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An Interview With Samantha Blackburn
House | Friday 2nd May 2014 | Annalisa
1. When did your musical journey begin?
Ive always loved music. I got my first walkman when I was 9 years old, it was glued to me! I wont even say who I started out listening too, but in later years I moved into alternative grunge style until I went to my first rave in deep dark Johannesburg Hilbrow, South Africa. That was in 2001 and fell in love with electronic music which was uplifting trance and hard dance. Only when I came to London in 2003 did I hear a wide variety of electronic music and hung out in places like The End and Fabric where I heard great artists new and old, I gained inspiration to follow a career in DJing.
2.how would you describe your sound as a DJ
It took me many years to find a sound that drives me and took many influences along the way. I get confused with genres. I like to play anything thats clean neat rolling, big bass lots of build up and drop downs reminds me of the trance days. Almost jacking with lots of percussion and any sounds really that remind me of back home in South Africa, as well as influences from the London sound.
3. Have you got any forthcoming productions?
I have been in the studio and currently working with a few people and have a few things in the pipeline. Watch this space. I am also really trying to find the time to lock myself away and familiarise myself with all the Native Instrument controllers and various software to create my sound that I can incorporate into my DJ sets as well as structure tracks. Its all very exciting and Im sure everything will come in its right time.
4. You started a new promotion called Buntu, can you tell us more about it?
Buntu is a Philosophical word connected to sharing. I wanted the freedom to create my own brand and a distinctive sound. During these ten years in the London music industry I have come across alot of different people with different passions and talents, I thought it would be a great idea to get everyone under one roof to create and have a good time sharing these talents and sounds. Each Buntu is different, the last one we had, we took over an art gallery with live electronic band Didjitails and various visual artists on display. The next one is Buntu Voodoo on the 9th May, its more of a warehouse rave with all sorts of surprises install, circus performers, percussion and voodoo visuals. Im really excited!
5. What else have you got in the pipeline for 2014?
Im just going with the flow, and going on a mad journey. Having fun, meeting new people, creating and playing music! Id like to travel a bit more this year and play internationally. Im definitely going to spend more time in the studio, Im hoping to set up Buntu the record label in 2014!
6. If you could invent a new genre of music what would you call it?
Tribal Tech!
7. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
Politics
8 what artists are you feeling at the moment?
Thats always a tough question as Im so fussy when it comes to music!
The artists I did like have changed their sound since. I enjoy hearing Matthias Tanzmann, Robert Dietz and love Martinez brothers energy behind the decks. Labels, I really love Cadenza and Little Helpers.
9. If you were banished to a desert island and had to take 3 famous people with you, who would you take and why would you take them?
Richard Branson for intellectual conversation, Gordon Ramsey that covers the food and Josh Holloway, I can quite happily watch him come out of the sea everyday!
You can catch Samantha @ Buntu The Islington Metal Works on May 9th
All my latest mixes are here https://soundcloud.com/
Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/
Interview by Joe Le Groove
