Trance is a genre built on euphoria and connection, and it has recently seen a major resurgence in the United States. This growing force has been kept alive by dedicated communities and a handful of champions like Dreamstate. Psychedelic trance, also known as psytrance, is the higher bpm, bassline-driven subgenre of trance. It exists on the fringes of that growing world. And there pulsing beneath the surface is where Denver-based Formula None has built his sound, now evolving it by channeling his influences into something distinctly new.
Formula None, born Siyab Khan, didn’t grow up surrounded by dance floors or festival stages. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan, before his family moved to New York, then St. Louis, Missouri, and eventually Colorado Springs in 2008. Music found him early, not through lessons or instruments, but through curiosity. As a kid, he dug into his older brother’s CD collection, which was stacked with electronic music. This is where he discovered artists like Eiffel 65, ATB, Paul Van Dyk, and Darude.
A defining moment arrived in the early days of YouTube, when Siyab stumbled upon ATB’s Live @ Sensation White set. As the track “Ecstasy” played, something clicked. “At that moment, I realized I was really into this music, and I knew I had to learn how it was made.”
That spark quickly turned into an obsession. He dove into the catalogs of Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond, Lange, Gareth Emery, Tiësto, and Armin van Buuren, steadily sinking deeper into the genre. Around that time, a friend named Rob, who hosted an online radio show as a happy hardcore DJ, took him under his wing. “Rob was one of the first people to teach me the basics of not only DJing but music production. I am eternally grateful to him for taking that time to help me.”
For years, Siyab focused on writing slower, more traditional trance, drawn to its emotional and melodic pull. He experimented within the sound that first inspired him, but despite steady effort, the music struggled to find traction or connect in a meaningful way.
Becoming Formula None
In 2018, Siyab moved to Denver, the city that would soon play a major role in his artistic growth. Soon after, he began playing shows and officially adopted the name Formula None. The name was inspired by a trance track of the same name. He connected with the idea behind it, explaining that “I felt the song didn’t want to be labeled as a specific genre, and I thought ‘what if I applied that entire concept to an artist project where you’re not focusing on one particular genre?’”
During that same time, psytrance was gaining momentum globally. One track in particular shifted his perspective. Astrix and Vertical Mode’s “Seven Gates” didn’t just impress him; it pushed him to try making psytrance himself. “When I heard that track, it blew my mind. I couldn’t believe the amount of detail, precision, sampling, and production quality.”
That decision became a turning point. Writing at higher tempos and leaning into more detailed sound design opened new creative doors. The music began to resonate in ways it hadn’t before. Support followed from artists he had long admired, along with opportunities to release music on established labels within the psytrance scene. What began as a creative experiment quickly became a focused pursuit, laying the foundation for the momentum Formula None continues to build today.
Now, when asked what advice he’d give to newcomers, his answers are practical and grounded. For DJs, he recommends live streaming on social media or Twitch as a way to practice and connect with an audience when you aren’t being booked for a show. For producers, his advice is straightforward: “Just finish songs. Write ideas, don’t get stuck on any ideas, and don’t spend months on a single song. Move on to the next one and finish as many as you can.”
For listeners just discovering his music, Formula None points to “Whiplash” as an entry point and a sign of where he’s headed. While psytrance has been central to building his fan base, he’s ready to evolve. He’s increasingly drawn to blending in techno elements and the early 2000s trance sound currently seeing a resurgence. The shift isn’t without anxiety. He admits he’s unsure how longtime fans will react, but he hopes they’ll grow with him as the project evolves.
Genre-blending is becoming more accepted, and this has inspired him to do the same in his music. “My goal is to pull from everything I love musically and fuse it into something original. For me, the ‘holy grail’ of creativity is making music that’s unique but still finds a way to connect with others.”
When asked about dream collaborations, his answer reaches far beyond any single genre. Alongside electronic artists who shaped his early path, his interests include progressive metal band Tool, rapper Travis Scott, R&B artist The Weeknd, producers Timbaland and Mike Shinoda, and even composer Steve Reich. At the core of all of it, his ambition is clear: to make unique music, build a lasting community, a strong team, and a recognizable brand that reflects his artistic identity.
What’s Next
What’s next is already in motion. New shows will be announced soon, and he’s placing a stronger focus on short-form content, especially on TikTok. “TikTok has become a new space for artists to showcase their music and get discovered. It’s a great way to experiment with new ideas and share them with others.” Behind the scenes, he’s doing what he’s always done, continuing to develop his sound and provide high-quality DJ performances.
Outside the studio, Siyab stays grounded through fitness and weightlifting. With a background in graphic design, creativity still plays a role in his life beyond music. Additionally, he has a strong interest in philosophy, politics, podcasts, technology, and Sci-Fi. “I love diving deep into fictional worlds. I can spend days reading about the lore of a story that I’m interested in.” Most importantly, he values spending time with the people closest to him.
As dance music continues to evolve, Formula None finds constant inspiration in the scene’s shifting energy. Now entering a new phase of his journey, he is leaning into a refined sound that pushes his creative boundaries further than ever. Follow along as he continues his ascent through dance music using the links below.
