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 With the sounds of his third Opus compilation still ringing fresh in the ears we went to catch up with its creator Mr Sam for a very in depth insight the third edition in the series and how 2009 has been...
You can tell how much drive and passion Mr Sam has for music after reading this interview. He has become a definitive solo producer in his own right since breaking away from Fred Baker. He is also not an artist you can pigeon hole into one particular genre as with his own productions and mixes he infiltrates both with a variety of styles. You can hear that variation of style in his third edition of the 'Opus' series entitled 'Tertio'. The meaning behind the name 'Tertio' for those not in the know is Latin for third. It's been a series where Mr Sam has been able to push forward tracks that you may not know to much about. It's Trance but with added extra's giving it a bit of an edge over your usual mixed compilation.
We thought it was about time we had a chat to Mr Sam about the new release and boy did we get some answers. If your looking for an insight into the mind of this very talented electronic dance music DJ & producer then read on for very in depth insight.
i:Vibes: Sam thanks for taking some time to speak to ivibes.nu. How has 2009 been for you in terms of producing and gigs? What really stood out for you this year?
Mr Sam: Hello, I had my best year ever to be honest. “Cygnes” made my year. The track has been release December last year and became an anthem. I’ve to tell you that I never thought it could have been my biggest track to date. I simply did it as an exclusive track for OPUS Secundo. It was a real team work and had fun doing it. Its sometimes strange how tracks are becoming classics isn’t it ? Sometimes you put all elements to make it big and nothing happen and sometimes you do it “Just like this” and boom ! I real want one day to write a book about it. I mean knowing the story behind the biggest Dance tracks ever. Knowing how “Born Slippy” or “Children” have been made... the story behind it. Whatever, its another topic isn’t it?
In terms of producing, I’ve been working all year on my new solo artist album called “Pop Model” but in the meantime I also did release few singles on my label APPIA MUSIC.
I started with Dominator, then was Cygnes, Anasthasia, Tantra, Menkayo and lately Rydem Koba (both with T4L) which is now gaining in power. It just became a massive hit with many big jocks including Markus Schulz who even done a special edit as well.
In terms of gigs it was also a spectacular year for me. I made a Tour in Australia which going to stay for me as a massive souvenir and achievement in my life. I loved being there. It was amazing. I played in countries where I love playing such as Dubai, Malaysia, Slovakia, Romania among many others. I went to Miami during WMC for playing for Armani AX as I mixed and did the compilation Armani AX vol 13 together with Tiesto. I heard lately that Armin did the Volume 14. Nice! I’ve been touring USA lately and will be back there pretty soon for the ‘POP MODEL World Tour”, so does Australia and lots more.
In terms of Stand out moment, I had a massive time playing in Malaysia for the first time for 6000 people, unbelievable. The production was massive and shared the stage with Fatman Scoop. It was definitely a great moment I had there! Production wise, I lately released my third volume of OPUS TERTIO. The story continues.....
I’m really happy of the warm welcome and wave critics we received on the new OPUS Tertio. It’s going straight to my heart. I’m working a lot on it to deliver a top quality mix album. The hard work always pays, I believe.
i:Vibes: In the 80s, you bought a Depeche Mode record and was instantly hooked with this type of music. Do you remember what record it was and why did this music move you so much?
Mr Sam: Depeche Mode.. Tell me about it. I got a tape (yeah.. we were still using tape guys!) from my brother and one of his friend. I was hooked in a minute. I strictly bought magazines talking about them (because also no internet at the time... hard to figure out but it was like that). I started dressing myself like them, haircut and such (don’t count on me for any pics guys!). I was constantly listening to their first album. I knew all songs on the top of my fingers. What a kick it was when I do think about it again. Amazing! It was a complete new style of Music. Ive no word to express what I felt at this time. It was so intense for me. It’s pretty sure that I got so much influenced by them. They opened a new window in my mind with their music. I saw them few times in concert and will see them again in January... so cant wait. To answer your question as well, one of my favourite DM’s record isn’t the most known : its Little 15.
i:Vibes: It seems like if one didn´t know you were French that one would never come across this being a fact. How much of an influence do your roots and where you come from have with your music?
Mr Sam: You’re right ! Many people think I am Dutch ! so it happened a lot to me that even when I was abroad, some people came to me and were talking Dutch. I do speak Dutch as well (not perfectly) because I worked in Belgium where I had to learn it when I was A&R for NEWS. But I’m French but I’m not using my hands when I play football! There is a lot of cliché on everyone. French, English, Italian, German etc, but the more you travel, the more you see that it's not that true to be honest. Not all English are the same and one person is not another. But surely being French influenced my way of composing, producing, Djing or simply creating music, concepts etc... I do love Fashion and creation in general. We’ve in France a good taste for fashion, design etc... We’re bad at many things but at least we still have something we do well. I’m always trying to include the “beauty” in all I do. Music, Visuals, Concepts, Music Video. I’m a freak of painting, Sculptures, history in general, architecture, design etc... All forms of creation actually. Everything can influence me but it needs to be beautiful in my eyes first. So I guess growing up in France helped me being in contact with beautiful things. I love going to Le Louvre in Paris for example or many other exhibitions.
I’m part of the ones of believe that you need to “feed” yourself with Art in general to be able to create yourself, I need it. It’s crucial for me. Many of my tracks are interpretations of something I saw, heard or read.
i:Vibes: In the 90s, you were already playing with famous artists in clubs. What is your memory of playing with Nalin & Kane? Did Beachball have any influence on your music and why?
Mr Sam: Yes, the 90’s was a massive time for me. Thinking about it is making me a bit nostalgic. House Music was a religion and a playground for many people in the clubs. I started my “Dj career” in many clubs of Belgium mid 90’s and had so much massive souvenirs. I was playing every week 2 times (Friday & Saturday) and many parties and huge dance clubs (6000 people capacity). I learned all I know during those years. Yes, we were playing with vinyl’s and carrying them in big flight case... A nightmare for shoulders and back to be honest... but what a good time it was! I shared the decks with many international Djs who were making their debut in Belgium such as Andry Nalin from Nalin & Kane. It was his first gig there and it was a the pick time of the success of “Beach Ball”. What a night we spent. We had Tiesto as well, in 1996 I guess, Danny Howells, Luke Slater and many, many others. I was also the only Trance Dj to ever perform at I LOVE TECHNO.
Back to “Beach Ball”, of course it has had a huge influence on me as on many others. It’s a track which came from the underground and became crossover due to a great vocal. It’s still for me one of my “example track”. It’s simple, effective, beautiful and not aggressive at all. A pure classic and a masterpiece. Nalin & Kane were for me at the moment at the top of the work. Such a shame they split.
i:Vibes: Even though you have released on well known trance label Black Hole, one could never only classify you as a trance artist/DJ? How would you classify your sound in 2009?
Mr Sam: Yes, I was there in the early days. I first started to release tracks on Tiesto’s Magik Muzik label even before he became Nr 1 etc... Somebody from a Trance Forum label told me that he had a look and that I was the dj/artist who released the most singles on Magik Muzik apart from Tiesto. Both as Mr Sam and Mojado as well (my Techno Moniker with Dimitri Andreas). I was surprised (Because I never thought about that) but was glad at the same time. Its part of your discography and your history as artist.
I’m very proud of being a Black Hole labelled Artist. But this is true, I never consider myself as a Trance DJ. I never produced any 138/140 bpm trance record ever. I’m very versatile as a producer. I like all kind of music and always produced different singles all the time. I’ll be bored of doing Trance all the time or Techno etc... I need changes and playground in studio as well. It all depends from my mood and tastes of the moment. I can release ‘Dominator” which is a techno monster and has been played hell of times by Armin, Sander Van Doorn, Jules etc and then release “Cygnes” which is completely different. I’m never trying to do a similar follow after a success.
I like challenges and I’m always trying to re-invent myself every time. I’m dreaming for years to do the perfect record that all Djs can play, from house to trance, from electro to minimal. Only a few guys achieved it including Deadmau5 the latest years. Its means you became Global with your sound. Not talking about Eric Prydz who is a genius for this. Who never played one of his tunes! Seriously?
In the end, its very hard for me to classify my sound. I would love to call it “my sound” or the “ Mr Sam Sound” but its sound a bit too much. My goal is to make the people dance and shout with beauty and emotions inside. That’s only what I want. For the rest, like everyone, I’m doing my best to produce a great track destined to the floors and hoping that other Djs than me will like it. Don’t forget that we’re simply here to try. The choice isn’t ours. You are always dependant from the others.
i:Vibes: You have been releasing music since the 90s and your debut album Lyteo came in 2006. How has your sound evolved since that release?
Mr Sam: I think my sound has evolve into something more & more efficient in terms of impact on the dance floor. For me, the arrangement is the key otherwise why so many Djs are still doing edits ! isn’t it ? When you make an edit of a track (means no musical additions to it) it’s only because you like the track but if you were the one who made it, you were arranging it in a different way. I’m putting a lot of time on the timing and arrangement. I’m a complete control freak for this. So it’s good to hear from other Djs when I’m on tour... ‘hey Man your tracks sounds very punchy and efficient on the floors”.
I’m also trying to mix different musical genres and sounds together. A kind of musical Melting pot. I’m dreaming of making a track with a guitar riff, a simple vocal hook, an easy synth and a easy bassline. Less is always more for me. If people cant sing or whistle your track, its not an anthem. If you do have a close look at Lyteo. I did some Techno, breakbeat, Classical, as well as House, Progressive, Trance and even a ballad on it. Already at this time I wanted to make music like this.
i:Vibes: Why does the label Black Hole and Mr Sam fit together so well? It seems like a marriage in heaven.
Mr Sam: Why? Its easy, I feel good there and it has always been the case. We do have an understanding and we work well together. They do have a blind confidence in me and the opposite. All great relation is based on trust. You used the word marriage and couldn’t use any better word to describe my relation with Black Hole.
They believed in me since day one and still believe in me. We do have big plans for the future and we’re working on a long term period. They mostly release 10 cds of my music. Soon 3 Mr Sam’s album (including the Lyteo remix album “Interpretations”, 2 Mojado Albums, 3 Opus, One Armani AX Double mix album and next a new OPUS 4 and we’ll be around that I think. All that among, numerous big singles as Lyteo, Split, Kaktus, Cygnes, Dominator, Insight etc.
Black Hole Recordings is a Legend in the Trance world as a label. No need to speak about what they did for Tiesto etc... its useless. Everybody knows. I’ve the biggest respect for them for what they did and for what they’ll do. Apparently 2010 will be a very busy year in the office. I also started my own label APPIA MUSIC and do have my own mix album series : OPUS.
I’m a very happy man to have the chance to work with such people, really. I started in 2002 so it will be soon 8 years... Lets do another interview in 2 years for the 10 years.
i:Vibes: You recently released Opus Tertio, the third release of this fabulous mix series. Why did you name this series Opus? Is there a deeper meaning behind it?
Mr Sam: : Yes, OPUS Tertio has been released late October. It’s the Third volume as you know. I’m particularly proud of the success of the mix album. I’m working extremely hard on it to deliver a great piece of music. OPUS means work musically speaking in Latin. It really stands for what I believe in work, grandeur and length of time. For me this mix album series OPUS is extremely important in my eyes. I now did 3 and I’m very happy of the results so far.
I am also happy to see that my OPUS concept, which I created completely independently several years ago, has inspired many others to do the same in the field of electronic music. Many famous Djs have been inspired by OPUS to create their own mix album. I am at the same time flattered and happy to see that finally my basic and adventurous idea has now become the norm in the field of mix albums.
Many of them have complimented me on this revolutionary and innovative concept using exclusively titles composed especially for OPUS. This approval was not won quickly and I had, at the time, to convince people of the relevance of my artistic approach as well as the viability of the project itself. I take no personal glory from this but simply the feeling of having, in my own time, been able to analyse the evolution of tastes in music, thought deeply about it and set my project in motion in a sustainable way.
I have lately had the impression that getting your work known is more important than having know how. Communication has become the essential thing nowadays. It is undeniable. Nevertheless, we should at least be aware that communication is not enough. We must in any case be certain that behind all this is an artistic work of quality. Something that has been severely lacking in recent years.
i:Vibes: You toured all over the world in the last year to gather unique tracks for Opus Tertio. How difficult a process was this? How many tracks didn´t make it to the CD?
Mr Sam: Making an album like OPUS Tertio took me nothing else than a year. You know my concept and I’m hand picking all artists on my own. Nobody is working for me to submit me any tracks. I like to look and lose myself on the internet from page to page looking for new talents but also during my numerous gigs all over the world. It’s something I love.
I received and listened around 1000 tracks. I gave nearly each person a personal answer to finally select around 25 tracks. All tracks are exclusive and not coming from established producers for most of them. However the quality is there in my opinion. I always been there for helping new talents wherever they’re coming from. No misunderstanding but sometimes unknown producers are producing better records than some established ones. Everybody knows it. That’s the reason why I’m so happy that OPUS is becoming the shop window for these hidden talents. They deserve more attention from the labels, party people etc.
Some of them I pushed on OPUS 1 and 2 are now being signed to many labels and doing massive releases and remixes... They know who they’re ! I’m Very happy for them. I simply gave them a push and they did the rest. Congratulations guys!
To finish, doing a Mix Album as OPUS 3 is nothing else than signing 24 tracks to your label and mixing them. It’s a hell of a job, believe me. You can stay weeks without finding a good tracks.. But in the end, what a joy to listen to a finish work. it’s such a good feeling.
i:Vibes: You wanted to Opus Tertio to be spiritual. On what kind of a spiritual journey do you want the listener to go on?
Mr Sam: Yes. According to some ancient myths, music has divine origins. So why did man invent this form of expression as well as language? Was it perhaps to express more universal spiritual sentiments and to speak to everybody?
Is music the supreme universal language? I think so.
In certain countries and religions, music has no other purpose than to reach and move the soul in order to elevate it to a spiritual, profound even ecstatic plane. Music is a vehicle which moves and elevates the soul, which should be in harmony with the mind. In other words, it should emit "universal vibrations". Music is also our companion in every moment of life; some people see it as a friend or even a member of the family. That is how it is for me, I can’t live without it.
Who has never cried or been moved by music or by a particular song? Being a DJ and music producer is not a profession or a career. It’s more like a vocation, a commitment that in the end is almost akin to a religious calling. Music does not have to be classical to posses this element of the divine. The works of certain modern composers also have this quality and we are in some way the new actors in this role.
Contemporary or electronic music encourages the resurgence of a spiritual and personal type of expression as it is accessible and therefore addresses a larger public than ever before. Let’s not get lost in the new technology that helps to produce this music labelled “new generation” and let’s not be fooled by it either. The man behind the machine remains the essential element in the creation of music and not its slave. In this way machines become, not a hindrance, but an aid to the expression of human values and spirituality. Electro-acoustic music, like all contemporary work, is not only the main exponent of this approach, but is becoming an entity in its own right. Music, like the other arts, is at one and the same time a reflection of human evolution and a means of reaching the hearts of the general public It can “paint a picture” of society, of the “spirit of the times” portray emotions, philosophy or contemplation. It all depends on the listener's interpretation.
It should be noted that it is not only classical or religious music that is spiritual, even if they do have a greater tendency to send music lovers on a voyage of self discovery. Music helps man to escape his humdrum existence and take refuge in the imaginary. Something which is not one of today’s luxuries.
For me music remains as an invisible journey towards both spiritual and emotional escape. A passage between man and God himself? Religious vocabulary has a great presence in music, in the proper sense as well as figuratively: “God is a DJ”, “Temple of House Music”, The great music gatherings and festivals seem to be mistaken for open air masses, with the faithful listening to the prophets, here embodied by the artists and the djs.! There is a real spirit of communion, of brotherhood.
For some music is only a particular kind of noise, for me it is work of art when it succeeds in moving and creating a spiritual dialogue with its audience. Mozart once said “Music can attempt anything, dare anything, portray anything, provided that it charms the listener and remains in the end still music.”
I share this point of view and I would add that it has the power to unite peoples of all faiths. I have for many years been led to perform throughout the world to people from different cultures, origins and religions, and music has always had the almost miraculous power to unite rather than divide. Music has succeeded where politics has failed. Its here that music fulfils its true potential as a universal and central language. It is easier to fight men than ideas. I wanted this new OPUS TERTIO to be largely spiritual. So I concentrated my efforts on that goal. Beauty and emotion were the essential qualities I was seeking for all of the titles of this new OPUS chapter.
i:Vibes: There are really three kinds of mix compilations. The kinds that feature all the hits, then the compilations that feature many unknown commercial tracks and then the very rare ones that feature unknown one-time kind of tracks. I believe the Opus series belongs to the third kind. How difficult is making this type of mix CD without adding the hits?
Mr Sam: First, thanks for the compliment. Much appreciated over here. A few years back, when I thought about doing my own mix album, I thought “If you’re a dj now and doing a mix compilation, how can you only pick up the best tunes of the moment and mixing them together only?” Everybody can do that, Everybody. I’m still surprised to see such compilations on the market to be honest. The young Djs who are buying tracks on beatport etc.. are doing their own private mix album while doing the dj mix at home and many of them are really good to be honest. I do respect them a lot. But how can you ask them to buy a mix album with all tracks they know, maybe mixed in a different order? Only because you’re putting your face on the cover you think? Let’s be serious for a moment. I had the pharaonic project to create a mix album with only exclusive tunes I will find myself. In this way, the Djs and music lovers will really have a real voyage while listening to the mix album. First because they wont know any of the tracks so it will be fresh for them, but also because they’ll discover many new talented producers from all over the world. As I said, doing a mix compilation like this is extremely difficult and requires time, patience, a good ear, good decisions etc... It’s not an impossible task of course but you need to be ultra focus on it to achieve it till the end to keep the quality level high all the way through. About the hits, you right it’s not easy to not use them, so many of them are great etc. But with OPUS I’m trying to create the hits instead of playing them. It’s a different philosophy. View the success of OPUS, I now know that this is what the people are looking for. Something different. The listeners are more and more aware about the music and they’re not fools at all, believe me. Some of them know more than us sometimes, it’s amazing. It’s a good feeling for me and helps me to exceed myself. I do profit from this interview to thanks of all you who sent me such nice messages about the new OPUS Tertio... thanks a lot. I’m already somehow looking for new pearls for the next OPUS 4 so feel free to send me your track at sam@mrsam.tv. You’re welcome!
i:Vibes: On the first CD, you have a nice mix of instrumental tracks with vocal tracks. What was vital for you in putting together the first CD?
Mr Sam: In the OPUS series, the first CD is always very different to the CD 2. The track selection is a lot different so does the mix as well. First CD contains more instrumental you right and less vocals but it’s not dubby at all either. First CD is always an introduction, an initiation to the story I’m telling on each chapter. A sort of “Mise en Bouche”, appetizers in a way. It needs to put the listener in a certain mood to be “able” to listen the CD2 and understand the whole story around this new volume/chapter. The tempo is also slower. If I do remember well, its 128 bpm and most of the tracks are not so much stretched etc. That’s the advantage when you’re in touch with the composers even before the track is finished or even started. You can ask for certain key, tempo etc... to fit the other tracks. CD1 also contains more minimal trance sounds as well together with some more house influences at the same time. I don’t have a recipe for making it. I simply need to feel a track and think ‘yes... it can be on OPUS, or not!”. It’s true that I love very original records away from the cliché ones!
I’m not looking for a specific style or music or sound but more a special global feeling. I just want to be impressed by a track and feel something.
i:Vibes: “Connected” from Vosk featuring Esmaye(Arty remix) is very nice especially the atmosphere. What is the perfect atmosphere for you? Where do you need to be to feel the atmosphere?
Mr Sam: : As I just said, I’m only looking for feelings. Nothing else. “Connected” story is quite original as well. I got a ruff demo from Vosk. An instrumental. I did like it but thought that it was missing a vocal.
I thought a lot before choosing the singer. I was one day talking to Esmaye on Skype, she played me few songs she lately did, mostly with the guitar and thought that her voice could match with the track as well. We talked a lot together about it. I explained her exactly what I was waiting from her and we had an understanding. “Connected” is all about the numerous discussions we had about it and also different topics. She’s a talented singer and I was happy to help Vosk to get a great vocal on his track as well. Then Arty made his own remix and brought something more to it. So I took the remix rather than the original because it was fitting OPUS better.
i:Vibes: Andy Duguid is one of the hottest producers at the time. What was it like working together with him?
Mr Sam: Andy is like my brother. I love him. As I said already a lot, he’s a very talented producer and musician. I’ve the biggest respect for him. I’ve been a lot of times in Scotland where he is living and I do feel home when I go there. We don’t work under pressure etc. We simply have a good time, go out for drinks, nice walks in the countryside and then we do music when we feel it. It’s all about having a good time there.
i:Vibes: What was vital for you in putting together CD 2?
Mr Sam: CD2 is the follow up to CD1, that’s why I’m always suggesting to listen them in the good order to have the real OPUS Feeling. CD2 is always a bit more clubby, more trancy as well but always in a nice way. I’ll never play a 138 bpm record there. Never. Its a non sense. In the order hand, I’m always trying to speed up things a little bit more and putting some more pressure on the CD2. CD2 is more a lift off in terms of music, a booster. I’m doing it on all OPUS Album. Sometimes, I’ve all tracks for CD 1 and couldn’t sign anymore ones but still looking for tracks for CD2 or the opposite.
On this OPUS 3, I changed a bit and finished the CD2 with some more techy sound but on 130 bpm and both tracks were mine; “Mixi” and “Rydem Koba”. I wanted to move the concept a little bit and choose for some techno sounds with a bit of trance on it. Apparently it pleased a lot of people so it sounds good to me. It also gave me another idea for making things different for the OPUS 4 as well.
i:Vibes: CD 2 starts quite trancey with nice efforts from Ben Preston and One World. How did you find these genuine artists and tracks?
Mr Sam: Ben is doing a name for him at the moment with few quality releases. I got in touch with him, we talked about it and he sent me few tracks included “The Last Train”. I directly told him, its an OPUS track mate! I did license it. Easy as this!. Ben’s track was an evidence for me, I couldn’t miss this one. Not all signatures are as fast and easy as this one. I wished.
Now Oneworld is Sander’s (First State) new alias. I told him exactly what I was looking for OPUS and he sent me a few tracks if I remember well. I got a demo or “GreenBay” Version 1. I did ask Sander many changes to have the track perfect for me. He was very professional and had no problems doing some needed changes to it. Finally you can listen the version on OPUS and I love this track. It’s so beautiful.
I did re-arranged many tracks on the album and ask for many changes. Many “played the game” and had no problems with that. I want all tracks to be perfect in my eyes before ending up on OPUS. I’m a perfectionist and its very important for me that I’m fully happy with the final result. I’m like this.
i:Vibes: “Feel Like” from Madstring and Dj Moffy is really very beautiful. Much of your track selection is from France/Magic Muzik. Is the EDM world still a bit unaware of what good music really comes from France or is released there? Will that change through time?
Mr Sam: Madstring & Dj Moffy are not from France but from Columbia if I’m right. The track is absolutely awesome. Maybe not for the clubs to be honest but to listen at home etc, it’s great.
It does have a really nice atmosphere to it, a whole story inside. I was blown away the firs time I heard it. I told them I badly wanted it for OPUS. It was like it has been destined to be on OPUS. That’s the sort of track I’m always looking for! It’s very different in terms of sounds to what we’re used to hear and it’s extremely well composed as well. As I said, it’s not much for the clubs but then it means that its no more a track but more ‘music” because no pressure in the production to have a club song, efficient hook or breakdown. It’s simply a nice music to listen too. Nothing else. And this is what I do love about that. That’s the OPUS concept. The Voyage in sound and time.
i:Vibes: Tra Zomas has a beautiful intro. What was the inspiration behind this track?
Mr Sam: The track has been composed with Andy Duguid when I was in Scotland last year for a gig in Peterhead. We had 2-3 days in studio and I said Andy, why not making a tune together for OPUS Tertio. Let’s go he said. I started with the beats and such and I explained Andy the concept and main idea for the music, where I wanted to go and we made it happen. Andy is a genius in terms of Music. I’ve been working with a lot of producers in studio as I did mainly compose my new album on Tour but Andy is standing out. I’ll never have enough words to say how much musically good he is. He’s my favourite moody bro ever. (private joke Andy).
Now about the classical part, its an interpolation of a theme I love and half inspired by another, isn’t that clear? haha!
i:Vibes: How were the duties in the studio between Andy and you? Who did what? What did you guys do to make Tra Zomas perfect?
Mr Sam: Well, as I just said, there is not a formula for a track in studio. But Andy took care of bringing the Jack Daniels and the Coke (Coca Cola guys.) I brought the cookies If I remember well and we started the tune from scratch. I’m more the beat master as Andy Says.
As I Said, Andy is a genius musically so together, everything is possible in the end of the day. It’s so good to work together like this because we’re pushing each others boundaries to the max and then we can come up with something very fresh. It’s the true meaning of the word “Collaboration”. It would have been a no sense if we were too similar. The result couldn’t have been so good. This is not my first track with Andy, We also did “Hold My Breath” with Solarstone and we also did a few ones on my new artist album “Pop Model”.
i:Vibes: “Mixi” is a track that goes from one extreme to the next in styles and then goes back to the proggy style. How important is it for you to really to make a piece of music as diverse as possible?
Mr Sam: Yes “Mixi” is very special. In Fact the name “Mixi” is because the track is between MInimal for the beats and MaXImal for the trancy break. I wanted to come up with another idea of making music again. I did compose this track as if I was doing a mash-up between a Minimal techno track and trancy one. That’s what I tried to do. I’ve to admit that its strange when you listen to it. Especially the restart. BUT, there is always a but, I did road test it and its mayhem on the floor. I played it in Seattle (USA) last week and it’s was massive, couldn’t believe my eyes. So I won my bet on this one.
i:Vibes: “Rydem Koba” is very experimental with a nice break. How difficult was it making this and what was about the production time on this?
Mr Sam: “Rydem Koba” is very particular as well. I did it when I was touring in Italy, in Rome. It has been produced with Manuel and Alessandro from T4L. The track has been done in 2 days if I remember well. Everything started with the chords of the main melody. I came with the melody and we started from there. As the key of it sounded better on a slower tempo, we did it on 128 bpm and build up the beats and grooves around it. Many told me, wow it sounds like a Mojado track. I took it as a compliment, even if my partner in crime Dimitri has nothing to do in “Rydem Koba”. I wanted to bring a bit of twist in this track and make it more techno. So like “Mix”, I wanted it to sound like a mash=up but as an original composition if you see what I mean. The chords are beautiful and easy to remember, especially the way they’re played. The rest of the track has nothing to do with the main theme and breakdown. I wanted it to be very percussive and punchy. Once again, it’s all about doing a good collaboration. “Rydem Koba” doesn’t sounds like any other T4L tracks. Its true combination of both our musical background. After a few hours in studio the first day, the track was mostly done. We directly felt that it had something special and will certainly appeal many big Djs. Markus Schculz among many others are pushing it as hell at the moment and we’re all very happy of it.
Producing on tour is becoming a real drug for me. Its giving me more fresh ideas etc. I’m now thinking of basically only producing music like this and finishing the records properly later on, for the technical side of it. Many producers know the “syndrome of the white page” like authors or writers have. I always said that I’m not a “everyday in studio producer”. Never been like that. I need to have a good idea, a strong vision of what I want to do. I need to do lots of sound research, tests etc.
When I feel the good time coming, I do it. Easy as this. Like an architect I need to do plans before building something. I dont like starting from a blank page and starting listening tones of samples. You can fastly loose yourself into pluggings and such, for the end of the day having nothing special done.
i:Vibes: You will be releasing your new album soon. What can we await from this and will there be any collaborations with other artists?
Mr Sam: Yes, my new solo artist album “POP MODEL” will be released early 2010. I’ve been working a lot on it to come up with something different from what I did but at the same keep the “Mr Sam” style as well. The album will contain 18-19 tracks, it’s not definitive. Its ready for a long time but It takes time to prepare the release etc. The more prepared the better it is. I kept the “Mr Sam Sound” on the club tracks such as “Cygnes” or “Dominator” but I did lots of singles for the radio as well. Nothing bad with that. I always loved house music and started Djing this style years and years ago. So I did some house tracks with great singers like Amanda Wilson from The Freemasons for example among many others as well. I wanted this album to be a real playground for me. No pressure. I simply wanted to have fun and produce all kind of music I wanted without thinking what people going to think about it. Free as a bird! So you’ll be able to find the typical club sound of my tracks but also some more crossover songs on it which I’m particularly proud of. It’s a complete different way of producing music. You’ve to focus on the melody, the hook, the arrangement etc. Another great challenge for me!. Working with true songwriters, pop singers, gave me a great feeling and pushed me to exceed myself too. All I can say is that you’ll be surprised by many tracks, that’s a promise!
Lets talk longer about it in February when the album will be released!
i:Vibes: You produced tracks many years ago with Fred Baker, but you guys went your separate ways. He wasn´t too happy with how your working relationship ended. What exactly were the differences?
Mr Sam: Its ages I even thought about that to be honest! I can nearly say I almost forgot about that. Its true, we made some music together. We had fun and did great music. I think we only did produce one track together as Vs. However, everybody is evolving in his own way and I wanted to focus on my own career. It’s as easy as this. I also wanted to be free to do what I wanted in terms of music. I simply left him because I couldn’t agree anymore on the way our relation was evolving. I thought I could leave him in good terms, but it wasn’t the case actually.
After that, I heard, saw and read tones of gossips, rumours etc. To be very honest with you, it didn’t really touched me in any way. In a split, there is always one who feels more hurt than the other. You were talking about the word “Marriage” between Black Hole Recordings and me as an allegory or a metaphor and that’s really close to this. When married people are divorcing, there is always one who is always more sad, not happy compared the other one. Usually it’s the one who is being left. Don’t expect this person to say good things about the other one. Its Life, it’s like that, you’ve to accept it. Everybody already experienced it even once in his life. It’s not funny or pleasant to hear such things on you...but I don’t care to be honest. I simply regret that Fred didn’t understand that and did all this drama for years for nothing...I have enough education and respect for not answering on every lies I saw. It was way better.
It's not the first time a duo is splitting, even though I can’t call us a duo as we only did release a single together as artists. Apparently many loved it. The positive thing here is, that after a split, with time you can see who is evolving, growing up etc... That’s where the truth talks compare to gossips and rumours. For me all that counts are the facts, the results. I mean I did few solo albums since that, as Mr Sam or Mojado released on big labels, did a few mix albums OPUS, Ive been travelling the world, meeting great people, collaborated with talented artists, created my own label and on the top of that I do have the chance to make my passion my work, what else? People are clever enough to analyse a situation and with time, they’re basing their opinions on facts. I’m a happy man, having a good life, enjoying it and those things are not touching me at all.
As I said, I’m not paying attention to such annoyances. To finish on a positive point because I’m a positive person, I only want to remember the good moments even if for me this is an old story. I want to remind “Forever Waiting” as a very good track. So let’s only focus on the music and lets avoid gossips etc.
i:Vibes: Why don’t you play more in Germany?
Mr Sam: I’m thinking twice. but I don’t even think I ever played in Germany. It’s strange as I never thought about it. Aha. In the other hands, Germany isn’t doing big parties anymore for Trance music or EDM in general, isn’t it ? It’s no secret for the people who know me well. Id LOVE to play for one of Paul Van Dyk’s Vandit nights in Berlin. I’ve been there twice and was blown away. It’s also no secret that I do respect Paul a lot for all he did for EDM in general. I bought his records when I was 17 in 1992 and he’s a Legend for me. Do I have to send a SOS in a bottle to Vandit to play there?.
It will be a big achievement for me to spend a night with Paul, share the decks and have a good musical time all together. Message sent, isn’t it?
i:Vibes: What do you know about the German Techno pope Talla 2xlc? He has the Technoclub in Frankfurt each month. Is that a place where you might like to play?
Mr Sam: I know Talla’s music for ages (since the 90s) and also loved it too. He’s another Legend to me. We met in Romania this summer and we had a great contact and we had fun all night together.
He played a massive set this night and save the floor from being a desert of feet to be honest. I congratulate him for that. He told me about his Technoclub in Frankfurt. YES of course Id like to play there, twice more than once to be honest. Talla is your read this lines, you know what to do bro.
I’ve a strong idea of what Id like to do over there together with Talla. It will maybe be next year during my ‘Pop Model World Tour” Who knows?
i:Vibes: What was your greatest gig in 2009?
Mr Sam: Definitely my gig in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur for 6000 crazy people. The night was called “The Global Art Of Mixing” and people were listening to all kind of music all night before I took the decks and they went ballistic. It was so good to see it and gave me goose bumps all over!
Another special thanks for the people who were there by the way. See you next time again.
i:Vibes: What is your alltime favourite track?
Mr Sam: I love so much that its hard to name only one but as you ask for it :
EDM: BT – Remember (how did he produce the track in Midi in 1997 … still a mystery for me…)
Non EDM: Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard – We Are Free
i:Vibes: Thanks sam for the chat! Good luck with Opus Tertio!
Mr Sam: You're welcome, it’s my pleasure! I want to thank all my fans who are supporting and following me for years. Be sure that all I do is for you. Thanks again. Without fans, an artist is nothing!
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