The latest edition in our Select Cuts mix series has landed! For the occasion, we welcome on-board an exciting artist: Sascha Braemer.  Sascha is no stranger to the global House scene, to which he has contributed with an enormous amount of tracks in the past decades like ‘No sense’ or ‘Forlorn’. It is rare to find those within this scene, who have not yet danced to ‘Caje’ or got the lyrics of ‘People’ spinning in their head. Saschas roots go back to playing at Raves in Berlin during the wild 1990s at the age of 20. He since has devoted his commitment and passion with a genuine love for what he is doing to house music in all its deepest forms. Besides building an impressive discography in the past years, he travelled around the globe to play various shows reaching from small underground clubs up to impressive crowds of thousands at Festivals such as ADE and Fusion. He lights up clubs and festivals with a pleasure driven mix of deep melancholic melodies nevertheless touchingly warm synth basslines. His sets are characterized by independently distinctive sounds, and so are his productions where he puts a lot of focus into details to create the sophisticated Braemer style. He just had his debut EP on Marc Romboy’s Systematic label and also did a remix for singer-songwriter Yoav, which you can check out exclusively in the mix below. We had the chance to ask him a few questions that you can read while enjoying his mix. Enjoy !

WWD: How was 2018 for you ? Any highlights ?

There were some highlights last year. For example, my set at fusion, Arosa Electronica, or gigs like Terrazzza Horse Park Festival and of course both Southside and Hurricane Festival. But the absolute highlight for me was the birth of my son.

WWD: You will launch a new label in 2019. Can you tell us more ?

With all my experience, I wanted to create something completely different, something with a lot of work and attention to detail, whereby the focus is on really good music. Also a platform, where I plan and implement the artwork myself and will create vinyl for lovers. The name of the label is Hoito and with that label, I will realize all my creativity and want to meet like-minded people. Basically sharing the passion for music without thinking of sales or charts. I want to build a good crew and have showcases across the country. This is going to be good!

WWD: Do you remember your very first DJing experience ?

Yes, in the late 90s in a Berlin club, all alone with records and without any experience. I felt very alone, as there were so many people and I was shaking. It was really good at the end and I think it was good to jump into the cold water. It has been a really long road since then but I have learned a lot that benefits me today.

WWD: Why were you wearing gaz masks and gloves at raves back in the days ?

That’s easy, we wanted to stand out and that’s exactly what we did. It used to be foggy and dark in the clubs, a few strobos and a great sound. That was all and it was just awesome. Take a look at videos as we all danced – just danced. It took a while until so many millions of people loved the sound. Friends of ours initially declared us crazy but later on they saw themselves raving.

WWD: Some techno clubs in Paris are struggling with the inflation of the techno DJs fees. What are your thoughts on this ?

I think there are a lot of clubs like that. I think that too much money can also break a lot, but there are just djs who are so much in demand that they can choose where they want to play and get crazy fees for it. So you can not blame anyone. For example, I always find a solution and if I like to play right there, then I’ll play there, no matter if the fee is sometimes less than usual.

WWD: What can you tell us about your new EP on Marc Romboy’s Systematic label ?

I think Marc’s label exists since 2004 and since then, a lot amazing artists have already released there. Stephan Bodzin, Gui Borratto, Robert Babicz, Patrice Bäumel and of course Marc himself – to just name a few. It is always good stuff and very stable. I’m glad to be on board and I hope to bring some more EP’s out on Systematic. My Universal Language EP comes in December and I am also allowed to mix the annual compilation where I am super excited about.

WWD: You are involved in a festival in Croatia called The Island Festival Obonjan. How was the 2018 edition ?

2019 is the 3rd year and I’m looking forward to it. 2018 was super good – many good artists like for example Adana Twins, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Magdalena etc meet there to combine music and holidays. Not more than 700 people are there and enjoy these incredible moments on one of the most beautiful islands I know. What more do you want? This is my personal highlight in the year, same for most our guests.

WWD: This year, the scene opened up about anxiety, travelling loneliness and drug abuses, what are your thoughts on that ?

That is difficult as fear is omnipresent. We are not born anxious. I always travel with a tour manager, you do not have to be alone, you also get to know a lot of new people. On the subject of drugs, I can only say that it has always been there and the human-being then thirsted to go to another level. We are not born with that either. That is all suggested to us which is actually a shame. When I pay attention to my children and observe how they enjoy simple little things, beautiful things, then I realize how senseless some things are. Make children and become children again, then we understand the world a little bit better.

WWD: Your worst airport/plane experience ?

A trip to Turkey, which ended with an emergency landing in Budapest. Due to weird gasses, the stuardesses came out of the cabin with strange helmets and we were only told that we have to make an emergency landing within 15 min. That was more than scary.

WWD: DJ Deep recently said on an interview “I come from a time where it was music first” What do you think about this ?

Yes, if he refers to the time of the emergence of techno, I am completely with him. I was a raver at the first hour and it was a feeling I can not describe. Music that made me happy, without any drugs – just dancing, until it stopped, Sleep briefly and dance again. It was incredible and soon there were so many people who felt the same. Music that had the power to make you happy. That was something very special – but honestly, when I play out today I still have the feeling in me. Playing tracks that just lift me up and makes me play 7/8 std sets.

WWD: What do you think about having hundreds of phones filming you at parties ?

I think that’s normal these days, everybody wants to share his moment. Sometimes I think of the time when the music stood in the foreground and everyone just danced and took his experiences home.

WWD: Thanks a lot for speaking with us Sascha !

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