An Interview with Sasha Raskin
Sasha Raskin is a Russian-born and Colorado-based musician who creates a fusion of alternative rock and electronica, characterized by nostalgic melodies, multi-layered vocals, and lyrics that transform life’s struggles into hope and inspiration. His cinematic soundscapes combine traditional and electronic instruments. He has also composed music for theater and film, founded Natural Highs Records, and collaborated with musicians from all over the world, including remixing Bjork, Trent Reznor, Matisyahu, and Gary Numan. In this interview, we chat with Sasha Raskin about his creative process, Buddhism, his favorite releases and more.
Hey, thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Sasha Raskin, and I’ve been writing music since I was 9. Besides releasing my own music I composed music for theatre plays and short films and love contributing music to various projects. I’m Buddhist, in the Nyingma lineage. I’m deeply inspired by nature, sacred mantras, and a high variety of musical instruments. I live in Colorado. I’m also a couples and family therapist, and the founder of a life coaching center. And, I’m a best-selling author. The thread of communication runs deep through everything that I do.
Who or what inspired you to start making music? And, when did you start?
I actually started with a recorder, which is a type of a flute. Pretty fast I started writing my own melodies on it, as a 9 years old. It did not take me too long to start producing music on the one the first Mac computers. I was hooked. I would spend 8-10 horus someday glues to the computer, fascinated by everything of the first versions of Cubase could do. At some point I realized I’m limited in my composition just by digital sound. So I learned to play guitar, bass guitar, percussion, singing, started a few bands.
What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
I feel like my music is an extension of me. So even though I understand that everyone has their taste, I certainly have mine and even that changes throughout the years, I definitely want something I’ve put my heart and soul into touch others.
What is your favorite project or single you have released?
The music album Music for the Trees is very dear to me. Half of it was recorded in guerilla conditions during meditation retreats and I think it’s felt.
Who are your inspirations? What artists or bands are you listening to?
Musicians that are in the plant medicine world, and whose songs are inspired by their work with plant medicines. I can hear the plants sing through them. (This includes) artists like Freedom Cafe, Peia, and East Forest.
What’s the process behind working on a song like?
Lately the songs have been either a result of melodies that during Buddhist meditation retreats, or during or after plant diets. Which is such a fast way of writing songs because the songs just come through me, but they don’t necessarily feel like they’re mine per se, I’m just the host, welcoming them into this world.
Tell me about your upcoming music and what inspired you to create it!
About half a year ago I was doing a retreat with Andrew Holecek dedicated to Amitabha Buddha, and we were chanting Amitabha’s mantra: Om Ami Dewa Hri, which is the sonic nature of Amitabha. As I was standing in front of the Great stupa of Dharmakaya in Colorado (a sacred Buddhist site that a physical representation of a Buddha and the Buddha nature that’s in all of us) where the retreat was taking place a melody came. It fitted the mantra perfectly.
I had some of my music studio equipment with me, and I recorded the guitar, vocals, and the singing bowl, inside the Stupa (it’s one of the few Stupas in the world that you can go inside). I think it comes across in the song. The winds that night were incredibly strong and it was extremely loud. There was no way to record with that much noise outside. The trees were literally shaking. But I just decided to trust. Auspiciously, the wind just stopped as soon as I started recording and resumed when I was done.
What are your plans for 2025?
For 2025, my plans are to release my next music album, as well as a few singles, all spiritual songs to uplift the spirit that came either from the plants or from Buddhism.
Have any shoutouts?
Huge respect to all the musicians out there, no matter which genre, thanks for making the world a little bit better!
We have high hopes for Sasha Raskin in 2025. If you’d like to learn more about him, head over to his website or listen to his music on your favorite streaming platform. If you’re a fan of alternative rock, electronica, ambient music, and anyone pushing the needle in the music industry, you should keep an eye out for Sasha.