That was Sven, this is now

>> Germany’s godfather of trance is transformin’ shit like a Decepticon

by RAF KATIGBAK

Sven Väth is bored of trance. “It’s the pop dance music of today,” he explains over the phone from his German office. “It’s always the same structures, the same patterns, the same snare rolls. I don’t get anything out of it anymore.” Strong words coming from Väth (pronounced “fate”), who pioneered the entire German trance scene with his classic album Accident in Paradise, his legendary club the Omen and his EYE-Q and Harthouse labels in the early ’90s. This 180-degree turn in his stance on trance raises a question—over the decade he’s been involved with techno, what else has changed for Väth?
Well, Sven Väth is also bored of DJs (okay, maybe not all DJs). “The problem is that not many DJs out there have a vision. Perhaps it’s because when they started, techno and house music was already a regular part of nightclub culture. When I started DJing, I had to fight for my sound. I had to tell the club manager, ‘Hey, listen, techno is the shit and that’s what I’m going to play!’ You can’t help but be passionate about music after that.

“Too many kids are getting into DJing for the wrong reasons. It’s important for me to teach them that DJing isn’t just about fame and money and travelling, getting hot girls and wearing Gucci or whatever.”

For all his worldly woes, Väth has a cure, a vision named Cocoon. Trying to unravel some of the mystery behind his Cocoon projects, I found out two things. One, the empire known as Cocoon is comprised mainly of a record label, booking agency and club night in Ibiza. Two, unlike the 1985 film of the same name, Cocoon has nothing to do with aliens coming down, restoring old men’s hard-ons and subsequently making them breakdance (although I’ve never been to Ibiza so I can’t be sure).

“When it comes to club culture and electronic music, I wanted to bring all my experiences together on one platform. For me, Cocoon is the perfect playground for constantly creating new ideas, new sounds and new club events. It’s not just about the music, it’s also about the visuals, special décor, performing artists and dancers. A cocoon symbolizes many things. For one thing, it’s change, also it’s home and a sense of feeling comfortable. Once you have that sense, you are free to let yourself go. Give in to the music.”

Although his set runs the gamut from German micro-house (Väth is a big fan of Montreal minimal techno artist Akufen) to electro, house and what he calls “fast-forward techno,” Väth keeps his musical vision clear. “I see myself as a modern-day shaman. I want to bring people together, where there are no language barriers, where we can come together on a really peaceful level. Speaking for tolerance and also love. It sounds simple, but for me it makes the whole thing special.” Overly optimistic? Maybe. Cheesy? For sure. But coming from Väth it doesn’t sound like just another corny, fleeting E moment. For some reason he makes it all sound downright possible. :

With Philgood and GO Brien at Sona this Friday, April 12, midnight, $20