Exclusive Interview: Sam Feldt

Being a fresh face in the scene with a heart full of gold, Sam Feldt is creating a force of his own. He’s a self made DJ who puts all of his energy and love to embrace tropical house or what he calls melodic deep house. Sam Feldt brought the beach vibes throughout Miami Music Week with his sweet beats and showed much love to EPIC Productions. EPIC was more than happy to get an inside scoop on the tropical house tycoon and got to discuss what makes Sam Feldt, Sam Feldt.

EPIC: Is this your first time playing in Miami?

Yes I just arrived last night actually. I did the US tour 2 or 3 weeks ago but unfortunately we didn’t hit Miami.

EPIC: What are you most excited for?

It’s hard ya know. I’ve got like 7 gigs and all of them are so much fun!

EPIC: Since you’re 21 in the States, what’s your favorite go-to-drink to cool down with?

I just drink beer. I used to drink a lot of gin and tonics,vodkas, sodas and stuff but it’s so sweet and so bad for your teeth and for your health.

EPIC: I saw online that you have bookings in Africa? Have you been to Africa. If so, what’s the scene like there?

I’ve never played in Africa but I’ve been to South Africa one time and it was one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever been to so I would really like to go back there. When I was there five years ago, I was pretty small, pretty little, I toured throughout the country and saw all these amazing sights, nature, and mountains. I would love to go back there!

EPIC: I know you’ve toured around Europe but what about Asia?

I did the US, Canada, Europe. I’m gonna go to South America but not yet in Asia. I don’t know I feel like in Asia my music has the scene but it’s still pretty small. It just depends where the market is. But in Europe it’s one of the hardest crowds because they’re used to house music, a lot of good DJs come from Holland. So if you can play there and get the crowd going, you can play anywhere.

EPIC: Being such a young artist, what do you think has made you so successful?

I think it’s the music. I’ve been trying to become a DJ for five years before I started Sam Feldt and doing all of this. The difference between now and then is the music I make. Now my heart is into music. I like it. I genuinely want to listen to my own tracks over and over again. I don’t want to sound selfish or anything but I really like what I’m doing. If your heart is into it, it’s easier to get inspiration. It rolls pretty easily as long as you make music you actually like.

EPIC: If you weren’t producing music, what do you think you would be doing?

I would still have my own company. I had my own web design company for a couple of years. I’m a pretty big nerd too so before my music career got big, I used to do a lot of internet stuff, build websites, and design.

EPIC: For some reason, artists have an emblem, an animal, or even a fruit to symbolize them. What would you say yours is?

That’s a good question! I don’t want to steal the pineapple from Thomas Jack but if you want to symbolize my music, it would be in a heart shape because I don’t only make tropical house. The one key ingredient to all my tracks and mixes is emotion. It makes people feel something when they listen to it.

EPIC: Do you actually know how the shape of the heart was actually created?

No.

EPIC: Well the Greeks have this theory that when the Gods originally created human beings, there were four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces. The Gods feared their power so Zeus split them into two and had them spending their entire lives for their other halves. So when two cardiac hearts are put together, they actually form a heart!

I’m not only getting drunk in Miami… Mom are you listening? I’m also learning stuff!

EPIC: So what have you learned so far touring?

That it’s pretty heavy and tiring. I underestimated it a bit. People think if you’re a DJ, you can travel the world, it’s so much fun… No it’s not all fun. If you’re in an airplane all day, airport, or layovers. It sucks ya know but when you get out of the airport, get to the hotel, and play at a show, it all makes up for it. It’s so much fun, so much energy on stage.

EPIC: How do you balance your work life and personal life?

I don’t know how I do it to be honest. I just go with the flow and try to always live in the moment. For example, now I’m sitting here talking with you. When I’m on stage, I’m on stage 100%. I don’t want to look into the future and worry if I don’t get enough sleep. If I have to sleep, I’ll sleep. If I want to eat, I’ll eat. It’s not like I’m living on a radar.

EPIC: But when you do eat….

If you look at my bank account, I can splurge a lot on food and drinks. I’m not wearing anything fancy. Who cares? I would rather have a good experience with my friends and have a nice dinner then go shopping.

EPIC: Are a lot of your friends down in Miami?

Yes. I’ve made a lot of DJ friends so far. A lot of people that are playing here today I know well. It’s a lot of fun.

EPIC: What about your friends from home? What do they think of Sam Feldt?

I think they really like it. They’re really supportive. My friends are really supportive. My parents are too so it’s really good. My friends go to my shows pretty often and always support my music and share it on Facebook. I don’t think a lot of people who knew me five years ago would expect me to be doing this but they’re happy for me. Even when I don’t see them a lot, I know they’re still my friends and it’s all good.

EPIC: Where are you most excited to play this week?

I’m playing at seven parties. I’m playing here, Oliver Heldens’ party, Robin Schulz’s party, Bingo Players’ party… a lot of different stuff. I actually prefer smaller parties than big festivals because you can interact with the crowd more, speak to your friends, get lost!

EPIC: Back in the old days, people never focused on the DJ until now… So when you’re at Creamfields this year, how’s it gonna feel having all eyes on you?

I think it’s really important to always have a connection with the crowd. For me, it doesn’t matter if I’m playing for ten people, a thousand, one hundred thousand.. It’s the same feeling. If the people are into your music, like what you’re playing, and giving energy.. It’s not that different if you’re playing for a big crowd or a small crowd. As long as they’re into it!

EPIC: Are there any collaborations you would like to spin with on stage?

In the DJ sense, I have had so much fun playing with Thomas Jack. Our styles compliment each other so I would love to play with him. Production wise, I would choose more of a pop, rock, or folk band like Mumford and Sons. More of a band.., You can always collaborate with DJs but the most interesting collaborations come from collaborating with people from other genres.

AUTHOR & INTERVIEW CREDIT: KIMBERLY PHAN PHOTO CREDIT: OLIVER BAPTISTA