After 27 years performing as Cosmic Gate, Stefan Bossems has announced he is stepping away from the project. 

Known to fans as DJ Bossi, Stefan Bossems confirmed his decision in a joint statement with Nic Chagall, who will carry the Cosmic Gate name forward as a solo act. Since forming in 1999, Stefan Bossems and Nic Chagall built an international following through releases such as Fire Wire, Exploration of Space, and Back to Earth, before later expanding into vocal and progressive records including Be Your Sound, Nothing to Hide, and Fall Into You. Their studio albums, including Sign of the Times (2009), Start to Feel (2014), and the two-part Materia project (2017–2018), reflect their shift from early hard and tech trance into a more melodic and progressive direction.

From Cologne to the International Trance Stage

When Stefan Bossems and Nic Chagall began working together in Cologne in 1999, their early output aligned with the harder German trance movement of the time. Releases such as Fire Wire and Exploration of Space became widely played across European clubs and major festival lineups in the early 2000s, introducing the Cosmic Gate name well beyond Germany.

A decade later, the album Sign of the Times in 2009 marked a clear turning point in their catalogue. The project featured a stronger emphasis on vocal collaborations and melodic songwriting, a direction that continued on Start to Feel in 2014 and the two-part Materia albums released in 2017 and 2018. Tracks with Emma Hewitt and JES helped expand their reach, particularly in North America where melodic and progressive trance had a growing audience.

Alongside studio releases, Wake Your Mind Radio became a central extension of the project. Spanning hundreds of episodes, the show featured premieres, guest mixes, and tour updates. Appearances at events such as Tomorrowland and showcases connected to A State of Trance reflected their continued presence across different phases of the genre.

What Happens Next for Cosmic Gate

In their public announcement, Stefan Bossems confirmed that stepping away from touring ultimately means leaving Cosmic Gate entirely. The message emphasized respect, gratitude, and the long friendship between both artists, reflecting on nearly three decades of performing and producing together across different eras of trance.

The statement also made clear that Cosmic Gate will continue under Nic Chagall as a solo act. Upcoming performances, including Manchester and A State of Trance Rotterdam, are scheduled to proceed under this new structure, marking the first shows without Bossems as part of the project. For the first time since 1999, the Cosmic Gate name will represent a single artist on stage and in future releases, signaling a structural shift in how the brand operates while keeping the identity intact.

What This Transition Represents

With Stefan Bossems stepping away, Cosmic Gate moves into its first period of continuity under a single creative lead. For a project that operated as a partnership for its entire existence, that change alters not only the stage dynamic but also the internal decision-making behind future releases.

The catalogue remains intact, the name remains active, and upcoming shows remain confirmed. What changes is the configuration behind it. As Nic Chagall assumes full control of performances and production under the Cosmic Gate banner, the project enters a new structural phase while carrying nearly three decades of history behind it.