24/09/2026
30 years ahead of its time 💫
I first heard Northern Exposure after accidentally discovering Sasha & John Digweed at The Social Festival in 2017. At the time, I had no idea who they were or even what progressive house was, but their set completely changed my perception of electronic music. It was complex, musical, intelligent, and unlike anything I had heard before.
Immediately the next day, I started researching Sasha and John, Northern Exposure kept being mentioned in many of the articles I read and it was often referred to their finest piece of work and an era-defining album. When I listened to it that day, I immediately understood why. Every track felt like a carefully selected chapter, with each record contributing to something much bigger.
The album really showed me the power of electronic music, something I’d not found in other genres of dance music. The way a selection of records can tell a story and take the listener on a journey. It introduced me to progressive house, Renaissance, Global Underground, Communicate and so much more. I honestly don’t think I would be producing and DJing progressive house today if I had never heard this mix.
Nearly 30 years after its original release, Northern Exposure still feels completely timeless. The progressive scene has changed significantly, but the fundamental idea remains the same: pushing things forward, being forward-thinking and trusting the listener enough to take them somewhere unexpected.
For me, Northern Exposure is a reminder that progressive isn’t just a genre or a specific sound. It’s a mindset. It’s about being brave with the music you select, giving records space to breathe and bringing together ideas that might not necessarily fit into one particular genre.
A huge congratulations to Sasha and John on the last 30 years, and on this incredible release. I’m extremely thankful to have been asked to contribute to the DJ Mag article (thanks Simon!). Northern Exposure has had such a significant impact on me, so being able to share what it means to me is something I’m genuinely very grateful for.
Now I just can’t wait to receive my deluxe vinyl and spend the weekend listening to it! 😁💫
Simon Whight
