An electronic anthem, recharged
“Insomnia” is one of the most defining tracks of 90s club culture – a piece that shaped the charts, raves and entire generations. Now, 30 years later, the classic returns in a form that neither sounds nostalgic nor museum-like. The Symphony of Unity has completely rearranged the piece: strings, brass, percussion and the famous silence before the drop give the track a cinematic force that is more reminiscent of a score than a rework.
“The orchestration brings together all the emotions, styles and rhythmic impulses of this classic,” says the conductor Kevin Houben. For the ensemble, “Insomnia” has been an integral part of the live sets for ten years and a studio version was overdue.
The orchestral version has already been presented at some of the project’s biggest shows: including Tomorrowland, the UNITY shows at the Sphere in Las Vegas and a sold-out debut show at the Antwerp Expo. Percussionist Lars van den Oever sees this as the essence of the project: “We were able to bring so many people together again with EDM and an orchestra. That’s an incredible feeling!”
A foretaste of the upcoming album
After their first release “Reload” on Tomorrowland Music, “Insomnia” is the next step on the way to their first album, which is scheduled to be released in 2026.
“With the release of ‘Insomnia’ we are now taking the next step on this path,” said Kevin Houben. “Our first album will be released in 2026. A unique and intensive collaboration between the entire team, from the label to the studio, has really brought this project to life.”
Why this reinterpretation works right now
The force of Faithlessthe emotional charge of the melody and the eternal recognition make “Insomnia” more than just a nostalgic hit. His themes – restlessness, pressure and self-searching – are almost more relevant today than they were in the 90s. That the Symphony of Unity Charging this material orchestrally doesn’t seem like a gimmick, but rather like a logical development: the same urgency, just in a new sound cosmos.
Fotocredit: Tomorrowland