DA VINCI: GENIUS

On 29th November, Sasha returns to Night Time Stories with his latest project, the score to Da Vinci Genius – an immersive exhibition celebrating Leonardo Da Vinci, the Italian Renaissance polymath. His 2016 release Scene Delete on the same label was Sasha as you’ve never heard him before: an adventurous imaginary movie score, showcasing a bold left-turn for the veteran DJ/producer. Fast forward to 2024, Sasha delves into classical music, combined with his renowned deep sonics. Using his electronic music expertise and movie passion, he enlisted Scene Delete veterans Dennis White, Dave Gardner, and Barry Jamieson for this complex project. 

“I’ve never written music for a project like this before, so it was really exciting working with Flora and Fauna Visions (FFV) on this incredible brief," Sasha. The show explores Da Vinci’s mind, blending his iconic works with digital technology to create a stunning visual experience, and the music needed to support that. 

Sasha’s team aimed to capture the atmosphere of film scores they love, inspired by composers like Nils Frahm, Jon Hopkins, Steve Reich, Vangelis, and Jean Michel Jarre. They also took cues from Stanley Kubrick’s classical music use in films and modern composers like Hans Zimmer, blending classical movements with electronic sounds as well as incorporated medieval choral music from Renaissance composer Josquin des Pres, which influenced some ambient sections. Guided by FFV’s mood boards. “It was a different, challenging way of working, but I hope people think it’s one of the most accomplished things we’ve ever done.” Sasha.

From start to finish, compositions like ‘Mosaic,’ ‘Equality,’ and ‘Clouds’ are woven into soft melodies and emotive timbres, while ‘Super Hero (with Sentre)’ and ‘Into The Metaverse’ return to more familiar sounds. 

With Da Vinci Genius, Sasha is at home in unfamiliar territory, blending classical and modern elements. The show debuted in Berlin in 2021, transferred to Amsterdam, and will wow audiences in Florida and India later this year.

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