Above & Beyond have made a triumphant return with “When You Believe,” a compelling new collaboration featuring the acclaimed singer-songwriter Victoria Horn. The track masterfully pairs uplifting, optimistic lyrics with a darker, brooding Balearic chord progression, creating a sonic landscape that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Released alongside an official Above & Beyond Club Mix, the single finds the iconic trio embracing an unmistakable ’90s dance spirit while pushing the boundaries of their signature melodic electronic sound.
At the core of the track lies a message of resilience and hope, anchored by the refrain: “When you believe in love, you believe in life. And your life will love you back.” This hopeful sentiment provides a striking contrast to the track’s shadowy harmonic foundation, giving the record a profound emotional weight. This collaboration marks the second time the trio has worked with Victoria Horn, following their fan-favorite 2015 hit “Counting Down The Days” from the album We Are All We Need.
A Nostalgic Foundation with Modern Structure
Reflecting on the creative process, Jono Grant of Above & Beyond notes that the track’s genesis was rooted in a specific, nostalgic aesthetic. “It’s got a real ‘90s feel to it,” Grant explains. “When our A&R heard the opening bassline, he said it reminded him of Haddaway, which definitely speaks to the ‘90s influence behind it.”
Beyond the production, the song stands out for its unconventional songwriting. Grant highlights the chorus as a key differentiator, noting that it features an unusual number of bars for a standard dance arrangement. “When Victoria came in with this chorus, it sounded so unique, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until I realized it had an ‘off’ number of bars. That’s when I knew we had something really good here,” he adds.
Expanding the Legacy
For Victoria Horn, this release represents another significant milestone in a career that has spanned decades. Having worked with industry titans like Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, and Pete Tong, Horn brings a wealth of experience to the project. “I know how lucky and blessed I am to be chosen to sing on an Above & Beyond track,” she says. “I hope that it reaches the people that it needs to reach.”
The release follows a massive period for the trio, who recently completed a global tour selling approximately 175,000 tickets following their fifth studio album, Bigger Than All Of Us. This scale of live performance necessitated the creation of the Above & Beyond Club Mix, which has been rigorously tested across North American amphitheaters and European festival stages. Both the original and the club-focused interpretation are now available via Anjunabeats, offering listeners two distinct ways to experience this powerful collaboration.