The road gets smoother the faster you go. Sascha Yamash*ta is a Japanese-Canadian DJ and visual artist based in Toronto. A fixture behind the decks since 2001, he began his journey under the alias The Sly Virus before emerging as the SMOOTHSTRANGER—a late-night sonic driver known for immersive sets that cruise through electro, indie-dance, synthwave, vaporwave, and house. Whether headlining intima
te after-hours or large-scale festivals like Festivus (4 years), Electric Love, and ValhallaFest, Sascha has built a reputation for delivering nostalgic, forward-looking sounds that feel like headlights cutting through the fog. Before relocating to Toronto, he was deeply embedded in Vancouver’s music and arts scenes. His DJ sets were featured at many of the city’s premier art events—including Takashi Murakami’s birthday bash (with Mix Master Mike), opening for Tokyo’s experimental pop trio Trippple Nippples, the Vancouver Art Gallery’s monthly FUSE nights, Polygon Gallery’s opening gala, and Emily Carr University’s grad celebrations. As a visual artist, Sascha has exhibited widely across BC, with work shown at The Back Gallery Project (now Monica Reyes Gallery), Gallery 1.6, and most recently, Robert Lynds Gallery. Known for confronting themes and bold compositions, his work is both challenging and highly regarded among peers and critics. From 2008–2013, Sascha also ran Gallery Atsui (later renamed Fukai) as owner, director, and curator. Located in East Vancouver, the space hosted over 50 exhibitions and featured the work of more than 250 artists—many of them emerging, unrepresented, or closely tied to the local underground scene. Today, the SMOOTHSTRANGER continues to blur the lines between art, music, and motion. Tune into his monthly podcast, Midnight Drive, released every first Friday at midnight EST—available wherever you stream.
