Q&A
Could you start by telling us who you are and what kind of music you make?
My name is Sacha Harland, and I’m born and raised in The Hague. I’ve been producing music for over 16 years, and I guess I make energetic, rave-influenced dance music meant to give people all the happy feelings
As an artist from The Hague, what unique sound or energy do you bring to ADE?
I try to stick to that no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point approach The Hague taught me in a way, and I definitely try to integrate that into the way I shape my sets live and how I prepare them. I want the energy to feel real.
How did this booking come about. Did ADE reach out, or was it through your own network?
This booking came about through friend and fellow dance music enthousiast JØASE. He had the opportunity to host the night together with Contra and approached me to be part of it. An offer I gladly accepted.
What makes you happiest about being here; the recognition, collaboration, or contribution?
It’s a mix of all three. I love connecting with people in the scene, whether it’s other artists or the crowd. I love collaborating with other artists on what we can explore or push during a set, and contributing to the overall vibe and community of dance music is what makes it truly meaningful for me.
Does ADE feel like just another gig, or does it hold a special place for you?
Not gonna make this deeper than it is: the show itself isn’t all that different from other gigs I play, but the scale of ADE makes it feel special. Being part of something bigger, where so many people come together for the music, gives it an energy you don’t really get anywhere else.
Since its start in 1996, ADE has evolved a lot - what changes stand out to you in the music or industry side?
One big thing I notice, especially during ADE, is that dance music now reaches, and is embraced by, a much wider audience. That’s positive for the scene, even though it does come with its challenges. Seeing more people connect with the music is really exciting.
What trends are you noticing right now; in sound, performance style, or audience energy?
A trend I hear about a lot is that BPMs are generally higher than before, and some people are already calling for a slowdown. But dance music does its own thing, cycles repeat, and people always find new ways to dance. On the performance side, I feel like the gap between artists and the crowd is smaller than ever and human connection grows. It’s inspiring to see that the era of DJ’s being ’too cool to dance or smile’ is finally coming to an end.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming artists who want to be part of ADE?
It’s such a cliché that it gives me cringe, but staying true to your own sound has become more important than ever. Not to brag at all, but as an honest addition to this statement: I received one of the biggest compliments I’ve ever gotten on my music this ADE. An artist who’s had a pretty big breakthrough recently told me that the demos I sent him ‘stood out because they sounded like a fresh approach,’ while most of the records he received were ‘copies of something someone else had already done better.’ Aside from the (sometimes very much needed) reassurance he gave me, it showed me that doing your own thing really matters.
Snoop Dogg (legend!!) said it best: “(…) cause once you be you, who could be you but you?”
How does this year’s ADE experience compare to others you’ve had?
I honestly saw way, way more small collectives and creatives hosting tiny events centered around actual human connection and a mutual love for dance music. I think that, maybe still especially after COVID, people have come to the conclusion that this is the essence. I genuinely loved seeing that, and I hope we can embrace this in future editions. There’s nothing wrong with bigger events and hostings, because they carry a different essence of what dance music can be, but human connection is everything. Maybe even especially in smaller, more intimate forms.
As a Dutch artist, how do you see ADE’s role in bridging the national and global electronic music scenes?
I think an event like ADE offers the perfect opportunity for creators, consumers, and corporates to explore, inspire, and expand, both on the human side of things and the business side. Hearing new sounds and making new connections is what keeps dance music such a valuable part of my life, and of many others.
