Mars

Michael Robbins and Eric Newman, known as Mars and Mystre, were pioneers of San Francisco's trance scene, throwing raves around the city from around 1996 to 2000 and releasing the Mars vs. Mystre mixtape series in 1997 and 1998. Their parties were announced on the SF Raves mailing list maintained by Brian Behlendorf.

Mars opened Frequency 8 on Haight Street, the first American record store dedicated to trance, and grew it into an international label and event company of the same name. In 2000 the duo released the bestselling double-CD compilation Faith In 2000, featuring tracks by Art of Trance, DJ Tandu, and ATB alongside originals like "Electric Blue" and "Save the Rave," plus a collaboration with Germany's Nostrum on "Eye in the Sky."

Mars and Mystre parted ways after Faith In 2000, and Mars continued solo, releasing Symphonic Metamorphosis in 1996, May Peace Prevail in 1997, and later Sonic Sunrise and Alienaided.