Please introduce yourself:
Hey my name is LA SAM, the name can be
misleading that I am from LA but that is not the case so wanna get that out the
way first. I am a DJ from Essex that started as a double act with my friend
Lewis but it never worked out so just kept the name. I have been DJ'ing nearly
4 years by November it will be, which is actually the anniversary for playing
for you guys the first time. My style is Tech house, techno and deep house
mainly. But I do have a liking for Nu disco, more emotional tech house commonly
known as "Deep Tech" and 80's music a long with the old kinda hip hop
not the stuff that is going about now, back in the day Tupac and Biggie Smalls
for example. I have also been producing for 3 years and very proud of my
releases so far.
What
are you up to at the moment and what have you go lined up for summer?
This year has been crazy I have had a lot
of gigs and really well supported releases. I have a residency with Sugar which
is a new London event with a concept of colour and bumpy kind of music to make
you move. The first party was nothing short of super and headlining with my
friend Ben Sterling on the 2nd one was an honour. Highlights this year include
We Are Fstvl b2b with Zach Murray in the Data Transmission tent, playing for
Data Transmission at Brighton Music Conference then later doing an impromptu
b2b with my mate Dan Hayes at the Arch what a wicked venue that is! Also played
at the Source, Studio 338 (Garden) and Basing House. I continue my residency
for Sugar on the 5th August at our regular location Floripa which fits our
concept perfectly as it's a Brazilian themed Tropical bar and there's lots more
in pipeline just can't announce yet.
Producing
or DJing, which do you prefer?
Wow tough question both very different art
forms. I love both honestly otherwise I wouldn't do both. With Dj'ing you
express yourself live in front of a crowd of people, timing is crucial and of
course track selection, when you drop a track that they have never heard
before, seeing their faces and reactions is just incomparable an amazing
feeling. With production you're mostly alone or sometimes with a few mates.
It's special because when you sit there after making a break down you can just
lose yourself closing your eyes and punching the air imagining it being dropped
by a top artist in Ibiza for example really gives you a sense of achievement
because you made it from scratch. So I don't prefer either sorry haha!
How
would you describe your DJing or production style? Are they similar and how do they feed into
each other?
My style is very much taking people on a
journey I don't like sticking to one tempo, I like people to go through all
different speeds and emotions when watching me, otherwise for me it gets too
repetitive and boring. The music I play will always depend what time I play,
the venue and the event. Those elements really influence my track choice before
hand and then it's reading the crowd and seeing how they are feeling the first
few tracks then you can kinda get a sense of what is going to work but I always
take risks and play something a bit unique just to see what their reactions
are. My production is 100% similar as I like to play my own tracks out first
before sending them to my friends and big artists in the industry to use. I've
produced Techno, Tech House and deep house including a track made with my own
lyrics called "instead" released on Data Transmissions label
Shanghaied which gained great feedback from Joyce Muniz, Felix Da Housecat and
Maxine Hardcastle. On top of that Detlef used my remix of Submotion - Ah Human
on his Stereo Productions Podcast for Chus & Cebellos which was massive for
me, Mat.Joe also recently gave great feedback on it too so it shows I have the
potential to do well!
Describe
your podcast mix in 5 words:
A Rollercoaster Journey Of Sound.
On
the mix you've included 2 tracks from the Clouded Judgement boys, who we have
had play at East Project a couple of times and have been building a great name
for themselves... Who else on the London
or UK scene should we be keeping an eye out for?
Yeah man great guys they played just before
me and Zach Murray at We Are Fstvl this year they are doing really well, their
forthcoming EP is great so had to use a few of those tracks. I have a whole
host of friends that are making their way up the ladder but I would have to say
my fellow Sugar residents Stephen Thomas, Lizzie Grant, James Carter, Louis
Robinson, Lewis Murch and Luke Slater all have something to offer and I'm so
happy to be part of a strong team so keep an eye out on them! Also close
friends Zach Murray who recently got his track "Drum Machine" dropped
by MK at Amnesia in Ibiza and Ben Sterling who released a 4 track EP on Josh
Butlers Label Origins rcrds.
You
have been following East Project from the start from there parties to there
label. Tell us about your forthcoming track on the label and coming on board
with the team?
Yes my first ever party as a young man been
a major influence on coming into the music industry. My fourth coming track
Spiritual Calling was definitely based on the hot creations kind of style but
also has a rawness about it. The vocal hook sounds like some sort of spirit
calling out hence the name. I am very excited about working closer with the
team and a new challenge. I want to help unrecognised talent and help grow the
reach of a great label and party that has been so crucial to my development.
TRACKLIST:
1. Nex tone - Believe me now
2. Clouded Judgement - Countdown
3. Paul Lightfoot - Bedroom work
4. Clouded Judgement - Small Step
5. Teeda - Relapse (Robin Fett remix)
6. Ben Read & Jacque Saravante -
Overdrive (Simeon Belle remix)
7. Ben Read & Jacque Saravante - Wanchu
8. David Penn - Yeah Yeah
9. Ki Creighton, Makanan - High Motions
(Waifs & Strays remix)
10. Ben Sterling - Toot Toot
11. wAFF - Karimba
12. Caleb Calloway - The Place
13. Artikal - Jam Pot
14. LA SAM - Grand Master Get Down
15. Latecomer - Fix up
16. Radion Poddubsky - Over Noise (Cassimm
remix)
17. Mr. Jefferson, Nobody else - Tick tock
break
18. Patrick Topping - Yes Chief
19. Yade - Submarine (Jojo Angel remix)
20. Mark Star - Ultraviolet (Violet Beats
mix)
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