|
 In the run up to a huge Techoclub night this month celebrating the club founder Talla 2XLC's birthday we caught with Mr Sam, who will be making his debut at the club, for a few words...
On the 12th day of the month of March at the legendary Technoclub in Frankfurt, Germany, a very special party will be kicking off. The club will be hosting a very special event to celebrate its founder, Talla 2XLC's birthday. He has invited over Mr Sam to make his debut at one of Germany's most well renowned club nights. It's an event he is very much looking forward to and we thought it was a good idea to get his thoughts on his forthcoming inarguable appearance at the Technoclub. Mr Sam is one of most passionate artists on the scene and its with great pleasure we get to grill him with another Q&A.
i:Vibes: You are making your Technoclub debut in March 2010? How thrilled are you to be able to play at the legendary Technoclub?
Mr Sam: Yes indeed. Technoclub debut and for Talla’s Birthday. What else? I’m extremely motivated to burn the roof there. Nothing less than that. I’ll be in London the day before and will go straight to Frankfurt ... No matter the hours of Sleep, I’ll bring some fire over there. Get ready boys & girls!
i:Vibes: Where was the first meeting that you ever had with Talla 2XLC? What did you find unique with him as a person?
Mr Sam: We first met in Romania last summer for the House Parade Party and we directly had a good contact and had fun all night. We didn’t finish the night together be sure, but we came back via Frankfurt the day after as well so lets say we spent the weekend all together...
He’s a funny buddy and a good dj...
i:Vibes: When was the first time that you remember hearing a Talla 2XLC record?
Mr Sam: A few classic Trance In the 90s on Sony Music etc... Some good old times!
i:Vibes: How important has Talla 2XLC been for the world dance scene?
Mr Sam: Well, he’s one of the pioneer in Germany, with PvD and Jam & Spoon. For the rest I’m not sure I’m the best one to judge it. The number of fan he got is maybe a better explanation for it, isn’t it ? and he’s still there nowadays so it says it all!!
i:Vibes: When you were growing up in the 90s, what was your impression of the German dance scene? What artists inspired you?
Mr Sam: Of course, like many DJ’s at the time, as I was playing in the 90’s already, we all mostly got influenced by the German Trance scene. So many good Dj & Acts were born there.
As I said, From Paul Van Dyk, Jam & Spoon, Talla and so many others. In Belgium, we were so close to it that we go infected of course, even if I think that we started trance before in Belgium to be honest. However, the scene at the time was huge and it was a revolution. Nothing to do with what is happening nowadays with radio, Tv, internet etc.. It was underground and you really had the impression to be part of a special group of people when you were listening this music and going to underground parties. Will sound funny or surprising for many nowadays but Trance was the underground music of the time. Private and illegal trance parties were taking places and it was a privilege to get there.
All big Djs from now all started with Trance, even if now they’re all denying it. I think that Trance is to Music what Weed is to Drugs, everybody taste it at least one time! From Sven Vath to Paul Van Dyk and so so many others did it ! why being ashamed? If you look well on youtube, you can even find a video of Sven Vath doing psy trance in the studio and he seemed to love it more than everything. The goold old times! Trance is not a cheese work for me to be honest ! Some big Djs are afraid of saying it and thats for me an error. As soon as you play a trance with a bassline, some pads, a main riff, many percussions and big breakdown.. thats Trance ! nothing else. So some of them wants to give it another name. I don’t get the reason. If someone can tell me why, I’ll be happy.
My favourite Dance Band ever is without a shadow of a doubt JAM & SPOON. They were genius. RIP Marc Spoon. Simply listen now in 2010 their album TRIPOMATIC FAIRY TALES release in the early 90’s on R&S records and you’ll understand what I mean.
Will be way better than a long speech... nuff said.
i:Vibes: How would you describe a three hour DJ set from you?
Mr Sam: A trip around the world without moving. Thousands of footsteps, hundreds of smiles and many times with your hands up in the air, dozens of screams and having a good time. I hope a few drinks to get more in the mood and leaving with a nice girl at the end of the night! what else? I forgot, maybe a sign picture in the end, but for the girls only! aha! The rest is bla bla dj thing... about the style of music etc.. not my thing. Simply come with a good state of mind, have fun, look around you and see all this happy people, share with them.. have a good time and let yourself go! And come back next time!!
i:Vibes: What kind of DJ set can we await from you? Will it be like from your Opus compilations?
Mr Sam: Not at all, OPUS Music style is strictly reserved to my OPUS mix album. This is not what I’m playing in club. You can hear it in my club singles like Dominator, Lyteo, Cygnes, Anasthasia, Rydem Koba, Tantra etc...
I love rocking the floors everywhere I go so for this I do put all chances by my side. I like strong and beautiful music at the same time. I cant play at track which is not giving goosebumps or move my feet. I never forgetting I’m there to make the people dance first of all, for the rest no matter how you do it.. the most important thing is to success.
i:Vibes: How much has your sound developed and changed since Lyteo in 2006? One can´t really classify you as a trance artist.
Mr Sam: I cant really my sound did change a lot but it has been growing up, that’s true. I’m doing less Trance even if I like it but I find it less and less interesting lately. The last one I did was ‘Cygnes” and was Number 1 on beatport for weeks and weeks and became a classic for tones of DJ’s. People are requesting me the track wherever I go to play in the world. Amazing isn’t it?
Its also true that I’m doing more & more Techno tracks like Dominator, Anasthasia, Rydem Koba, Menkayo or Tantra... thats in my roots and I love producing energetic records with full power on it ! I saw that there is less and less big room records on the market lately. Rydem Koba has been played till death by so many DJ’s including Markus Schultz, they love this sound. Its not Trance, its not Techno ... its just working so well in the clubs. Its a nice formula which fits my dj sets as well.
i:Vibes: You played with Robert Miles back in the day. How much did “Children” influence your sound?
Mr Sam: Like millions of people I love this track. I was the first one to book him outside of Italy in 1995 I guess. It was awesome to share a night with him, especially at this moment! The track inspired a generation of DJ’s / Producers of course. but I don’t remember I did any Trance Piano track at all. I’m maybe wrong but I didn’t use any Piano on any of my tracks for 10 years. Not that I don’t like it but it's not my thing.
i:Vibes: People are usually amazed when they find out that your French. Why is it so difficult for people to realize that you are French? Does your sound just not sound French? I would presume you would say that your sound is global.
Mr Sam: Seriously I don’t think they’re. I think most the people know I’m French, even if there is not something special of being French. Music has no nationality or colour. Talking about the French sound, its mostly house & Electro. I’m the 1st Trance Dj / Producer in France and I’ve been doing this for so long. I’ve a lot of new trance producers in France who are contacting me for advices etc... They’re always welcome and I’m helping them the more I can. I’ve different roots as well and living abroad now, I’m French for the good stuff and international for the good stuff as well. I do feel a citizen of the world. I never used anywhere the fact that I was French... why for ! I’m proud of my country of course but nothing else.
i:Vibes: How has the feedback been from your current release Opus Tertio compilation?
Mr Sam: Awesome, as always. People love this compilation album as much as I am. It’s a year rendez vous between me and my fans all over places. I do understand that this is not a standard mix album and it’s not as mainstream as many are expecting but I do have a strong believe into it and I know what I want to do and what I don’t want. For me OPUS is extremely important in my career and development as an artist. This is my baby. Nobody will change my mind on it. Art before business. First rule. After I do understand the business rules as well. I think we’ve to stop thinking that people are stupid and only buying mainstream project with a girl with big boobs on the cover... got me ? Everybody is a dj now... yes everybody is a dj now ! How many people are buying tracks on beaport and doing their own mix themselves ? So how can they buy a mix album from DJ A or DJ B with tracks they know, or have or can download on the net ? Simply because the DJ put his face on the cover? Come on, lets be serious for a second...and stop fooling people about it.
I’m working nothing else than a full year on each OPUS to find unreleased tracks coming from unknown producers who are most of the time more talented than some big ones. I’m working now on my new OPUS 4 and its shaping nicely... More info soon.
i:Vibes: What kind of experience was it touring Israel? What is something that will for always be kept in your memory bank after spending some time there?
Mr Sam: : Without a shadow of doubt my best experience in my Life ever. I’ve been travelling the world and saw fantastic places which I love more than everything but Jerusalem is something else. It was a dream for me for ages and then it became real. I couldn’t believe my eyes I was over there, nearly for a whole week touring. Talking about it now gives me goose bumps as well. I’m very sad I left. What a beautiful places with beautiful people. I knew that going to Jerusalem will change my life for sure and it did. I did take some big decisions over there and helped me to see clearer in my life as well. It was nothing else than a revelation for me. I met some very important people there who are now in my heart for ever. We met but its like we knew each others for ever already. Its Destiny. Nothing else. My trip was so spiritual that now I know more about myself and what I want to do in my life as well. Its good sometime to see the light! I’m now a different person since I left Israel and Jerusalem. My voyage in The Holy Ground had a strong impact on me on different sides of my Life. I met wonderful people there and read in me like on an opened book. It was very strange to me as a sensation but very good at the same time. I felt home there.
About the gigs. I played for so many people in the clubs there that my memory is full of plenty of smiles, beautiful eyes, faces.... happy people, lots of good times and so many goose bumps as well. I want by now to thank all the great persons I met there and they all have to know that they’re with me for ages of time!
i:Vibes: How much fun was it making “Tantra” The arrangement is really very nice plus abreathtaking vocal. How difficult was it making this track?
Mr Sam: Tantra is a techno monster track. The only vocal you can find is someone joking on the track so I cant call it a breath taking vocal. Whatever. I love techno monster and Tantra is doing the job in all clubs I’m playing.
i:Vibes: You made a special remix for the rave classic Anastasia from T-99. How did you come about making your own special mix for this? Where would you rate this track back in the early 90s?
Mr Sam: I did it because I love the original so much and I know the guy who made it so... made sense. I had fun to revisit a classic I bought and played when I was a teen. I made a more modern and rocking version. Like an updated mix. It worked really well and has been played a lot in the hard dance scene... Got some booking demands there but refused them of course.
i:Vibes: You are releasing a new album in 2010? When will it be released and what secrets can you reveal?
Mr Sam: Yes, my new solo artist album “POP MODEL” will be released around April 2010. I’ve been working a lot on it to come up with something different from what I did with “Lyteo” but at the same keep the “Mr Sam” style as well. The album will contain 20-21 tracks, 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. 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!
You’ll be even able to find a ballad on it feat Kirsty Hawkshaw and some ambient track as well. POP MODEL is a very particular album. Its a true melting pot of music without any boundaries. Any at all. The only goal was to compose strong music for the club, nice one for the radios, beautiful one for home listening etc... in other terms, for each specific music, a specific goal. I do love all kind of music, its in me! So why should I only produce one style? Its a no sense right?
Doing an album for me its like a true playground. I’m having fun composing music instead of doing tracks for the clubs. But I always love doing some innovative and efficient techno or trance singles for the clubs... I like to see the people becoming wild on some pumping tunes. I never knew why I was interested in so many kind of music. I cant express or explain it. I’ve to deal with it.
I’m sure that many will appreciate the album for what it is. In the end its better than buying an album with 20 tracks of the same style right ? Its an album of 20 tracks + 1 bonus so yes all tracks are edited. I don’t like listening to club tracks on a CD on my car etc .. with the 2 min beats etc.. its boring so I decided to edit them all, its more friendly and for the ones who wants the extended mix, we’ll release them as a single with remixes for download so its all fine.
You can expect some collaborations with BT, Solarstone, Andy Duguid, Amanda Wilson, Disco International and many many more, including the classic Cygnes, Dominator, Anasthasia or even Rydem Koba, Tantra, Menkayo etc...I did work extremely hard to come up with a quality album so I hope that everybody will have as much fun as I had making it!!!
i:Vibes: How would a 2010 Talla 2XLC/ Mr Sam production sound like? What would you give sound wise to the production?
Mr Sam: Only God knows it. No idea. This is not something you can plan in advance right ? it must comes with the flow to be good, with the feeling of the day, so lets see!
i:Vibes: If you played your last DJ set ever, what would you spin as the last record?
Mr Sam: Very good question. I already thought about it as well. Its hard to answer for a single reason : It all depends when will be this last party... if its in 10 years then I’ll probably play something different than now. You know what... I’ll invite you for my last gig ever when I’ll be 79 years old and We’ll choose together.. and lets hope we’ll not be deaf to hear anything there!
i:Vibes: Thanks Sam for the chat! We are looking forward to seeing you at Technoclub!
Mr Sam: My pleasure, see you there and lets have fun together!
|
![[i:Vibes]](i_pic/ivibes_new.jpg)
Frontpage
News
Reviews
Interviews
Party Reports
Artist Profiles
Label profiles
Diaries
What is...
Tutorials
Links
Radio-info
Forum
Chat
User Stats
Crew-info
i:Vibes Info
Related Links
Tell a friend
