A bunch of you guys may have heard the funky, booty shaking beats of Sacha, whether it was from his days with Robosonic or his more recent solo alias under Sacha Robotti. With techno, house, and electronica bleeding through his veins, Sacha has performed all over the world from Dirtybird shows, Fusion Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, to Lighting In A Bottle. Sacha gets a little deep with us in response to our questions, from the financial instabilities of a musician, to causes he cares about in the world. He also tells us about what he is currently grateful for, to how he got his start in music in his childhood years. If you missed Sacha Robotti’s funky vibes at EDC during his set at the Smironoff House and upside-downHOUSE, make sure you don’t miss him at Insomniac’s Nocturnal Wonderland next month!
Positive focus. Something you are grateful for or excited about?
Every day when I wake up, I’m grateful to be alive! I aim to live “now” and not so much in my past or future, and I want to enjoy the time I have on this planet — trying to be the best version of myself that I can be. Musically, I want to touch people and take them on a journey through space and groove, haha, and help them elevate themselves out of their everyday lives. I’m thankful for my fans and for being able to travel the world playing my music. I’m also very happy to be in Los Angeles now! I just moved here from Berlin; this is a new beginning for me.
What got you into making music?
My sister, who’s 11 years older than me, unknowingly influenced me to start making music in the first place. She’s a University Professor of Piano in Germany now. When we were kids, she practiced for six hours a day, and I constantly listened to classical music at home in Brussels, Belgium. At some point, I wished to play an instrument of my own, the deepest and biggest instrument possible, the double bass, but I was too small. So the next alternative was the cello, which I played for eight years intensely. When I was 15, my love affair with the cello stopped abruptly as my mum passed away and I couldn’t bare playing it anymore because it reminded me of her too much. My friends took me raving instead, so I would find new joy, and I fell in love with Techno and House music. Electronic music hasn’t left me ever since!
How was it playing at EDC this year?
It was my first time in Las Vegas and at EDC, and I had a blast. On Friday, I played a set at the Smirnoff House for my friends at Mixmag Lab. On Saturday, I played for Insomniac Records at the Upside Down House straight after Armand Van Helden, whose tracks I adored in the 90’s. I was amazed by the number of lights and the amount of people who attended EDC — sensory overload for sure.
What does music mean to you?
My savior in dark times, my companion in good times, my vehicle to travel the universe, my brainfuck, my accelerator, my dream!
What’s been the most difficult thing about being a producer and a DJ?
To believe in yourself that you can “make it,” and to work hard and persevere no matter what. I’m also stubborn and ready to go all in, which helps to be strong and relentless. You need to have faith that life is going to work out.
What inspires you to continue to make music?
I’ve been living solely off my music for the last 11 years or so, and I didn’t take on any other jobs even though I have an architecture education. There have been crazy hard times with no food, eviction notices, health issues, and so on — musicians who don’t have money saved up in their bank accounts from previous jobs or family situations will feel me on that. What inspires me to continue is the feedback from friends and fans! I couldn’t do it without you all.
How do you want people to feel when they listen to your music or go experience your sets at events?
I want them to lose themselves in my music, dance and have a good time together. I want to provide a soundtrack that they can smile and fall in love to, or simply close their eyes and get immersed in music.
What kind of music do you listen to outside of dance? Favorite track of all time?
I listen to pretty much everything that has funk, groove, soul, or touches me in some way. I love all music genres to be honest, from Jazz to Salsa to Hip Hop to Blues, you name it. One of my favorite pieces of all time is “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saens, I used to play this on the cello, that makes me cry!
Who are some artists in the industry you feel is doing some cool stuff right now? Ones to watch for?
Watch out for the birds, we’re coming for you.
Who’s your biggest role model in life?
I admire Rick Rubin a lot!
Favorite food in the entire world?
For the moment, ramen! I’m obsessed with it.
One word to describe yourself.
Stardust. lol
The reason I started Neon Owl is because I want to be able to use music as a vehicle to connect fans and artists to be able to give back to the world. Is there a specific charity or cause out there that you are passionate about or feel that people should pay more attention to?
There are SO MANY people in need of help. I feel very sad watching the news at times, or seeing broken people and countries first hand while I travel. There are so many victims of wars or natural catastrophes, victims of all kinds of violence, depression or illness, victims of the justice system, economic victims, the homeless, young and old. There are countless ways that we need to help our planet too. The way we pollute just by living our lives and trying to maximize our profits, not thinking of the long term consequences, has left a mark on earth in the last few centuries. If we continue this way, we don’t even need banks, corporations, a Trump, a Putin or a [fill in the blank with some other greedy egomaniac in power] to mess things up even more for all of us. We don’t even need an all out nuclear war. We’re fully capable of destroying earth ourselves just by continuing to live how we’re living right now, and it won’t take that much longer in the grand scheme of things until that scenario actually happens.
To be honest, every charity that makes an actual difference, is worth supporting! And every kind act and gesture too, be it big or small.
What message do you have for all your fans out there?
I have much love for you and I thank you for supporting me and my music the way you have!
How can your fans get a hold of you? What social platforms do you like using most?
My fans can follow me on Snapchat: sacharobotti! I’ve been on it for a few months now and I’m having a lot of fun filming my tour shenanigans. They can also follow me on:
www.facebook.com/sacha.robotti.music
www.instagram.com/sacharobotti
www.soundcloud.com/sacha-robotti
I try to answer to as many messages as I can, even if it takes a while. Peace.
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