From Film Scores to the Dance Floor: Aaron Hibell Finds Alignment on Synchronicity

The producer blends cinematic ambition with trance energy on his most intentional project yet.

Article Contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff

Photos contributed by UMG 1824

For Aaron Hibell, releasing Synchronicity isn’t simply about putting out another album. It’s about revealing a body of work that has been quietly forming for years — one shaped by patience, instinct, and a creative philosophy rooted in timing and trust.

Across its 11 tracks, Synchronicity blends orchestral atmosphere with trance and late-night techno, creating a sound that often feels closer to a film score than a traditional dance record. But what gives the album its emotional weight isn’t just the cinematic scope. It’s the intention behind it. When Soundcheck Mag spoke with Hibell, he described Synchronicity as the first time he truly approached a release as a complete artistic statement. “I think this is the first project which feels very intentional,” he told us. While earlier releases were more like “snapshots and collections of tracks throughout a period,” this album was built as a continuous listening experience.

“You can kind of hear that in the way the tracks flow into one another… that’s something I really wanted to make a part of this project."

Following his debut album Astral Projection, Synchronicity represents a shift toward a more deliberate vision. Despite being written over several years, Hibell said the album didn’t feel difficult to assemble. Hibell explained that although the songs came from different moments in his life, they all shared what he described as “a real through line.” He continued, “In the end it wasn’t like a jigsaw puzzle. It kind of just flowed, it really did.” That natural alignment ties directly into the album’s title. Hibell had been thinking about the concept of synchronicity for years, and when the time came to shape the project, he wanted the process to reflect that concept. Rather than forcing songs into place, he let them develop organically.

“It was really important not to force anything. I wanted the right tracks to flow at the right time.”

That mindset also grew out of personal experience. Hibell has spoken openly about health struggles that changed how he views both life and creativity. Going through that period forced him to slow down and become more present, a shift that ultimately influenced the tone of the album. Because of those challenges, he said he now tries to “take less things for granted” and focus more on the small moments that often go unnoticed. That perspective carried directly into his music-making. “I’d say it definitely made me more present and appreciative of things,” he reflected. “And in my music making, I think that’s also been the case.”

Musically, Synchronicity draws inspiration from artists known for cinematic storytelling. Hibell points to Porter Robinson as a meaningful comparison, noting his admiration for Robinson as “an album-driven artist” who creates expansive soundscapes. But many of Hibell’s biggest influences come from film. Composers like Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Göransson helped shape the album’s epic sound. Hibell describes his goal as bringing that cinematic intensity “into a trance/techno lane,” merging orchestral emotion with electronic energy.

The creative process behind the record reflects that same balance between structure and freedom. Again and again, Hibell described creativity as something that thrives when artists stop overthinking and allow their instincts to take over.

“The creative process for me is all about getting into that state of play where you can just let music flow from.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6IuThLAUVs

Ironically, that freedom often comes from limitation. Rather than leaving himself with endless possibilities in the studio, Hibell sometimes sets strict boundaries to spark creativity. One of his favorite techniques is a “one hour track” challenge, where he must finish a complete piece within sixty minutes regardless of the outcome. Removing the pressure to make something perfect, he explained, often leads to surprising results. “i feel lost,” one of his most popular tracks, came together during one of those sessions.

Environment also played a key role in shaping the album’s atmosphere. Much of Synchronicity was created near the sea in Hibell’s hometown in the UK. When he needed inspiration, he would walk along the rugged coastline and record the sounds around him. Those recordings — waves, wind, and shifting sand — found their way into the album’s transitions and textures. “I’d go down to the beach and take field recordings of the sea, the winds hitting the dunes,” he said. “I layered those ambient sounds into the album to give it context.”

That immersive mindset carries into his live performances as well. Hibell sees a live show as more than a DJ set — it’s an emotional journey designed to move between explosive energy and quieter moments of connection. Ultimately, he wants audiences to leave feeling transformed.

“I always want to leave people with this sense of euphoria at the end.”

Fans across the United States and Canada will soon get the chance to experience that firsthand as Hibell prepares for the upcoming North American leg of his tour. For him, the live show is where the world of Synchronicity truly comes alive — a space where cinematic atmosphere, dance-floor energy, and human connection all meet. If the album itself is about alignment and creative flow, Hibell at the edge of the stage is where those ideas find their fullest expression.