Sasha and Digweed answer your questions — part II

Sasha and Digweed answer your questions — part II

30 April, 2008 | 3.00AM

• Section: Music News Topics: Sasha & Digweed Tour 2008
• Written by: Industry Boy

Last week we asked Beatportal users to pitch questions to Sasha and John Digweed, which the DJs have now answered.

Continuing the conversation from yesterday’s part I, we’ve got part II of Beatportal’s exclusive interview after the jump!

Will your gigs ever be transmitted live via the Internet? (kr3gzd3)

Digweed: I’m sure if you look at the Essential Mixes I’ve done, a lot have been live.

But I think it really can’t be replicated by listening to our sets over the Internet.

The feeling is lost, of all the people coming together to hear our music.

John, for your Kiss100 show, do you record it beforehand or is it done on-air? And how are you doing it from the U.S.?(kr3gzd3)

Digweed: I pre-record it.

It would be impossible with my schedule to be in the studio on a Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Before I left for this tour, I pre-recorded all the shows for the weeks that I planned to be away in the U.S.

Sasha, what were your first thoughts when you were told you were not allowed to cross the Canadian border? (Zaid Edghaim)

Sasha: It was a complete nightmare.

I lost my passport that contained my U.S. work visa.

The reason why I didn’t go into Canada is because I wouldn’t have been able to come back in to do the U.S. shows.

So as soon as I had two consecutive days off, I flew to London with no sleep after the Mexico gigs, spent six hours in the U.S. embassy and miraculously managed to turn my visa around in 24 hours and just managed to catch the very last flight to Seattle.

I made the gig just in time.

John, how much are you going to boast to Sasha on how incredibly you played in Toronto without him? (Zaid Edghaim)

John Digweed: It was an incredible gig and it was a shame due to the circumstances that he couldn’t play, as we haven’t played in Toronto together for a long time.

I’m glad I stepped up and gave them a good show.

And it’s good to see that Kool Haus offered discounted entry, drinks tickets and free tickets to their party the following night for all those disappointed fans who missed Sasha.

How does playing in the States compare with other parts of the world? Do you notice differences in the venues or with the clubbers, or even with your own performances? (ryan.mccall)

Sasha: Of course places are different.

That question always throws me because if you’re in a big club with dark lights and a large soundsystem then it doesn’t matter where you are.

I do change my sets depending on the size of the room, but not for different places or cities.

Sasha, what governed your slight change in musical direction of late? (Deacon78)

Sasha: I don’t know, the music I’m buying?

I think there is always a constant shift in sound, as it’s whatever records came out that month that dictate where your sound goes.

Plus, if I play with John or James Zabiela they influence my sound.

Do you have an all time favourite track that you’ll drop on clubbers on any given night? (Jonniesparko)

Sasha: No, but I do have a favourite period of music when I first started going out.

Joe Smooth, Ce Ce Rogers, all that early acid house.

But to try and pick one record out of that bunch is virtually impossible.

John Digweed: Some of the Leftfield stuff like ‘Song For Life’ I love.

I’ve been dropping New Order ‘Blue Monday’ at a few gigs on this tour.

But I don’t have one single favourite track, otherwise if I did people would expect me to play it.

At a lot of gigs people shout, “Play ‘Heaven Scent!’”, but that record was done 10 years ago.

I don’t want to keep playing the same record for 10 years.

John, when are you gonna get a haircut? (Deacon78)

Digweed: I think I should be judged on my music, not on my hairstyles [laughs].

Sasha, do you have anything to tell us about ‘Involver 2’? (ryan.mccall)

Sasha: It’s almost finished and I’m very happy with it.

It’s got tracks from M83, Home Video and the Engineers so there’s some very cool music on it.

John, are you planning on making a new ‘Transitions’ album? And when will you be playing in Dublin again? (Bsolo)

Digweed: My new ‘Transitions’ album, volume 4, is out now and I’m focusing on that.

And yes, I’ll be playing in Dublin soon, I’m sure.

Sasha, why did you name your track ‘Park it in the Shade’? (Plaxx)

Sasha: A friend of mine turned up to DC10 in Ibiza.

He gave his keys to the Guardia Civil unaware of who they were and asked them to park his car in the shade.

They bent him over the bonnet, searched him and eventually let him go.

To both Sasha and Digweed, any chance that you will be releasing another Sasha and Digweed album?! (Weeddigger)

Sasha: Not as yet.

The problem is our Sasha and Digweed albums have become iconic so the pressure to put out something better is so great.

People would inevitably compare it to ‘Northern Exposure’.

John Digweed: There won’t be anything this year as we’ve both got projects out there this year.

Plus we both live in different countries now which makes things harder.

John, have you ever had a chance to play the full 25 minute mix of ‘Gridlock’? (Weeddigger)

Digweed: No I’ve never played it out.

It was made specifically for that release, as more of a listening experience.

We also tagged on the video to give it an extra artistic focus.

Sasha, what’s the name of the very last track you played in Ultra this year? Amazing! (Ferk)

Sasha: It’s Quivver’s new record, the Scanner mix.

It’s an amazing drum & bass remix, but I can’t remember the name of the track.

Sasha, what was the track you played at Ultra Music Festival on March 17th 2007, right before Spacegypsie ‘True Love Never Dies’? (Plaxx)

Sasha: That was two years ago, I have no idea!

What were both of your thoughts on the gig you played in Montreal on December 28th, 2007 at the Pepsi Center? That party is universally accepted amongst many people I know to be legendary, one of greatest of my life for sure. (Grinder12)

John Digweed: It was amazing.

The level of production and set up was mind blowing.

When you do gigs in there it’s so inspiring.

They managed to turn it into a nightclub and the visuals were amazing, very, very impressive.

I imagine with you guys playing and producing for most of your career that you are extremely talented in many areas. A big question I have is, what happens if one day you guys wake up and don’t have a feel for the lifestyle anymore, or venues don’t have ramps for seniors to drive you rascals up to the booth? What else do you guys plan on doing after all this?  What else are interested in lifestyle-wise? (Cysis 9842)

Sasha: I really don’t know what I’m going to do when this all finishes.

I’ve put my whole life into the DJ career and I’ve never done anything else, so I can’t imagine what will happen afterwards.

But the music I’m doing in the studio for TV shows like CSI I like doing so I imagine I’m always going to be involved in music.

I might end up being one of those guys that Gordon Ramsay visits for his ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ TV show and slags off for not running a restaurant properly.

John Digweed: That’s really difficult to say.

I like cycling.

I’ve ridden 105 miles this week in the gym, which is about 15 miles a day. 

When I’m at home, I go cycling a lot through the woods, mountain biking especially.

How do you manage family life, especially you Sasha with a baby and a wife? (Andres Revo)

Sasha: It’s very hard and it has very hard being away from my family whilst we’ve been on the road.

I try not to be away two consecutive weekends but sometimes it’s impossible because the schedule is so tight.

Which football teams do you support? (Bigben)

John Digweed: Leeds United, the Mighty Whites.

We’re in League One, so I don’t get to watch them much now.

After getting relegated and then relegated again, the passion dwindles.

But we’re in the playoffs this year, so hopefully we’ll go up.

Sasha: Liverpool Football Club.

Mr. Digweed the last time that you came to Guadalajara, Mexico, you had a dinner with Mr Cesar Cossio in Nikoy’s Restaurant. He is a friend of mine, and this time I already made a reservation in one of the best restaurants in the city; I spoke with the owner and he will be excited if you both come and have a dinner before the show. If you are interested contact me and I will send the restaurant link so you can see it and check out the menu. The owner already paid for the dinner in case you both and your manager come. (Togogo)

John Digweed: Yeah I remember meeting Cesar, he’s a great guy.

We’ll see how the time schedule permits.

Thanks for the invite.

Might there be some more crowd surfing this time around? (ryan.mccall)

John Digweed: I will need a few more shots of Patron before we break out the crowd surfing.

What do I need to do to get both Sasha and Digweed to play in Nebraska? (Jonesonyou)

John: That’s something you need to contact our agents about.

Every gig is given thought based on its merits.

I’ve never played in Nebraska.

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