“I’m happy to say that I had a really positive year with a lot of amazing gigs,” says Dash Berlin; and his incredible work ethic amid a daunting schedule explains why he is known as the Flying Dutchman. Born Jeff X. Sutorius, the Dutch trance DJ began his career in 2008 and after his release of “Till the Sky Falls Down” the same year he was propelled to a status reserved for the likes of Tiesto, Above and Beyond and Armin van Buuren.

In fact, it was Buuren’s Armada label and the inclusion of “Till the Sky Falls Down” in his Universal Religion album that helped catapult Berlin to the top. Not only did 2010 see him moving up from number 105 in 2009 to number 15 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Poll, ("a huge highlight for me," he admits) he was also nominated three times in two categories and won “Best HiNRG/Euro Track” at the 25th International Dance Music Awards. He was also given a prestigious nomination for “Best Trance Track” at the 2010 Trance Awards for “Man on the Run” and listed twice in Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance Top 20 tracks in 2010—such has been the velocity of his climb. Credit should be given to his definitive “Berlin sound,” an inventive play in melodic construction boasting the memorable (and often haunting) vocals of some of the most-sought after artists in trance.

“The global response to the preview of ’Disarm Yourself’ on A State of Trance has been really overwhelming,” says Berlin of the first single from his forthcoming album. Collaborating again with Australian vocalist Emma Hewitt after their last highly acclaimed release “Waiting,” Berlin again delivers an emotionally charged experience. “I think music has the power to move us in all kinds of ways—good or bad. It’s basically a mirror,” he adds. “The way we respond to music says a lot about who we are and how we feel. Trance music is very harmonic and melodic, which can really move people in a positive way.”

Catch Dash Berlin on Jan 8, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-30 includes two drinks.