Tiësto is back in fast trance territory. His new single, "Hard To Be Around," is a collaboration with Berlin artists CLEOPARD2000 and CH4YN.

At a glance

  • Artists: Tiësto, CLEOPARD2000 and CH4YN
  • Released: October 2, 2026
  • Label: Musical Freedom / Atlantic Records
  • Tempo: 143 BPM

What it sounds like

The track borrows from the vocal trance and Eurotrance of the '90s and 2000s, then speeds it up for today's clubs. Expect fast kicks, a driving bassline and bright, euphoric synths, with very little downtime.

The vocals add a darker, more emotional side. They deal with self-doubt and the feeling of being "hard to be around," which sits against the high-energy beat.

Old school meets new school

Tiësto helped make trance huge in the 2000s. CLEOPARD2000 and CH4YN come from Berlin's current club scene, where faster, harder trance is having a big moment. Together they connect the two eras.

The single is part of Tiësto's Prismatic era, where he has been mixing his classic sound with newer styles.

Source: EDMTunes.

Photo: Tiësto at Airbeat One 2017 by Julia Keiser, CC BY-SA 4.0.