Trance has long been associated with otherworldly tingles but the odd sensations Gareth Emery experienced back in January had little to do with the euphoric hands-in-the-air moments he is so used to creating. "I was getting these crazy burning and numbing sensations in my hands," Emery tells us. "But no matter how many tests I had, no doctor could tell me what was wrong. They finally realised it was an under-active thyroid disorder." Yet despite the ailment, under-activity isn't something you could ascribe to Emery's year. Jetting across Asia, Eastern Europe and Ibiza, Emery missed just one gig as a result of it, bagged his first hallowed Essential Mix and has watched his electro-fused anthem 'This Is That' get caned all year by the likes of Tiësto, Armin and Ferry. Part confirming his elevation into the trance super-league, this year has also seen Emery sign up with the omni-potent David Lewis, the management powerhouse who guides the flight of Armin and others, whilst his debut set in Ukraine was greeted with huge banners emblazoned with his name. "In quite a few of my US and Eastern European gigs I had people chanting my name for the first time," he beams, citing his Ibizan debuts at Amesia's Armada and Judge Jules' Judgement Sundays as respectively offering the best club and the best atmosphere the globe has to offer.