An NFT interview with electronic artist Sasha | NFT CULTURE | Web3 Culture NFTs and Crypto Art
Sasha is one of the pioneers in the electronic music category. From making Acid House music in the 1980s to remixing and producing some of the world’s best electronic artists, Sasha’s fingerprints on the music industry are eternal. Now, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his label, the innovator is releasing a stunning and unique set of NFTs. You can read the press release here.
Our exclusive NFT interview with Sasha
Sasha, you have been a pioneer in the music industry for over 30 years, what excites you about NFTs and how did you get started in this new medium?
Last year, like many others, my head was turned by the buzz surrounding the digital art community. Music focused stuff like 3LAU, Jaques Green, Grimes and my old friend BT did really caught my attention. I dipped my toes into this world last September with the LUZoSCURA drop around the HNDI release – it was so exciting to see this new way of releasing music, collaborating with artists and connecting with fans. So when the TEN project came along, while initially focused on TEN collaborations with music artists ( 10 x 10 ) it seemed the natural next step would be to collaborate with the digital artists as well ( 10 x 10 x 10 )
This has now turned into such a huge project and was just an incredible opportunity, I had to pursue it.
Visualizations and electronic music are almost synonymous, from lights, lasers and fog machines, to winamp visualizations, and now the biggest artists in the world (like beeple) are offering synchronized clips to DJs and producers. How will this evolve as music, entertainment and NFT continue to merge?
I don’t really like predicting the future because it always surprises me. What I do know is that the opportunity to reach out and collaborate with incredible artists from around the world is now more available than ever. The NFT community on twitter, for example, is so open and supportive. Seeing new artists and musicians find their feet in this new digital art world is inspiring.
How did you choose the artists on your latest music?
What makes them unique?
I wanted to work with digital artists who had a strong sense of musicality in their work. This project was an opportunity to see a very interesting intersection between music and digital art. I spoke to all the artists about how important the visual identity of Last Night on Earth (LNOE) had been since its inception 10 years ago. It was important to me to find a cross-section of artists who would interpret it in different ways. Our label has always pioneered new and diverse talent, and I wanted to carry these values forward in the selection of our digital artists. I think we have achieved this and create a truly global collaboration – with the artists coming from the UK, Germany, Turkey, Canada, USA, Denmark, New Zealand, Brazil and Japan. Seeing these 10 different artists give their completely different interpretations to this project has been amazing to watch.
Which NFT artists besides the group you’ve worked with excite you the most?
It’s probably at the top of the list Refik Anadol. His work impresses me, especially his giant public art pieces. Thank you X creating amazing abstract pieces that I want on my wall. Skygolpe is creating abstract art through human images which I love. Trevor Jones AND NFT artist. The way he mixes paintings with AI and most have AR built in too is so cool. Maggie West’s Timelapse photography is amazing .Rising star JN Silva the photographer’s work is beautiful and psychedelic. Ruben Wuthe work is fantastic. Love what sixty five doing physical sculpture as well as digital art. I am working on owning pieces by all of these inspiring artists very soon!
Can you give some more details about the Amsterdam exhibition?
ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) felt like the perfect platform to launch the collection as an annual focal point for innovation and new trends in the music industry. We were lucky enough to build a good connection with Ghost Gallery who not only bought right into our vision for the project, but were able to offer a great location in the heart of the action. IRL galleries are such an important part of the creative experience for me, bringing emotion to the art.
We also show the work at Crypt Gallery in New York and LA, and imnotArt in Chicago.
Why did you choose Nifty Gateway as your launch partner for NFTs?
LNOE has always had a strong visual identity and has always placed a high value on art in a more traditional sense with its physical music releases. With this project, it was important to me that the curation was at a high level, so we collaborated with a platform that matched our vision. Nifty Gateway is a brilliant art platform that also allows onboarding via credit card – which I hope will allow some of my music fans to enjoy their first experience with NFTs.
What comes next?
I don’t know, but I can’t wait to see what it is!
Sasha TEN collection
Nalo
When we started developing the TEN campaign, I wanted to extract our essence from each city we will travel to. By using the extrusion technique, I have found the perfect balance to continue promoting the cities on the tour, but in a completely unique style. Each image interacts differently with the node, resulting in colorful 3d elements. – Fell Reis
Australia
A sparkling glimpse of a sun-baked landscape. Colorful buildings erupt from the ancient rocks, with shimmering rays of light casting shadows as the sun rises behind the endless mountains. The ethereal music that echoes in the canyons causes light to flash from all sides, fusing the old world with the new. – SillyGabe
Hoodie Alan
Since the beginning of his career, Sasha has been instrumental in laying the artistic foundation for so many in the electronic music landscape. It only felt fitting to capture his very likeness and portray it in a segmented portrait that represented the musical energy and movement found in his work. His style and personality come through the endless records, mixes and remixes he has produced throughout his life. – Robbie Trevino
Dry and tall
At the heart of Dry and High is a distinctive feeling of being guided through a journey. Its melodic ups and downs and its beautiful transitions inspired an intensively experimental approach to creating this work of art. I took seemingly unusual ideas (what if a moon was actually a flower bud waiting to bloom) and started experimenting with them. I spent months growing the digital nature, trying new things, learning techniques and more importantly, patience, while frustratingly discarding and re-trying ideas in a way that was unfamiliar but turned out to be extremely rewarding. Within a dreamscape are these studies, ideas and explorations, which when guided by music come alive. – Jenny Jiang
Who are you
“Who U are” explores the scenario of merging technology and humanism in a futuristic dystopia. Cables, geometric parts and physics-based extrusions reveal the body’s vulnerability, acting as a metaphor for the precarious state of the natural world. – Hannes Hummel
Aviator
Deprived of the senses flow Boundless in a sea of all Fractions carry information Between the gaps are fathomless Deprived of measurable essence – NoCreative
Just us
Just Us is a beautifully crafted song from Sasha & Pumarosa. It’s hopeful and poignant in equal measure. I love to convey isolation and confusion in my work, so Just Us really resonated with me. The artwork is about an endless cycle of contrasting emotions. – Rec0de
Exploding suns
An endless journey that takes the seeds of human existence through the intersection of technology and nature’s source of breath. – Beryl
