INTRO BY KAT VISTI
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM FELDT
Dutch DJ Sam Feldt released his debut album "Sunrise To Sunset" which encompasses a wide variety of music genres that lead Sam to open up more creatively and make a connection with people through music, which is the universal language. We interviewed Sam to learn more about the success of his remix of Permanent by Kygo and his most recent Heartfeldt Poolparty in Miami!
This past November you released your debut album ‘Sunrise to Sunset’. What was the process like creating the album?
"It’s been an amazing musical journey. I worked on the album for more than 2 years and because the songs on the record are so diverse, i never got bored during the whole process. I’ve been in the studio with country singers, rock bands, r&b singers, rappers, all sorts of producers and above all: my very own talented band. This really opened up my creativity and allowed me to experiment and bend the rules of the electronic genre."
Were you nervous at all to release the album?
"To be honest, it’s always exciting when you do something for the first time and releasing your very own debut album is definitely a bit nerve wrecking, but in the end you just want to share the music that you’ve been working on for so long with all your fans from around the globe. I’m also really proud of the end result and working together with all these amazing artists was a true blessing. So yeah, a bit nervous but in a healthy way."
You also recently released your remix album ‘After the Sunset’ – when did you first decide to do the remix album?
"Well, the 24 tracks that were released on my album From Sunrise to Sunset were not necessarily all made with the dancefloor in mind. Many of the tracks would find their home on the radio, but in order to play these tracks myself during my dj-sets I thought it would be a great idea to have some of the original tracks be spiced up and transformed into clubbangers. So with that idea in mind we reached out to producers we thought would be perfect for the job."
Where do you find most inspiration when creating music?
"From life in general. I know it may sound a bit cliché, but life can be a rollercoaster with ups and down and all these different experiences can be a form of inspiration for new songs. Music is a very universal language and the perfect medium for expressing emotions. I’m always trying to translate the story that I try to tell in the best way I can, so focusing on a certain emotion, no matter the style or feel, is very important and not to overlooked. Always ask yourself what the essence is you want to translate to the listener or feel you need to express."
You also released a remix of Kygo’s song ‘Permanent’, which received a lot of great feedback. Did you expect the feedback to be so great?
"Well, first of let me say I’m honored that I was able to do the remix for such a great artist. I recently went to his show in Amsterdam and enjoyed it a lot. With the remix I did my best to keep the feel of the original there but not without that special Sam Feldt flavor. I’m really happy with the end result and I’m happy and thankful for all the positive feedback."
Is there anything else we can expect from you in the near future?
"I’ve got a lot of things in the pipeline, which I can’t wait to share with you. I’ve got a new track, a lot of gigs and festivals that are announcing their line-up soon, so keep an eye out for Sam Feldt because it’s going to be an amazing summer. There are also other things that will be announced around Sam Feldt in the near future that have to do with my new year’s resolution. 2018 so far has been awesome and I can’t wait to share what we got in store for you and the rest of the year."