of Love” appeared before the group disbanded. Kunzi introduced the DJ Tandu alias in 1994 via the “Acido” EP, marking his initial venture into uncompromising trance marked by a hard, psychedelic edge; the record ultimately surpassed 10,000 copies sold.

The Ayla endeavor originated in 1995 when Kunzi produced a fresh track named after a studio acquaintance. Concluding that its lush, hypnotic, and ethereal qualities diverged from the DJ Tandu aesthetic, he elected to launch a distinct project bearing the same title. The track rapidly ascended the German dance charts. Much of its impact stemmed from the euphoric, high-energy remix crafted by longtime associates Taucher—comprising Ralph-Armand Beck and Torsten Stenzel—which endures as the most familiar rendition. A 1999 reissue on the influential Positiva label propelled it directly to number 22 on the U.K. singles chart, securing Kunzi’s strongest chart placement to that point. The piece also featured in a McDonald’s advertisement and graced the soundtrack of the British comedy Kevin & Perry Go Large.

Ayla’s follow-up arrived as the single “Atlantis.” Four additional singles ensued: “Ayla, Pt. 2,” a joint effort with Beck and Stenzel that entered the German pop Top 40; “Liebe” (“Love”), a reinterpretation of the Cosmic Baby original; “Angelfalls,” which Kunzi has repeatedly cited as his favorite Ayla recording; and “Into the Light.” With the exception of “Atlantis,” these cuts appeared on the 1999 debut album Nirwana, which performed strongly. Harder-edged follow-ups “Singularity”—a cover of the Brainchild classic—and “Sun Is Coming Out” surfaced after the album. In 2002, citing difficulties with his label and a desire for respite, Kunzi placed the Ayla project on hold to pursue other ventures. Nine years later, in 2011, he resurfaced with the anticipated second album Unreleased Secrets. During 2015 he reunited with former colleagues Taucher, now operating solely as Beck, and York (Stenzel) for the progressive house single “Free Yourself.” As of 2016, Kunzi and Taucher were actively developing a joint album.