Don Hotchin: You are one of the, if not THE, best DJ in the world. Why do you think so many people think this?
Weird, you know, weird. Every DJ in the limelight that has success has great nights and bad nights and I think all the DJs in the top 20 have fans out there that think they`re the dogs nuts and every DJ has sets which they think are the best and every DJ has sets where they hope no-one was listening! I don't know, I just do what I do and love what I do and constantly try to push things forward with the music. Perhaps it`s the unpredictability. People come to hear me because I try to push a new sound. I don't know why me instead of other people.
Annie: If you had to vote in a poll of top 100 DJs who'd be top of your list?
At the moment, I don't know...I would have to say Mr Tenaglia would get my vote and John will kill me. I think his attitude is wicked, he has an open minded attitude to music. He`s not caught up in the competitive DJ system, he just does his own thing and loves it and appreciates other DJs. He knows how to move people, not just by playing vocal records but he knows how to twist your head off! He seems to be able to interact. He`s done DJ sets with Digweed and Cox - he`s open minded. They talk about the Tenaglia sound but it`s so broad it`s more about his attitude. Nothing good is unplayable and the sets he puts together go back to the Hacienda where you`d hear acidhouse, hiphop and those are the most influential days for me. He manages to make it all fit together. There`s an energy to his mixing that no-one else has and it`s the same for John (Digweed). John can put records together and if you can mix like that then you can make it all fit.
Joey: When is your website going to be completed?
We gave up on it last year. We will relaunch round about album time. It was a disaster last year!
Reedy, Newcastle: How do you feel about your mix CD's being downloaded by people from the net, sometimes before they've even been released?
I don't have a problem with it generally. I don't think it affects sales badly. But I`d be fucked off if album tracks were on the internet before the album was released.
Bunion Face: What's the worst mistake you've ever made?
Of course I've made mistakes but even the bad decisions I've made throughout my life have led me to this point and I've been lucky to scrape through the last years without making too many. I should have learned my way around the studio when I was 18 or 19 rather than leaving it till five years ago. I didn't have to know how the studio worked and I was just the producer. It`s taken me 5/6 years to get my head around it.
John Digweed: Do you think the album can live up to the hype?
Probably not. I want to get this out of the way so I can move on. Whether it sells 50,000 or 500,000 it`s going to be something personal to me. The process of making this album has been a 5 year journey and I want to get on and make the next one. I want to get on the ladder so I can move on. As long as the DJs are into it and the music gets played out I'm happy.
(And, by the way, I don't think it could be the real John cos he`s in the car on his way to Leeds now.)
Barry Breslin Sasha, have you ever ridden a horse?
I have but I hated it, horses scare the **** out of me! I did it once in the Grand Canyon with John Digweed.
Radio1_Hostess: Ermm, we think Sasha means he rode a horse with John Digweed...
Gould: Do you get on with Oakey?
Never see him to be honest - we don't DJ any more because he does his own thing. I think he`s living in Ireland now and our paths don't cross. We`re acquaintances.
Philip l: Sasha, what kind of car do you drive?
I can`t drive but I have an Audi A8 which is in the garage! I'm moving back to London so you don't need a car. It`s been fantastic to be in the countryside because this house is my first real home. But I think this last year I've missed being around my friends and there have been times I've wished I could go out with my mates. I'm looking forward to being back in London but I'm selling the house and I have a house in London which will be ready to move into at the end of the year. I`ll miss the pace of life here but I've missed my friends.
Missy: How has your life changed since becoming a top DJ?
I'm sure I've changed considerably from being 18 to 32. It`s a long time and I've done a lot of growing up. I`d like to think I've still got my feet on the ground but I've grown up and the experiences I've had I've learned from them, they`ve become part of me. I'm sure I've changed, but only my friends could answer this question.
Oli: Where do you go clubbing yourself and what do you do to chill out?
I`d probably go to Fabric and listen to Lee and Craig play. I like the vibe in that club and
because it`s in London my friends would be there. I pop to Bedrock because John is there.
Ryan Mc: How much r you getting paid for this chat?
Isn`t it something like five pounds a word...I didn't know I was being paid.
Radio1-Hostess: You're not mate!
Barry Breslin: Is Xpander your favourite piece of work?
I`d have to say yes. I hadn`t made a record for a while and it was the first thing I made with Charlie May. It was a magical moment in the studio and I still love to play that record out. Of all the records it's the only one that always stays in my box. It was difficult to make but at the same time it was the day all the elements came together in the studio and I thought "this is going to be a big one!"
Scott: Who would you most like to produce?
I`d like to get into a scenario where I have my own records, like William Orbit, who produced Madonna. I`d like to take on a challenge like that but I'm not ready for that yet. It's something I aspire to. There are so many different ways of doing things and it's a challenge to see how creative you can be. I haven't learned everything. In future I`d like to produce a band or artist to create their own sound.
Dan: Good Luck with the Love Weekend! I've got my first DJ gig this weekend at a festival competition and I only have 30 mins to impress! Any advice u can give? What tune should I use as a secret weapon?
30 minutes...how do you do a DJ set in 30 minutes?! And if people are judging you and thinking "that mix is out" - that`s pressure. Try not to get too wound up about it and have some fun. When nerves kick in it can get overwhelming.
Matthias Helmchen: What's your message for the youth?
I don't have a message for youth..I`m not a politician. I hate questions like that!
There`s no message in what I'm doing I'm just a lucky ******* and I hope people can experience the same life I've had. I must have been born under a lucky star!
DJ LEVEL: What is your favourite record of all time?
I don't know, it`s hard to pinpoint one music. Ce Ce Rogers "Someday" at the Hacienda when only DJs had copies - but I don't think it`s stood the test of time. Since then there have been so many influential records. Leftism set the standards for production and it still sounds amazing. The ideas on that album took many years to filter through to other types of music.
Bun Head: How's life going now you're becoming a fit man? We met your trainer at Homelands and he said he regularly kicked your butt!
Yeah, well I've fallen off the wagon since I started DJing again I've only been about 3 times this last month. It`s hard to keep up the regime when DJing. I do it at the hotels I stay at. I pound the running machine. I'm the same taking vitimins. It`s important to keep focused on looking after yourself.
Danny Stone: The world is going to end in 1 hour, what last things would you do?
I don't know, it would depend where I was and who I was with. Probably just play my favourite music!
Whizz Smells: Is it true that you got paid $600k to play NYE in Australia?
No, it was 1.2 million (laughs)! No I got a healthy cheque but nothing near that much!
Ryan Mc: What is your 'If all else fails' tune?
Yehe Yehi, Dark and Long, Expander. I try to get some big records on if I'm in trouble.
I just try to pick the energy up.
Flossy the sheep: Do you think the dance scene has turned into all fur coats and no knickers?
It`s changed, definitely changed. There`s a big commercial aspect to dance music. The underground parties from 1988 have gone but it`s still out there. There`s still fantastic music. People moan it isn`t as good as it was but it`s still very healthy. The music is still great and interesting. Whether commercial music in big clubs is interesting is another matter!
Sung Kim: How do you balance the urge to play for the crowd as well as playing for yourself when you are playing at a gig?
You have to be aware of what is going on in the room. If you block off from that you can`t lock into where the crowd is at. Fabric late night would be different to the main stage at Love Parade or Homelands and some gigs you have to give the crowd pleasing records because they want those moments. Whereas late night at Fabric the crowd will follow you because it`s the vibe in that club.
Radio1-Hostess: That's all we've got time for. Here's Sasha with a final word...
I'm playing at the Telewest Arena only as other things were cancelled. Going out live on Radio 1 - 10 to 11pm. Oh and I've been thinking about what my favourite record is! Records I always take on holiday are Talk Talk, Spirit of Eden. A beautiful Bob Marley album too. I've got so much old stuff, Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" - they have to be in there as my all time favourites. Songs we grew up with. I got into Abba about 2 years ago...
Other Love Weekend Chats
Seb Fontaine
Pete Tong
Sonique
John Digweed
Erick Morillo
Radio 1 Controller - Andy Parfitt
Back to the Love Parade homepage.
