The power of music never ceases to amaze. It can change your mood, make you move and even take you away. The latter is not an easy task but there are a select number of producers who’s music is truly transportational. An audio experience that stops time and takes you to a different location, planet or time. Few producers have mastered this talent as well as samsin. He first captivated my attention when ‘spectrum’ wandered onto my radar and I’ve been a fan ever since. Recent releases like ‘sanctuary’ and ‘stardust’ have showcased his talents, but his best work is still ahead of him. With a new EP nearly complete, we thought it was due time to catch up with samsin for a guest mix and interview. The mix is packed with a ton of his own originals including a few unreleased tunes off the upcoming EP and some of his favourite music. We also spoke to him about the upcoming project, how he tells stories with his music, what it was like when Mr. Carmack followed him and why he thinks Playboi Carti is the best rapper out.
Why do you make music?
I really like to have fun with music first and foremost. I just enjoy the creative process and making something that is uniquely mine. Music is also a huge escape for me, no matter what’s going on in my life I will always have music to turn to and be able to express my feelings and emotions sonically.
Are there any specific sounds or emotions you try to leverage throughout your work?
I like the idea of nostalgia and exploration. It’s hard to describe but I like to put people somewhere else when they listen to my music because that’s what it is for me.
I like to imagine each song existing in its own world. Every time I make a track I try to build the atmosphere with the sounds I choose to use
A lot of your songs feel like they have a deep connection to the natural world. Is this a fair assessment?
Yeah for sure! I like the idea of space and forests a lot. Mixing natural feelings with futuristic sounds is something I have always been trying to do through music. I don’t really go outside but I like watching fantasy movies like LOTR and GOT.
You’ve tagged a number of your releases as storytelling. How do you communicate stories musically? Do you have a certain story line in mind before working on a song?
I like to imagine each song existing in its own world. Every time I make a track I try to build the atmosphere with the sounds I choose to use. It rarely has been like preconceived stories but each song just kind of writes itself. I’ve never been able to like make what’s in my head I kinda just go with whatever feels right. Then the story kind of just shows up and I always have a moment where the beat becomes a song and the song becomes a story in its own little world.
It’s taken me years to get to this spot and I’m soooooo excited to put it out. Best way I can describe it is imagine you’re thousands of light years away on a different planet and each song is a pit stop on the way home.
How’s the EP coming along? What does it sound like?
The EP is basically done. I can’t stop tweeting about it because I’ve never had this many songs done and ready to put out at one time. It’s taken me years to get to this spot and I’m soooooo excited to put it out. Best way I can describe it is imagine you’re thousands of light years away on a different planet and each song is a pit stop on the way home.
Mr. Carmack recently followed you on SoundCloud. What was your immediate reaction when you saw the notification? Has he reached out at all?
I was in a Chinese restaurant and I saw the email and honestly thought it was just some account that had the same name or something like a joke. I opened the SoundCloud app to check and instantly just felt so happy. I left a big ol tip to pay the feeling forward, went to my car, called my friend, and then on the way home I was just thinking about how 16 yo me would think if I told him that it had just happened lol. He hasn’t reached out but honestly just the fact he likes my shit is enough for me LOL.
You’ve been releasing music on your secondary sinsam account. What prompted you to create the account?
I have a pretty specific idea for what the samsin project is and I just kinda started making more hip hop lo-fi esque beats and wanted to put them out somewhere that wasn’t my main page but wasn’t just like a dump account. I want the sinsam thing to be like an alter ego type thing.
You recently tweeted “playboi carti is the best rapper of our generation this is not sarcasm.” Can you please elaborate on this hot take?
I absolutely believe he is. Its close between lil uzi for sure but imo no one makes rap music that is as fun to listen to as carti. Rap is in its punk phase right now and I think carti is leading the way in terms of like alternative rap. I think his shit is so cool and you can tell he just has fun making the songs.
This is actually the first guest mix I’ve ever done so I just wanted to put a bunch of the EP in it…
What are you studying in school? Do you enjoy it?
I’m studying Music Technology. Its alright we aren’t allowed to use Ableton which is annoying because Pro-Tools is such a shit program in my opinion. Also I’m a terrible student I having to do shit that isn’t interesting to me but I digress.
Tell us a little bit about the mix. If this mix were a story, what would the title and tagline be?
This is actually the first guest mix I’ve ever done so I just wanted to put a bunch of the EP in it and some stuff that I have been listening to a lot as well as some stuff I usually play live. I’d say the title should be: “Music That Sam Likes.” Tagline: “This Music is Cool”
Tracklist
samsin – ID
samsin – ID
Dr. Derg – TS Vol. 130
Tsuruda – zac’s demise
samsin – vat
samsin – ID
samsin – ID
samsin – forest floor
KAEMP- w.i.p. w/ inimicvs
Cousin litt – DOOM
olswel – WE THOOMIN w/ inimicvs & DILIP
Gunna & Young Thug – Three Headed Snake
inimicvs & sui.luj – fatigue
Sam Gellaitry – powder
samsin – singularity
samsin – ache
Herzeloyde – My Thing
Dabow & L*o*J – Slide
zotti – Tongues
Tennyson – Like What?
