Sash! is a German studio project and live-act outfit at the crossroads of eurotrance, progressive house, and dance-pop. The project is fronted by DJ and producer Sascha Lappessen (born June 10, 1970), who has long worked in the studio with producers and songwriters Ralf Kappmeier and Thomas “Alisson” Lüdke. The team is one of the rare European acts of the ’90s that not only forged a recognizable “continental” sound, but turned it into a global pop language — from clubs in Germany and the Benelux to the UK charts and worldwide radio playlists.
Formation and early years
The future Sash! grew up amid techno, acid, and the heyday of German dance labels. In the first half of the 1990s he honed a sound built on tough drum patterns, leading synths, concise vocal hooks in multiple languages (French, Spanish, Italian, English), and the must-have festival-style track dramaturgy. By the mid-decade, this signature had crystallized into a run of singles that brought the project international recognition.
Breakthrough: decade-defining hits
From 1997 to 1999, Sash! delivered a string of singles that became calling cards of eurotrance and second-wave euro-dance:
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“Encore Une Fois” — a French-language refrain, trademark side-chained bass, lifts and breakdowns built for big dancefloors.
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“Ecuador” (feat. Adrian Rodriguez) — Spanish vocals and ethnic inflections over a driving trance groove.
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“Stay” (feat. La Trec) — a shift toward a more pop-oriented sound while keeping club energy intact.
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“La Primavera” — Italian lyricism on a festival beat.
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“Mysterious Times” (feat. Tina Cousins) — one of the project’s biggest radio hits; a textbook late-’90s vocal trance/dance tune.
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Then came “Move Mania” (feat. Shannon), “Colour The World” (with Dr. Alban), “Adelante”, “Just Around The Hill” (feat. Tina Cousins) — a wave of crossover singles equally strong in clubs and on air.
This “golden run” didn’t just lock Sash! into international charts — it set the template for vocal eurotrance: lean harmony, big hooks, and explosive drops without clutter.
Albums and studio evolution
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It’s My Life — The Album (1997) — the debut, gathering key early hits and nailing the project’s DNA: from dense eurotrance to sweet, melodic dance-pop cuts.
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Life Goes On (1998) — a deeper dive into vocals and multilingual refrains; it cemented the project’s international reach.
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Trilenium (2000) — a turn toward broader production: from progressive textures to soft vocal ballads with a dance backbone.
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S4! Sash! (2002) — a capstone to the early era, confidently blending euro-dance with the club sensibilities of the time.
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After that came compilations, remix collections, and a new wave of singles, including re-imagined classics.
In 2008, Sash! reintroduced themselves to a new generation with “Raindrops (Encore Une Fois)” (with Stunt): a modern mash-up of “Encore Une Fois” and their single “Raindrops” that hit the UK Singles Top 10 and brought the project back into the mainstream conversation.
Collaborations and live DNA
From the outset, Sash! built an aesthetic around multilingual vocal hooks and guest artists. Over the years they’ve worked with Tina Cousins, Adrian Rodriguez, La Trec, Shannon, Dr. Alban, and more. The live presentation is a tight, prime-time package: punchy drum blocks, cutting leads, recognizable vocal refrains, and a narrative that scales effortlessly from club residencies to festival mains.
Style and influence
Sash! is the formula of “simple harmonies + a huge hook + dancefloor kinetics.” They helped turn European trance and dance-pop into a universal pop language: not tied to any single market, yet stamped with unmistakably European DNA. For 2000s producers, their tracks became a handbook on crafting the vocal club record that works both in the charts and on the floor.
Discography (key releases)
Albums
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It’s My Life — The Album (1997)
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Life Goes On (1998)
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Trilenium (2000)
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S4! Sash! (2002)
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Best Of / Compilations & Remixes — various editions, 2000s–2020s
Key singles
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Encore Une Fois • Ecuador (feat. Adrian Rodriguez) • Stay (feat. La Trec)
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La Primavera • Mysterious Times (feat. Tina Cousins) • Move Mania (feat. Shannon)
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Colour The World (with Dr. Alban) • Adelante • Just Around The Hill (feat. Tina Cousins)
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Raindrops (Encore Une Fois) (vs Stunt) and subsequent classic reworks
Why Sash! matters
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They canonized vocal eurotrance as an international pop format.
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They proved that multilingual vocals aren’t a gimmick but a tool for broad communication.
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They created a library of universal hits that still work in clubs and on radio.
Legacy and current status
Sash!’s classic singles are regularly revitalized — via remixes and live versions — and continue to appear in festival and retro-dance rotations. The project tours actively, playing 90s/00s-themed shows and contemporary dance festivals, while the catalog lives on with both audiences: those who grew up on eurotrance and a new generation discovering the golden era of European dance.
