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 We welcome back under the i:Vibes interrogation radar Mr Sam, who is one of the most passionate and opinionated electronic talents on the scene today. He has just released his latest artist album 'Pop Model' so went to find out more...
You may have read about Mr Sam's latest artist album in our earlier interview with him on his third edition of Opus. 'Pop Model' is an album that you will be very surprised as the route Mr Sam has taken may at first sound risky but its one risk that has paid off. Wipe away any pre-conceptions of what you expect, to expect, with this latest album and open your musical mind to something altogether a little different. It's taken Mr Sam over two years to perfect this album and along the way worked with some of the scene's most talented vocalists with a little help from his friends. Mr Sam is not short of a few of those as he's one of the most likable guys within the dance music industry today and not one to rest on his successful formula to come up with new records. His spread between the finer genres of trance techno and house make him very diverse with his range of sound and just when you think you know what to expect, he comes at you with a curveball. 'Pop Model' is not like a lot of other artist’s albums and we felt the need to find out the inspiration behind making direct from the man himself. Settle yourself down, its Mr Sam.
i:Vibes: Thanks Sam for talking to ivibes.nu. You have just released your new artist album Pop Model. How long did it take to complete the album and what was the most challenging thing with getting the album perfect?
Mr Sam: Thanks to Ivibes.nu and you for the interview, you’re welcome ! Pop Model took me about 2 years. From the first idea to the release, more or less. Everything is challenging when you're doing an artist album. Everything takes time, everything is complicated etc.. But its such a great adventure every time too, so I'm always up for new projects. Always.
Perfection has always been my main aim as many knows. Its good to work like that but painful as well as you're never really happy with the final result. Quest to perfection is a myth because perfection doesn't exist. That's a fact. Anyway, I'm extremely happy of the result as its exactly what I wanted it to be. Eclectic and efficient at the same time.
i:Vibes: How would you describe the Mr Sam sound on Pop Model?
Mr Sam: Its the Mr Sam Sound. Easy as this. Since I'm doing music, I've never been trapped or labelled in a single musical genre. Never. I can as much do Techno as “Dominator”, “Kaktus” as much as Trance as “Cygnes” “Lyteo” or “Split” for example but also House as “Satisfaction Guaranteed” etc... I do like Music in general and not a certain specific genre. It would be so boring for me to always produce the same kind of sound... Some producers/DJs are doing it. Fine for them but not my thing. Its like eating the same kind of food all the time... ouch!!
For this new album “Pop Model”, I wanted to have the Mr Sam's formula/recipe on each song, whatever what the music style it was. I was more producing than reproducing. I wanted to come up all the time with new ideas, new way of producing music. Taking risks and having fun. That was my main goal and I did achieve it. I didn't asked myself too much questions, like “what will the fans and others will think about me doing this or that...” no no no … I wanted to do it and I did. On “Pop Model”, you can hear so many musical genres. From techno to trance (don't be afraid of the name !) but also house, electro, world music, classical, broken beats, as well as Pop Music (more crossovers tracks). Believe me or not but I do enjoy as much a deep underground techno track as much as a good electro house crossover track. I cant fight this feeling. I'm made like this.
I do understand that the fans who likes tracks like “Cygnes” or “Lyteo” or maybe again “Kaktus” etc...are a bit surprised when they hear more crossover songs from me. Most of them likes it to be honest but some not. I've no problem with it all. An album isn't a single its an album ! Its like a chapter in a book. You can read a book and dislike a chapter but doesn’t mean the whole book isn't good, right?
i:Vibes: What is the new model of pop exactly in 2010 in terms of listening to your new album?
Mr Sam: The Pop music of today no longer fulfils the same criteria as that which to we listened 10 or 15 years ago, just like fashion. The Pop music of today is mostly “dance”. The biggest stars devote themselves to it. Who would have believed it? That’s why I am talking about a “new Model of Pop Music”. It’s on this idea that I have based all the work in my new album.
Stars like Madonna, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and so many others are now asking Djs to produce their music. They're Pop Artists and they're asking Djs. This really means that the model of Pop music changed. Its obvious. For me now Dance Music in general became Pop Music.
On “Pop Model” I wanted to come up with the same state of mine, I mean for the crossover tunes, not the club tracks. You can now produce a Pop track for a big singer nearly with just a laptop. Everybody knows it. Its all about being creative, that's all. I like the idea with working nearly with nothing. I do define myself more like a musical craftsman/artisan than a music producer. Its less ostentatious and more realistic as well. I like the idea of making people dance with only manipulating sounds.
When I do a club track, my only aim is to make the people move, no matter what I've to do with it. That's why my I'm spending many time doing a perfect arrangement for them. When I'm producing a crossover track for the radio, its something different. I'm more focussed on finding a hook, melody, lyrics and vocals. Its much more a subtle approach. How to hook listeners in a few seconds on the radios... I know and understood for a long time that for some people on forums who are bashing artists all the time (without doing themselves anything by the way) that they don't understand that Djs can both do good club tracks as well as some more crossover (as I hate the name “commercial”) tracks as well. Its only because they're not open minded or simply formatted to a single style of music. In France we say that there is cheese and desert. It means that you can compare what is comparable !!
When they'll understand that, they'll make a big step. Finally, its not my fault of I do love as much underground techno tracks as much as crossover radio tracks. I love it and I'll continue to do it :)
i:Vibes: How much of an influence was Depeche Mode on Pop Model? Did you often think about Depeche Mode when making this album?
Mr Sam: I'm a big fan or Depeche Mode. That's no secret for anybody. I cant really say I thought a lot about Depeche Mode when I did produce this album. “Pop Model” is millions miles away from it. But what I love in Depeche Mode's career is that they nearly always changed the producer on the album (except the latest ones). Martin Gore is mostly composing and writing the tracks on his own and then going to a producer to do the album. Its a different way of working than dance producers...
Dance producers, we've to do nearly all on our own. From composing, to producing, to arranging etc.. I'm part of the ones of believe that we are not good at everything. Some are good in composing melodies, some in producing, some in mixing, some in arranging etc.. Look how they work in the US for artists like Madonna, Justin Timberlake, JayZ etc.. do you really thing they're doing everything ? No way. They're focusing on what they're good at!
Back to Depeche Mode, they've have a good recipe by working like that. Its giving me new ideas for new projects as well.
i:Vibes: You worked with many very influential artists on the album. Was it difficult getting them to collaborate with you?
Mr Sam: I love collaborating with artists in studio. This is actually what I do prefer the most. I've done tones of records alone but I still prefer to work as a team, share some good times in studio while composing music. That's my thing.
There's always more in two heard than one ! To be honest, it was very easy to collaborate with all of them. I didn't receive a no go from anybody. I had the chance to collaborate with many talented producers, song writers, singers etc.. I did handpick them all myself, without any management's help etc.. I know what I want and I do all I can to get it. When you've BT, Solarstone, Pat Benatar, Amanda Wilson, Human Ressource, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Andy Duguid etc.. its a chance but also a challenge because you need to be as good as them and bring something new on the table when you do invite them to produce a song together for an album. The challenge is very high!
I'm always picky in terms of collaborations. Before I do a choice I'm always talking a lot with the artist I want to work with. I do explain what I'm waiting from them and why I chose them. Never for the name. Never done it. Its then choosing people for the wrong reasons. I still want the track to sound Mr Sam with a twist of the guest ! Otherwise its a complete non sense! I've to admit that asking Solarstone as a singer and not a producer is cheeky and this is what I like. Or working with Andy Duguid on a 123 BPM Pop track is also cheeky but I like to push them to their limits as I don’t want to get what they're used to give when they do collaborate. This is the reason why all the collaborations I did with Andy for example doesn't sounds like a Andy's tracks at all. It needs to be something completely different and this is what I like, when we fight a bit together in studio and the result is very surprising.
i:Vibes: You have many different styles of music on your album. How difficult was it for you add so many different influences but still remaining innovative without sounding cheesy?
Mr Sam: As I did answer in the other question, I did like to produce many styles/grenres of music. I'm not a one style producer at all. So boring if I can say! I like to innovate all the time, that's true as well, such a good feeling!
I never really understood the meaning of cheesy to be honest. Or lets say I know but I think that this word 'cheesy” is too easily used in the music industry. When people don't a track they say its “cheesy”. Let me give you an example. Mozart is for many the God of Music, the ultimate genius ! Its one thing. For some people who are die hard fans of classical music, lets say freaks... Mozart's more known songs/tracks are for sure cheesy for them.
For Rock fans, U2 or Coldplay are maybe cheesy as well. For the same Rock fans who are maybe more into more underground bands, they're maybe “Cheesy” for the ones who are listening even more underground Bands which maybe never released an album...etc...etc...
I think that for some people, it looks cool to say that something is cheesy, it gives them the feeling they're on the good side of the Taste ! Its like they're there to judge the music. For them its good or cheesy and they're the guardians of the temple of Music. Let me have a laugh for a second...
I'm never saying that this or that track is cheesy as I know that there is a public for everything. For example, I saw so many people saying that Fedde Le Grand “Put your hands up” was cheesy but you've to see the same people calling it genius when they heard it the first time played by the biggest DJs in the world in Ibiza! Everybody could sing the bassline of the track. LEGEND! Ok so lets say that sometimes Cheesy is good then!
Back to my album. If some people think that some tracks are cheesy, I'm glad with it. I cant please everybody. They also have to understand that when you're an artist and you're composing, its first of all a personal approach. When I'm composing music I'm not directly thinking what I could do to please everybody. I'm in an artistic approach and if the fans and others likes it I'm happy. You've first to do things for you to be then appreciated by others. We're not machines.
i:Vibes: You made a slick cover version to the classical 80s track “Invincible” from Pat Benatar. How did you come to choose this track and what was your strategy in giving it the Mr Sam touch?
Mr Sam: Its for me a great remake of Pat Benatar’s “Invincible” hit single (1983). I Did produce my own version for my album and Andy is doing his own version as we speak. For me its the best track of the album for the radios.
I love the original so much that I wanted to twist it a little bit more. The hook is so strong !! At the first listen, you can say its a Mr Sam track as I completely changed my production style on this one. I wanted to it be punchy and cheeky at the same time. Its pure house, no trance or techno at all. Its definitely for the summer!
You've to know that I starting my Dj career spinning house records! From Deephouse to discohouse, vocal house etc.. and I do have a very good music culture in this style as well. I still love it to be honest and thought a lot to move a bit there. That’s the main reasons why I did a few house tracks on “Pop Model” as well.
We did shoot a massive video in Miami during the conference in March. I wont be surprised to see tones of house DJs playing the track till death in Ibiza this summer.
Remixes are great as well so I can't wait to see the single being released pretty soon... Stay tuned!!!
i:Vibes: Ing Ong is an interesting track with a sample I can´t quite remember but I heard it before. What was your inspiration behind this track?
Mr Sam: Ing Ong I started as a joke in the beginning. For the fun. But after I realized that it could be an album track. I used the “pong” video game sound on it (track has been produced in 2008 btw). Why Ing Ong … its like Ping Pong but without any P … :)
I'm also a big fan of the New Beat sound which was born and grew up in Belgium in the late 80's, beginning of the 90's (Remember “This is Sound of C” etc...? I grew up with this and was my first contact with Dance Music in general, so my roots came back I should say :)
I've been playing this tune a few times in club and let me tell you that the reactions are much better than I thought. I'm thinking of making remixes of this one as well!
i:Vibes: “Gotta Have It” featuring esmaye is a funky dance track. You added nice sounds into this. Is this a track that you might consider releasing as a radio track?
Mr Sam: “Gotta Have it” Its an old Vanessa Paradis (Joe Le Taxi’s singer) tracks from the 90’s and produced by Lenny Kravitz. I wanted to give it an electro twist. I’m very happy with the result. Vocals are from Esmaye and we worked hard to have this French English effect. Its also a king of an “Alien Track”, an “UFO” if I can say it like this. Its very strange and I do understand that my die hard fans freaked a bit when they heard it, but it was my goal ! Lets push them a bit :)
This track does have a strong radio potential as well, that's true. Id like to see remixes of that one as well and see how it goes.
i:Vibes: You produced some tracks with producer Andy Duguid. The tracks are very strong. How did you guys share the producing duty in the studio?
Mr Sam: Andy and myself did some tracks of my album in studio together and it was first of all a pleasure ! We know each others for a few years now. We don't have the same vision on how to produce music which is a good thing. Its making our collaboration more spicy ! We never have the same formula/recipe in studio. We go with the flow I should say. On Gone, I started playing out with some samples (Bollywood samples) and chopping some beats etc.. then came the whole idea etc... it was more like coincidence to be honest. As I said, we've no formula. Sometimes the result is good, sometimes not ! We did a few other tracks we never released.
All I can say is that Andy is a very good musician and a great composer. He's Mr Chords ! He's very good at doing certain things and the same for me. When we join forces together on a track and we do what we are both good at, expect a bomb!
i:Vibes: What is the biggest challenge working with so many singers on one album?
Mr Sam: The same challenge as a classical conductor in a concert! Trying to have a nice overall feeling in the end! I like working with many singers on my albums in general. It allows me to go in so many directions. I never tried to know why I love so many genres at the same time. I do understand that It can be a bit difficult to understand for some of my fans sometimes. But I'm like this! Accept it :)
A singer can make an instrumental a masterpiece or simply ruin it! Easy as this!
It happened that I had to ask a few different singers to finally have the good vocal for a track (sorry for the others...) I need to be fully satisfied with the result.
I've to be honest that I'm paying attention to the lyrics but even more to the overall feeling. For me the vocal is there to bring a certain kind of feeling to a track, a certain emotion. There are a few singers Id love to work with but I'm waiting until I've the perfect track for them. I'm very directive with the singers I'm working with because I know exactly what I'm looking for. They're artistically free to come up with anything they have in mind but first before we start, I'm giving them a direction. After that, they're free to come up with any idea they've of course. Doing a collaboration is like building a bridge between two artists and not just a vocal on a top of an instrumental.
i:Vibes: You produced The Great Opus with BT. What kind of an experience was it working with him? What were you bale to give this track?
Mr Sam: This is track is a very special story as well. Its the first mash up BT did accept ever. Its a mash up between Mr Sam – Opus (which was composed as the anthem of my first ever volume of my own mix album OPUS) and BT feat Caroline Lavelle – The Great Escape, released a few years ago. I always love this tune as I’m maybe BT’s biggest fan in the world, or near to it :) The mash up has been made by Myon.
Talking about Brian (BT), I had the chance to be chosen to do 2 remixes in a row for his new album called “These Hopeful Machines”. I did a remix for “Suddenly” and also for a massive track called “Forget Me” which will be released in June if I'm right.
In both remix I wanted to come up with something quite special. Its no secret that I'm BT biggest fan I think … and it was quite challenging for me to do those remixes.
I've so much respect and admiration for him that I wanted to excel. I'm very happy of both mixes even if I think that the “Forget Me” remix is very cheeky on its own. I only keep the vocals and build up a monster techno track around it. To be honest, when I sent it to Brian and Black Hole, I thought they were going to not like it...
I got a mail from Brian saying something like “wow Sam.. its insane, your mix SLAYS! Everybody is jumping in the studio here...” I can't hide you that I was very happy or more than that. I've to say that having such hell of never did pay in the end. I know that Brian is a very open minded and innovative producer so I wanted to take that risk instead of coming with a standard remix …. Like in all my productions, I like to take risks, sometimes it pays off, sometimes not!
i:Vibes: “Carved” is a delicate and beautiful pop song. What was it like working with the lovely Tiff Lacey? What do you fancy the most about her voice?
Mr Sam: Carved was composed in Italy, near Rome with Manuel and Alessandro (T4L). We had fun doing it and it was very fast in the making. The weather was so hot and we were so close to the sea that we wanted to go there… The melody when fast, so doest the production. I’m a big fan of Tiff Lacey since she worked with Paul Oakenfold. I Still think that this is the best collaboration she did so far, to be honest. The final is a nice vocal trance. T4L did a more Trance version which is very good. It will certainly be a single on their forthcoming album.
Finally, Tiff does have a very special emotion in her voice. She's able to bring a nice feeling to a track, that’s her talent. I wish to everybody to work with her.
i:Vibes: “Cygnus” is a really beautiful track. The melody is breathtaking. What was most challenging about getting this track perfect?
Mr Sam: Ah… Cygnes. Certainly.. no.. for sure, my best track ever. At least, the most innovative I’ve done. Its difficult to explain the whole story in a few lines but all I can say is that its a great time work between Claudio, Andy and myself. I knew since day one how I wanted to produce it and Andy was the perfect partner to do work with. I’ve been extremely picky on how to produce it and I took my time before starting it but since we started working, the tracks has been produced in a few hours only. Things like this are happening nearly only when you’ve a strong idea on how you want a track to sound. The success of the record was a complete surprised for me to be honest. I did it only as an exclusive tracks for my OPUS Secundo mix album. The rest is Legend.
For a DJ/Producer, releasing a track like this is so rare to be honest. I wish I was able to do tracks like this all the time but its not possible. You've to wait until the next one is coming :).
I remember Claudio send me some vocals after the success of “Cygnes” and wanted me to produce it but it was way too close to “Cygnes” so I did refuse to do it. Sounded like a cover to be honest. Another label released the track but it was a flop. It very difficult to do a decent follow of “Cygnes” (so many people asked it) because its a signature track with a very specific sound and vocals (the vocodered ones).
I'm still thinking with Claudio how to come up and back with a massive idea to make a follow up to “Cygnes”... Lets see how it goes...
i:Vibes: “Hold My Breath” is a beautiful piece of music. Having you, Andy and Rich in the studio is something rare. A proggy tune with a breathtaking break and vocal. How special is the voice of Rich in this track?
Mr Sam: Another massive collaboration with my partner in crime Mr Duguid. I made all beats & stuff in Andy’s studio. We talked a bit together on how the music would need to be etc… and Andy is a genius, he wrote the music within a few minutes. We got much inspired by Jean Michel Jarre on this one. Andy is Jarre’s biggest fan ever ! Let me tell you. After this, the same day (as I was in Scotland), I sent Rich (Solarstone) the track and asked him not a remix or a production but a vocal. A first time for Rich on some-one’s track if I’m right ! It didn’t take much time to Rich to get back to us with this awesome vocal. I’m very happy I lived such a good experience. I'm happy I was cheeky enough to ask Rich a vocal instead of a remix/production. I knew Rich had skills as a singer and wanted him to join us on this project. He didn't disappoint us at all. We're blown away but his ability of coming back to us so fast with such a massive vocal ! Congrats Rich!
i:Vibes: “Mixi” is a track where could really experiment on. How does Mr Sam the producer approach a track like this in comparison to a straight forward vocal track?
Mr Sam: Mixi is in fact a word mash up between MInimal & MaXImal. I wanted to start the track very minimal Techno and have the Trance breakdown and back to Techno again. Its a kind of original mash up composition. I like to do experiments, all the time. It was on OPUS Tertio. I played it a lot the clubs and had a lots of good reactions even if the track didn’t receive the feedback I expected. I’ve to be honest. It doesn’t mean I wont continue to do musical experiments in studio… Never surrender!
I like to see Mixi as a first step in my new experiments.... I'll do more in the future. I've some very weird ideas lately and I'm still figuring out how to make them being “acceptable” in a dance track “without being cheesy” aha aha aha !! (*_-)
Doing musical experiments like I do is like being on the edge of the ledge of the time... So I do accept that sometimes its not working but when it does you've tracks like “Cygnes” coming... Isn't that worth doing it then?
i:Vibes: How much blood does it take to make a thumping track like Tantra?
Mr Sam: Not because its mine but I love this track. There is nearly nothing on it except some wicked beats and build up and this is what I like. Funnily someone told me that I'm the master the military beats with the snares and all percussion I'm using in my techno tracks. I remember playing a special edit of “Tantra” on ASOT 400 party in Rotterdam and the room went nuts ! Making “Trance People” going wild on a techno track is where the true fun is ! Believe me :)
In studio the track is produced in a very special way as well. All beats, drums etc.. are mixed to the limit as well to have a massive pounding effect. Many producers asked me how it was possible to be so close to the limits in terms of mixing/mastering without sounding over distorted! A techno track like this one, needs energy and strength to be efficient or its a looser one ! For your info, there is a few “Tantra” in the making.
i:Vibes: There is very little similarity to the classic 90s track “Dominator from Human Resource and the 2010 Mr Sam version. What did this track mean to you in the 90s and how did you go about making this track?
Mr Sam: True, its not a complete rip off. There is a real artistic work behind it as well. Its also the first release on my own label APPIA MUSIC. I was a teen like I bought the vinyl of “ Dominator”. It was in 1990 !! yes !!! :) I wanted to make a revamp of this tune for ages and I waited until I had the good production formula to do it. It needed to be strong and efficient but also needed to keep the early 90 “Rave Feeling” to it. After a long thought and tests about it, I knew how I wanted it to sound like! I wasn’t surprised by the success of it. Mostly all the big DJs played it to death for months. In clubs “Dominator” is nothing else than a bomb.. Doubting about it ?? YouTube it and you’ll see :)
i:Vibes: “One Day” is a beautiful song sung by Kirsty Hawkshaw? What was your inspiration behind this track?
Mr Sam: Without a shadow of a doubt the most beautiful record of the whole album. Very different too. Its a ballad, a true ballad! How can I make an album without doing a collaboration with Kirsty? She’s like a sister for me. We’ve both a big respect for each other’s.
For me she is ‘The Voice”. An Angel voice! Nothing more than that.
i:Vibes: Your remix to Deadmau5 “Clockwork” is incredible. How important was it for you to get the Orange Theme melody in your remix?
Mr Sam: Thanks for the compliment. If I've to be honest, I've to just that I treat that demand not as a Deadmau5 remix but more like a Cygnus X “The Organge Theme” Remix. Deadmau5 did a “remix a la Deadmau5 Formula” of it as well. So when I got asked for it I was torn! I knew that Cosmic Gate and Jonas Steur already did a remix as well. I couldn't see myself doing another 8bars note remix. Never ! So I thought, lets give the original track justice here. I didn't use any of the “Deadmau5” parts and took a complete different direction for it. I made it a strong techno trance remix for the masses. I think it was the most played of all remixes! From Ferry Corsten to many others DJs it was a massive tune !! That was my goal.
i:Vibes: What was your nicest memory of the Technoclub with Talla 2xlc besides my nice video interview?(you remember the PVD comparison?)
Mr Sam: Playing at TechnoClub was for me a dream for ages. Its such a Legend Club when you know all the great DJs who played there ! Playing with Talla was also more than fun. I played from 2h to 4h if I remember well and Simon (Patterson) played after me. I had a great time playing there. People were really into it and I was very happy of it. I thought they were only waiting to hear hard uplifting trance but no... they went nuts on the twisted techno tracks I played as well as my own tracks. I enjoyed it so much that I did a back2back with Talla (which was not planed at all). Talla was surprised to see me coming back to the booth with my records. I told him, lets go for a back2back and he directly had a smile and we burned the floors together. It was such a good feeling to see the people's faces when they saw me back in the booth :)
I think I left the club very late and in a pretty much in a good shape and I do keep a massive souvenir of my first time there. I simply want to come back and do something special with Talla again .. We've to speak about it ! Talla... call me bro!
I also have to say that Talla is always delivering good sets, wherever he plays!
Now about the PVD Comparison, I'm fine with it you know. Its better to be compared to Paul for who I do have the biggest respect than somebody that nobody knows :)
i:Vibes: Will there be some sort of an album tour during the spring/summer this year?
Mr Sam: Yes, we’re working on it as we speak. I lately signed to the prestigious MOST WANTED GLOBAL Booking agency and we’re planning some big things together as we speak. That’s a very good agency and they’re managing DJs like Roger Shah etc... I do feel we’ll make big things together, its all about to happen soon. Stay Tuned.
:: Mr Sam's 'Pop Model' is available right now from the i:Vibes store!
NEW MR SAM BOOKING INFORMATION
If you're wishing to book mr Sam for an up coming event please make note of his new details for bookings:
Ben Greenwood
E-Mail: ben@mostwantedglobal.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7927 145 455
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