Still one of the most popular and central DJs in the electronic music scene, his Cocoon franchise continues to go from strength to strength. Since starting in the late ‘90s as a club night, Cocoon has branched out to become Vath’s own umbrella organization. The booking agency looks after many of dance music’s biggest names. The label has built up a strong catalog of dancefloor monsters and mix CDs from people like Villalobos, Loco Dice, Funk D*Void and of course, Väth. And not forgetting the summer residency in Ibiza, which has become an institution on the island.
Well, quarantine time was perfect to read some old interviews of this techno legend. Sven had interesting things to say about to music he plays in a former interview with RA.
“I still like melodies and harmonies. I’m a romantic person in a way and I like to play tracks where people maybe smile or feel touched.”
Sven Väth may have built up a diverse resume over the years, but first and foremost, he is a DJ. That he has managed to do it so well, for so long, suggests that Väth is doing something right.
“I like to play music in general but I focus on electronic music and avant-garde.”
Along with presenting a diverse range of carefully selected records, an integral part of Väth’s DJing is his interaction and the bond he forms with the crowd. Väth is constantly animated – waving, dancing, shouting and having fun.
“[Often] people don’t know the music but they just follow and they trust you. This feeling that they give you, that they trust what you do, gives you the kind of freedom to perform and do what you want to do. The good feedback then pushes you, even more, to make it that little bit better.”
“I just do what I want to do,” says a modest Vath. “I think it’s something which has very strong energy and this is what the people feel. I think for me I follow my heart with what I’m doing and I want to make people happy because I’m a happy person. For me, I use music to bring people together and have fun.”
“People are getting a wrong interpretation of what trance music is all about. Actually I think I play trance. I honestly do…because I don’t let people go. I nail them on the dance floor – ‘you stay!’
Sven added, “It’s a positive thing because people will always dance. We have managed to do our part with our music, electronic music, techno, whatever you want to call it. We are not here to change the world. I think we have found our place, our freedom to express ourselves, and I think that is the most important thing if you make music.”
