Feature · September 2026

When Did Sasha Get Darker? The Sets That Changed His Sound, 1995–1998

I've been listening to a load of mid-90s Sasha lately, and one thing really stands out: 1995 is where you can properly hear him moving towards that darker, more trance-influenced sound. It didn't happen overnight, though. That's the interesting bit. Play the right sets in order and you can hear the change happening. The useful test is listening in sequence rather than choosing a date and working backwards to prove it. His early Essential Mix, the mid-90s club recordings and the Northern Exposure years show a gradual shift in mood, programming and the space between records. There's no need to pretend one particular night changed everything.