Sven Väth

Sven Väth, born on 26 October 1964, is a German DJ and electronic music producer whose career in electronic music spans over 40 years. Born to parents from East Germany who met near Frankfurt, Väth grew up alongside two brothers. His parents opened an English pub featuring a small dance floor, exposing him to styles ranging from rock’n’roll to disco. In the summer of 1980, Väth visited Ibiza for three months, an experience that inspired him to become a DJ. Upon returning home, he began DJing at his parents' pub at the age of 17.

In 1982, Väth earned a residency at the Dorian Gray club in Frankfurt am Main, where he met producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. Together, they formed the group Off (Organisation for Fun) in 1985. The group achieved widespread success in 1986 with the single "Electrica Salsa" from their debut album, Organisation For Fun. Selling one million copies, the track established Väth as a pop sensation at age 22. Off released a second album, Ask Yourself, in 1989 before releasing their final single in 1990.

In 1988, Väth co-founded the dance club Omen in Frankfurt, which became recognized as a pivotal venue for German techno before closing in 1998. Väth co-founded Eye Q Records in 1991, through which he released the albums Accident in Paradise (1992) and The Harlequin, the Robot, and the Ballet-Dancer (1994). He also launched Harthouse Records in 1992, recording under the alias Barbarella. After departing both labels in 1997, Väth signed a three-album contract with Virgin Records, releasing Fusion (1998), Contact (2000), and Fire (2002).

Väth launched the Cocoon concept in 1996, expanding it in 1999 to encompass a booking agency, event management branch, and record label named Cocoon Recordings. In 1999, he established a long-running Monday event series at Amnesia in Ibiza, hosting the night for 18 years before transferring the residency to Pacha in 2018. Affectionately called "Papa Sven" by fans, Väth became a prominent figure in the underground electronic music scenes of both Germany and Ibiza, hosting events and unannounced after-parties across Ibiza and Formentera.

In 2004, Väth opened the Cocoon club in Frankfurt, operating the venue until its closure in late 2012. Recognized as a three-time DJ Awards winner, Väth is a staunch advocate of vinyl, performing his extensive DJ sets using exclusively two decks and a mixer. His longest performance lasted 30 hours.

Väth has a daughter born in 1989, and a son born in 2011 with designer Nina Peter, whom he married in 2008 and separated from in 2012. Over his career, Väth has maintained residences near Frankfurt, in Ibiza, and in London, following an Ayurvedic regimen during his off-season.