Sasha Groep is a composer, producer, and performer hailing from the Netherlands. Her current interests include over-the-top sound manipulation, aggressive soundscapes, complex rhythm and harmony, and violating music production practices. Besides writing and playing music, Sasha is also pursuing a musicology degree.
Alexandra “Sasha” Leah Groep began composing at seven years old, working with simple midi programs. Since then, she has moved through dozens of different genres, composed countless of works, and had the privilege of working with the Dutch Wind Orchestra (NBE), the Matangi Quartet, and the Metropole Orchestra, among others.
That focus on classical ensembles hasn’t stopped her from branching out to other genres. Growing up with a combination of jazz, folk, rock and metal, Sasha has always had a diverse set of influences. In her early teens, she grew an interest in electronic music. She developed production skills through genres like House and Drum and Bass, later on combining that with other genres.
In recent years, Sasha has experimented more with extended techniques and unconventional production styles, diving more into niche genres like hyperpop and noise rock, and incorporating those sounds in her more ‘classical’ pieces. To Sasha, things like microtonality and electronica are then not just a novelty, but an active part of her toolbox to create new and interesting musical ideas.
Creative limits and genre boudaries don’t exist. The spectrum between classical music and pop will always be more interesting than the two outer ends.
Sasha currently uses FL Studio for more production-based works, and Dorico for notation-based composition, although she also frequently uses pencil and paper to write down musical ideas.