Episode 090 – Alexander Sukhochev aka Sashanti | Author, DJ/Producer, Journalist, Nightlife Promoter, Photographer, and Co-creator of Shanti Goa and Soma Project

Alexander Sukhochev aka Sashanti is a disc jockey and music producer, who’s the creative force behind premier nightlife brands such as Shanti Goa and Soma Project, in Goa.

Visit his website
Follow him on Instagram
Like his Facebook page
Listen to his music sets on Soundcloud

Listen to his journey from growing up in a suburban town in Russia, and stepping into the nightlife scene in Moscow as a teenager, to writing a fiction based on his experiences in Goa, and hosting sought after parties in Goa for over fifteen years.

Sashanti has played a several legendary nightlife venues across the world, including Tresor (Berlin), Sisyphos (Berlin), Paradiso (Amsterdam), Chapeau Rouge (Prague), Supersonic (Paris), and at festivals such as Awakenings (Holland), SulaFest (India), and Sunburn (India), among others.

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His first book, The Goa Syndrome (2007), went on to be a bestseller in Russia, and has also been translated in Estonian. (refer above). His follow up book will be out soon.

He is now involved in writing scripts and screenplays for movies both in India and Russia.

Sashanti hanging out with the Toda tribe in the Nilgiris, India

Sashanti explored the Shiva temples of India while researching for his book. Seen above is the Thillai Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram, India

Dance to some of his productions, including these recent releases.

Arabia (EP) – Sashanti, Andrey Semenets on Tech Warriors

Shanti Goa was the winter residence of the club Shanti in Moscow. This chic bar, lounge, and art space sat on the scenic Ashvem Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea. It was the spot to watch sunsets from while hanging out with cool people and listening to superb artists.

Over its vibrant life of 12 years, Shanti Goa has featured and highlighted a variety of lesser-known artists.

SOMA Project is a nightlife brand in Goa, created by Sashanti. It had its residence at Teso Waterfront for a few years where it has hosted several parties on Sunday evenings, during the season. This resurfaced as SOMA Life in Morjim, before retiring.

Timestamps for reference
06:59 Sashanti inspired my move to Goa
12:55 How Sashanti set up Shanti Goa
17:33 Music scene in Goa in the 2000s
18:31 Understanding underground music?
28:05 Sashanti’s journey in music
33:28 Shanti Goa to Soma Project, evolution
41:32 Beachside sunset sessions in Goa currently
45:24 Artists and artworks of Soma Project
54:51 Sashanti’s book The Goa Syndrome
55:50 Sashanti’s initial experiences in Goa
01:02:30 Influences of destinations on your own music
01:06:06 Sashanti’s writing projects
01:16:01 Sashanti likes to capture moments
01:18:09 Sashanti’s travels across India

Also mentioned in this episode
Abelton – Ajmer Sharif Dargah – Amnesia – Awakenings – Belarus protests (2020-2021) – Boom – Buddha Bar – Burning Man – Cafe Mambo – Caucasus Mountains – Charlotte de Witte – Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura – Club Cubana – Dancing Shiva (Nataraja) – David Guetta – Deborah de Luca – Denis Chernenko – Djuma Soundsystem – Downtempo – Dub Tempo – Electric Zoo India – Fall of the Berlin Wall – Fruityloop – Georgian protests (2019-2020) – Hacienda, Manchester – Hilltop – House music – Hoysala architecture – Ibiza – Ignatius Camilo – International Film Festival of India – Jean-Michel André Jarre – Lord Shiva – Klartraum – Kraftwerk – Leon Pereira – Manchester underground – Mathew Jonson – Nadja Lind – Nadja Lind and Klartraum at Shanti Goa – Nilgiris – Nina Kraviz – Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Pablo Hasél – Pawas Gupta – Pinaki & Alistair – Raimund Imo – Ritesh Gonsalves – Romeo & Juliet – Sergei – Shanti Moscow – Single malt whiskies – Latin America protests – Stefano Richetta – SulaFest – Sven Väth – Tbilisi – Techno music – Tito’s – Todas – Tresor – Undergoa – Wolf + Lamb – Woomoon – Yapacc

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Show cover jingle courtesy of Icons8
Music by Nordgroove from Fugue

Episode background tunes courtesy of YouTube Audio Library
Drifting at 432Hz by Unicorn Heads
The Stoic and the Sailor by Unicorn Heads
Vishnu by Patrick Ptrikios

All photographs by Sashanti, Shanti Goa, & SOMA Project, unless otherwise stated.