View source for Sasha & John Digweed

{{Short description|British DJ duo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = Sasha & John Digweed
| image               = Sasha & John Digweed Bristol Ampitheatre 2025 1.png
| caption             = Sasha (right) and John Digweed (left) in 2025
| landscape           = yes
| background          = group_or_band
| alias               = 
| origin              = [[Mansfield]], England (at the [[Renaissance (club)|Renaissance]] club)
| genre               = [[Progressive house]], [[Progressive trance]], [[deep house]], [[techno]]
| years_active        = 1993–present
| label               = {{hlist|[[Renaissance Recordings|Renaissance]]|[[Ministry of Sound]]|[[INCredible]]|[[Ultra Records|Ultra]]|[[Kinetic Records|Kinetic]]|System}}
| associated_acts     = 
| website             = 
| current_members     = [[Sasha (DJ)|Sasha]]<br>[[John Digweed]]
| past_members        = 
| instrument          = {{hlist|[[Digital audio workstation]]|[[synthesiser]]|[[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]]|[[drum machine]]|[[turntables]]|[[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]}}}}

'''Sasha & John Digweed''' are a British DJ duo comprising [[Sasha (DJ)|Sasha]] and [[John Digweed]]. Digweed had been DJing for ten years before getting a gig at [[Renaissance (club)|Renaissance]] where he met Sasha, who had been working the past few years in various [[acid house]] music clubs and [[rave party|raves]]. Together, they honed their DJ skills, focusing on track selection and technical mixing abilities. In 1994, they released the triple CD [[mix album]] ''[[Renaissance: The Mix Collection]]'' on [[Renaissance Records]]. It contained many popular dance hits of the time from artists such as [[Leftfield]], [[Fluke (band)|Fluke]], and [[2 Bad Mice]] as well as original productions and remixes from themselves. Two years later, the duo became "true superstars" (AllMusic) with the release of their double CD ''[[Northern Exposure (album)|Northern Exposure]]'' on mega-label [[Ministry of Sound]].  This release was brought to the United States the next year in a single CD package on [[Ultra Records]].  1997 saw the release of the ''[[Northern Exposure 2]]'' double CD mix album, again on Ministry of Sound.  Sasha and Digweed toured internationally, helping define the sound of progressive house & trance music in the late 1990s. In 1998, both John Digweed and Sasha released separate mix albums on Boxed as part of the [[Global Underground]] series with Digweed's [[GU006|GU 006: Sydney]] and Sasha's [[GU009|GU 009: San Francisco]] release.

In the late 1990s, Digweed and Sasha took up residency at [[New York City]]'s famous [[Twilo]] nightclub as well as releasing their third edition in the Northern Exposure series: ''[[Northern Exposure: Expeditions]]''. They both continued their success in the Global Underground series with Digweed's [[GU014|GU 014: Hong Kong]] and Sasha's [[GU013|GU 013: Ibiza]].  In addition to their residency, they toured the United States, especially to promote their DJ mix ''[[Communicate (mix album)|Communicate]]'' in 2000.  Shortly thereafter, they embarked on their international Delta Heavy Tour in 2002.  They have collaborated little since Delta Heavy. They appeared together at the 2007 [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]], and counted down the new year during a four-hour set in [[Los Angeles]] at [[Together as One (festival)|Together As One]].

In 2008, Sasha & Digweed announced their plans to do another tour of North America taking in 21 cities in one month, as they announced the Sasha and John Digweed Spring Club Tour 2008. The tour began at the [[Winter Music Conference]] on 27 March at the club [[Mansion]]. This was the first time they toured [[North America]] together in six years.

In 2009, Sasha & Digweed headlined the SW4 festival in London's Clapham Common.

==History==

===Early years and ''Renaissance'' (1993–1995)===
In early 1993, [[Renaissance Recordings|Renaissance]] DJs [[Sasha (DJ)|Sasha]] and [[John Digweed]] teamed up for DJ sets together. The pair had honed their DJing skills, often performing in tandem and focusing on track selection and technical mixing abilities. Renaissance was pleased with their performances together. Renaissance decided to let the duo compile the triple [[mix album]], entitled ''[[Renaissance - The Mix Collection]]'', releasing it on the club's own [[Renaissance Records]] label in April 1994, by which point Sasha had already left Renaissance. Sasha had been featured on the cover of ''[[Mixmag]]'' with the [[tagline]] "SON OF GOD?", though he did not welcome the accolade.<ref name="lastnight">{{cite book |last=Brewster |first=Bill |title=[[Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (book)|Last Night a DJ Saved My Life]] |publisher=[[Grove Press]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-8021-3688-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lastnightdjsaved00brew/page/389 389] }}</ref> The album featured tracks from such artists as [[Leftfield]], [[Fluke (band)|Fluke]], and [[2 Bad Mice]], and original productions and remixes from Sasha and Digweed, and was successful in the [[UK Compilation Chart]] where it peaked at #9. Another album, ''Renaissance: The Mix Collection Part 2'', acting as the second part to ''Renaissance: The Mix Collection'', was released in 1995. As Sasha had left Renaissance, John Digweed mixed this album alone.

===''Northern Exposure'' (1996–2000)===
After touring together for a further two years, the duo became "true superstars"<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sasha-john-digweed-mn0001780409 |title=Sasha + John Digweed {{pipe}} Music Biography, Credits and Discography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2014-08-09}}</ref> with the release of their next mix album, the double ''[[Northern Exposure (album)|Northern Exposure]]'' on the [[Ministry of Sound]]'s record label. The album was designed as a [[concept album]] of two "journeys", disc one being ''0° North'' and the second, ''0° South''. A special unmixed version of the album with a highly altered track list was released on vinyl. The album was critically acclaimed and is generally considered a [[landmark]] in the history of [[progressive house]].

{{multiple image|image1=SashaDiggers 001.jpg|direction=vertical|image2=Twilo02.jpg|width2=250px|footer=Sasha and Digweed took up residency at [[Twilo]] nightclub.}}
In 1997, the duo worked on a follow-up to ''Northern Exposure'', again following the concept album theme, with one disc representing the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] and the other disc the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast.]] It was released in 1997 on the [[Ministry of Sound]] label as ''[[Northern Exposure 2]]''. The album only charted at #15 in the [[UK Compilation Chart]] but it was again a critical success. To support the album, the duo toured internationally, and in the process helped to define the sound of trance music in the late 1990s.  After extensive touring, Digweed and Sasha took up residency at [[New York City]]'s famous [[Twilo]] nightclub, where they would DJ for the entire night.<ref name="the-age">{{cite web|url=http://www.djsasha.com/interviews.php?nid=61 |title=Come in, spinner |date=5 December 2002 |access-date=2006-12-31 |last=Drever |first=Andrew |work = The Age, reprinted at Djsasha.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041101214415/http://www.djsasha.com/interviews.php?nid=61 |archive-date=1 November 2004}}</ref>  In 1998, the two released separate mix albums on the Boxed label, as part of the [[Global Underground]] series: Digweed's ''[[Global Underground 006: Sydney]]'', and Sasha's ''[[Global Underground 009: San Francisco]]'', which drew from Sasha's experience touring on the [[West Coast of the United States]]. Both DJs formed their own record labels that year: Sasha created Excession Records and Digweed started [[Bedrock Records]]. Excession released fewer than ten records, the last in 1998; the experience, however, led Sasha to found the management agency "Excession: The Agency LTD."  Excession remains a [[booking agency]] for many DJs, including [[Hybrid (Welsh band)|Hybrid]], [[Nick Warren]], and [[Steve Lawler (DJ)|Steve Lawler]].<ref name="excession">{{cite web|title=Record Labels: Excession|url= http://www.residentadvisor.net/label_view.asp?id=40 |access-date=2006-12-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050209140740/http://www.residentadvisor.net/label_view.asp?id=40 |archive-date=9 February 2005 |work = [[Resident Advisor]]}}</ref>

In 1998, Sasha and Digweed reunited in the studio to record their third and final album for the ''Northern Exposure'' series, ''[[Northern Exposure: Expeditions]]'', which saw the duo voyage into exploring [[vocal trance]]. Popular with critics, it charted better in the UK Compilations Chart than their previous albums, the CD version charting at #6 (the vinyl edition of the album, largely different from the CD version, charted at #37).{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}}

===''Communicate'' (2000–2001)===
In between touring and producing original material, Sasha and Digweed released the mix album ''[[Communicate (mix album)|Communicate]]'' in 2000, prompting them to temporarily leave their Twilo residency for a promotional tour of the United States. ''Communicate'' had reasonable commercial success, but it received mixed reviews: ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' stated that despite a "few stellar moments, [''Communicate''] is ultimately a let-down".  [[LAUNCHcast]], too, described ''Communicate'' as "boring and lackluster...stalled in a monochrome world of dead beats".<ref name=launch>{{cite web|title=Communicate|publisher= [[LAUNCHcast]]|date=7 December 2000|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/review/12030996 |access-date=2006-12-31 |last = Micallef |first = Ken |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051129202659/http://music.yahoo.com/read/review/12030996 |archive-date = 29 November 2005}}</ref> To promote the album, the duo toured the [[United States]].

During the late 1990s, the increased popularity and visibility of "superstar DJs" led to the creation of [[superclub]]s such as Liverpool's [[Cream (nightclub)|Cream]] and Sheffield's [[Gatecrasher]]. By 2003, however, [[electronic dance music]] clubs languished. Though dance music had been declared "dead" by many in the dance industry, Sasha continued to tour—despite the closing of many superclubs, including his resident club Twilo in May 2001.<ref name="gillan">{{cite web|last=Gillan |first=Audrey|title=Super DJs forced off the dancefloor |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 August 2003 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/aug/21/arts.artsnews1 |access-date=2006-12-31}}</ref> Sasha was unable to play their last gigs at Twilo due to an ear injury, leaving Digweed to perform alone.

===''Delta Heavy'' tour and hiatus (2002–2006)===
Sasha and Digweed began their ambitious Delta Heavy Tour of the United States in 2002, following the closing of Twilo. The tour featured veteran tour producer [[Kevin Lyman]] and opening act [[Jimmy Van M]],<ref name="ps-deltaheavy">{{cite web|last=Jones|first= Simon|title=Sasha & John Digweed - Delta Heavy: A DVD Documentary |work=Progressive-Sounds|date=7 February 2006 |access-date=2006-12-31 | url=http://www.progressive-sounds.com/features/sasha-digweed-delta-heavy-dvd.asp |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060427040709/http://www.progressive-sounds.com/features/sasha-digweed-delta-heavy-dvd.asp |archive-date=27 April 2006}}</ref> the tour covered 31&nbsp;cities and played to 85,000&nbsp;people.<ref name="newsweek">{{cite web|last=Juarez|first= Vanessa |title=DJ Sasha on Dance Music's Glowstick Culture|work=[[Newsweek]] |date=3 February 2006 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11151564/site/newsweek/ |access-date=2006-12-31 |url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060427033247/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11151564/site/newsweek/ |archive-date= 27 April 2006}}</ref> Sasha and Digweed performed at [[Water Street Music Hall]] in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], New York in April 2002. The appearances were complete with [[laser show]]s and video production, were similar to rock concerts than to typical DJ events.<ref name="ps-deltaheavy"/>  This motif was new to the DJing scene, and compelled other DJs to host similar concerts.<ref name="ps-sashainterview">{{cite web|title=Sasha |work=Progressive-Sounds|date=February 2006|url=http://www.progressive-sounds.com/artists/Sasha/Sasha-interview-2-2006.asp |access-date=2006-12-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060518023015/http://www.progressive-sounds.com/artists/Sasha/Sasha-interview-2-2006.asp |archive-date=18 May 2006}}</ref>

[[File:PowerBook G4 12 white.jpg|thumb|right|In 2004, Sasha and Digweed recreated ''[[Renaissance: The Mix Collection]]'' on [[PowerBook G4]] laptops for its tenth anniversary.]]
2004 marked the tenth anniversary of ''[[Renaissance: The Mix Collection]]'', which had been out of print for years prior. Sasha and Digweed decided to release an anniversary edition of the album. However, rather than re-release the album straight forward, they recreated the album in a brand new session. Two tracks by [[M People]] that featured on the original 1994 release had to be dropped due to licensing issues, so they were replaced by a track each by [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] and Anthony White respectively. Though the original blend sequences from the original album remained the same, Sasha and Digweed re-created the album using Apple [[PowerBook G4|G4 laptop]]s in order to create, what they considered, a better quality version of the original mix, with recording techniques simply not available in 1994, as well as the advantage of crystal clear audio, and spatial separation of frequencies within the song, making it sound more dynamic.

The duo's next release was based on ''Delta Heavy''. The release was a [[DVD region code#Region codes and countries|Region 1]] DVD of performance highlights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage, ''Sasha & John Digweed present Delta Heavy'', released on System Recordings.<ref name="ps-deltaheavy"/>  Ben Turner, creator of the DanceStar awards, retrospectively described the Delta Heavy tour as "a landmark moment for electronic music".<ref name="ps-deltaheavy"/>

Though the duo of Sasha and Digweed never explicitly split up, demanding schedules and frequent independent touring prevented any substantial collaboration for a long period after Delta Heavy.<ref name="allmusic.com"/>

===Reunion (2006–present)===
Though frequent performing and other activities prevented them from working together for several years, Sasha and Digweed announced that they would reunite for a few Australian performances, starting in November 2006.<ref name="psdigweed2006">{{cite web|last=Jones |first=Simon |title=John Digweed Interview |work= Progressive-Sounds |date=10 August 2006 |url=http://www.progressive-sounds.com/artists/John-Digweed/John-Digweed-interview-8-2006.asp| access-date=2006-12-31}}</ref> The duo performed at several venues, including [[Sydney]], [[Brisbane]], and [[Melbourne]] as well as numerous tour dates which had followed throughout 2007.<ref name="djsashatourdates">{{cite web|publisher = Djsasha.com | title=Sasha tour dates (navigate to "Tour Dates")|url=http://www.djsasha.com/ |access-date=2006-12-31 }}</ref>  In 2008, Sasha and Digweed started an American tour with a performance at the [[Winter Music Conference]].<ref name="ps-int08">{{cite web|url = http://www.progressive-sounds.com/Artists/Sasha-and-John-Digweed/A-2008-interview-with-Sasha-and-John-Digweed.asp |last = Bilen |first = Andrew |work = Progressive-Sounds |access-date=2008-08-07 |date=24 July 2008 |title = An interview with Sasha and John Digweed}}</ref> The duo played at mainly larger venues on the weekends and smaller (750-1000 people) shows on weekdays.<ref name="ps-int08"/>  Sasha described their music as "driving and dark" with "a little throwback of Twilo sounds".<ref name="ps-int08"/> They appeared together at the 2007 [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]], and counted down the new year during a 4-hour set in [[Los Angeles]] at [[Together as One (festival)|Together As One]].  Another extensive hiatus as a live duo took place after the 2010 WMC Miami Boat Cruise set.  After a surprise b2b performance on Easter of 2016, Sasha and Digweed confirmed via Twitter that a world tour was in the works beginning in September which commenced on 9 September at the Social Festival in Kent, UK.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7318924/sasha-john-digweed-reunion-tour-dance Sasha & John Digweed Confirm Fall 2016 Reunion | Billboard<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  They have toured intermittently and extensively on a global scale together since.

==Discography==

===Mix albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:15em;" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:22em;" rowspan="2"| Information
! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
!rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]<br /><small>([[List of music recording sales certifications|sales thresholds]])</small>
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | <small>[[UK Compilation Chart|UK<br>Comp]]</small><br /><ref name="ukcomp">{{cite web|title=Official Compilations Chart Top 40|work=[[Official Charts Company]]|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/19981115/7503/|access-date=5 August 2018}}</ref><ref>''The Complete Book of the British Chart''</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | [[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|title=Sasha Chart History {{pipe}}|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=22 January 2015|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/sasha/chart-history/billboard-200|access-date=5 August 2018}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | <small>[[Top Heatseekers|US<br>Heat]]</small><br /><ref name="billboard"/>
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | <small>[[Independent Albums|US<br>Ind]]</small><br /><ref name="billboard"/>
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Renaissance: The Mix Collection]]''
|
*Released: 14 October 1994
*Label: [[Renaissance Recordings]]
*Format: CD, digital download, cassette
| 9 || — || — || —
|
*[[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Silver<ref>{{cite web|title=BPI - Brit Certified|work=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|access-date=12 February 2021}} ''Enter "Renaissance" and press "search"''</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Northern Exposure (album)|Northern Exposure]]''
|
*Released: 27 September 1996
*Label: [[Ministry of Sound]], [[Ultra Music|Ultra]]
*Format: CD, cassette, digital download, vinyl
| 7 || — || — || —
|
*BPI: Silver<ref name="cert">{{cite web|title=BPI - Brit Certified|work=British Phonographic Industry|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|access-date=5 August 2018}} ''Enter "Sasha" and press "search"''</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Northern Exposure 2]]''
|
*Released: 14 July 1997
*Label: Ministry of Sound, Ultra
*Format: CD, cassette, digital download
| 15 || — || — || —
|
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Northern Exposure: Expeditions]]''
|
*Released: 21 June 1999
*Label: [[INCredible]], Ultra, Kinetic
*Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
| 6 || — || — || —
|
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Communicate (Sasha & John Digweed album)|Communicate]]''
|
*Released: 26 June 2000
*Label: INCredible, Kinetic
*Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
| 13 || 149 || 5 || 10
|
|-
| colspan="10" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}

===Video albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:15em;" rowspan="1"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:22em;" rowspan="1"| Information
|-
!scope="row"| ''Sasha & John Digweed present Delta Heavy''
|
*Released: 7 February 2006
*Label: System Recordings
*Format: DVD
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sashaandjohndigweed.com/ Official site]
*{{Discogs artist|artist=Sasha & John Digweed}}
*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p214634|label=Sasha & John Digweed}}
*{{cite web |last=Dresden |first=Dave |work=DJ Times |title=Interview with Sasha |url=http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/interviews/a/IntSashaDave.htm |access-date=2006-09-08 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054525/http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/interviews/a/IntSashaDave.htm |url-status=dead }}
*[http://music.yahoo.com/release/122468 Music.yahoo.com]
*[http://www.beatportal.com/feed/item/sasha-and-digweed-announce-2008-north-american-tour/ Beatportal.com]
*[http://www.troonik.com/r/3/282/sasha-digweed.aspx Sasha & John Digweed Tracklisting archive]
*[http://www.obsession.org.uk/dj/johndigweed.htm John Digweed profile on Obsession]

{{Sasha & John Digweed}}
{{Sasha (Welsh DJ)}}
{{John Digweed}}
{{BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix of the Year Award|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sasha and John Digweed}}
[[Category:British club DJs]]
[[Category:British house DJs]]
[[Category:British DJ duos]]
[[Category:British house music duos]]
[[Category:British male musical duos]]
[[Category:British electronic dance music duos]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:INCredible artists]]
[[Category:Ultra Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical collaborations]]