A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH SASHA

You would think that having remixed material for Madonna and the Chemical Brothers, the most in vogue DJ would have a bigger head. Surprisingly, you will find that Sasha, Britain's most famous export since James Bond, is humble. I sat down with Sasha, as he had just arrived into one airport, checked into a hotel, and was about to check out and board another plane for a gig at the Palace in Los Angeles with John Digweed, to talk about his life and times.


FRED JUNG: How did it all begin?

SASHA: I started clubbing out in Manchester like in 1988, to a club called the Hacienda, and I just immediately got into the music there. I started playing records, and pretty much by the end of the year, I gotten my first couple of gigs and it all just kind of grew from there, expanded. I just started opening up, and things just started to build.


FJ: Did you know right away that this was the life for you?

SASHA: Oh, I had no idea of what I was going to do. I dropped out of college and just didn't have a clue as to what I was going to do really, so I moved to Manchester so I can go out and go clubbing and stuff.


FJ: So you found some salvation in the music?

SASHA: Definitely! I mean, I have no idea of what I'd be doing now if I wasn't playing records because I really didn't get too many qualifications you know? Yeah, definitely, definitely found a salvation of some sort in the music.

FJ: Who were some of your influences?

SASHA: Well, when I was younger, I used to listen to a lot of pop music and whatever, just loads of different stuff. I just changed my taste every month, really. It wasn't until I started going out clubbing that I got into electronic music, but I really became obsessed with that music.


FJ: It must feel pretty damn good to be the one influencing people?

SASHA: It feels great and kind of weird. Since this whole electronic thing really exploded, and especially how it got to America so fast over the last three or four years, it just feels really great that I got to be a part of that and helped to build that scene.


FJ: You are, no doubt, a celebrity now, and with that comes a lot of the baggage, is that tough?

SASHA: Obviously, it's taken me to the far corners of the earth. It gave me a lifestyle that is just unbelievable. I can't really complain about anything. The whole lifestyle has just been amazing, really. I don't think that there is anything else I could've done that would have given me the opportunity to travel and meet people. This is what DJing has done. I can't really say that I have any problems about that.


FJ: But you remember when times were harder?

SASHA: Yeah, there was this time in about '94, or '95 when there was this sort of backlash against the sounds of this sort of music that I was playing in England. I just kind of took off and did my own thing, kept from playing the sounds. There was also this time around 1990 where I couldn't get gigs, to the point of giving up for a while. It was for about six months, and then I started doing this club called Shelly's, and it started this trend. I think that was the club that really put me onto the map. I guess this sort of national name. It was definitely up to that point where I was getting desperate with no money, just difficult times.


FJ: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

SASHA: I guess the first time I ever got a gig in the Hacienda was a real high moment, the first time we played at Twilo, and got the residency going there, that was a real high point. I mean, the first time I played in Australia, or South Africa, I guess each first time I get to visit a new place and it's really exciting. A new scene and a fresh crowd when I'm doing a tour are always real exciting times.


FJ: How far do you and John Digweed go back?

SASHA: Oh, we started to play together about six years ago, and pretty much after the first gig, we really hit it off together. It just developed from there, really. But we've had a really good relationship.


FJ: So what is your favorite gig?

SASHA: Twilo's (New York City) probably my favorite club to play at. Spundane in San Francisco and this new club which is called Fabric, opening up in London which is really great, definitely, have been my favorites so far.


FJ: Between all the traveling in and out of hotels and airports, producing, performing, how do you find time for yourself?

SASHA: I moved out to this house in the countryside so I definitely do have a little more time for myself now. But still, I don't really get much time for myself. When I'm traveling is about my quietest time, on the airplane. I just chill there before a gig. So, I enjoy those times.


FJ: Any issues you would like to address to your audience?

SASHA: Uh, I'd rather not get into poetry (laughing).


FJ: Then for those that come out to hear you perform and listen to your records, what would like them to take away from your music?

SASHA: Well, it's about educating people, and at the same time entertaining people. It's about finding the balance between the two, and making sure that all the people just have a real exciting time, and they go away experiencing new music, and new sounds, and making sure that they have smiles on their faces all night. This is the most important thing. It's a quite simple philosophy, really (laughing).


FJ: So when you have downtime, whom have you been listening to?

SASHA: Yeah, I mean I have musical heroes. People like William Orbit. He's definitely a hero of mine. I also love what Peter Gabriel has done with his new label. He's really talented. I guess recently, I listen to a lot of old music like the Beatles, and Beach Boys, which is kind of weird cause I just got back into the music that I would listen to when I was a kid.


FJ: So what do with your downtime? Do you still go clubbing at all?

SASHA: Well, it's really difficult for me to do that. I'm pretty much always checking in, and checking out of parties. But, when I do have the time, I like to go scuba diving and stuff like that. Just completely get away from the music and get some sun. But, it doesn't really happen (laughing).


FJ: As one of the busiest people in music, do you have any free time?

SASHA: No, it's just really hard to find the time. I'm going to take two weeks off in January to just get away and just completely chill out. Recharge my batteries, but, I don't get to do it that often.


Fred Jung is the Editor-In-Chief and John Woo shouldn't make anything but action movies with Chow Yun-Fat. Comments? Email Him