Christopher Lawrence

At the turn of the decade, trance was arguably the most popular sound in the dance world. As time went on, however, "trance" became a dirty word, largely due to overexposure: It was simply inescapable. L.A.'s Christopher Lawrence (due at the Church this Thursday, July 20) is one of a select few DJs who were able to push it to new heights. As a result, he actually survived the fallout. Of course, he's also a kick-ass jock who's not bound by the peaks and valleys of any one style. A seminal trance DJ when his career began, Lawrence -- whose sound also incorporates elements of house, electro and harder techno -- has managed to transcend the genre and become a true figurehead of American electronic music. -- Timothy Pittz