Interview: DJ Sammy

Europes main super club, BCM, has been throwing parties for over twenty years, attracting the worlds best DJs, artists and performers. BCM is renowned as the ultimate clubbing experience.

Its this experience that BCM wants to share with you, through a series of high-impact events planned between April, May and June this year. Their exemplary production includes Co2 cannons, UV lights, laser shows, podium dancers, foam machines - the list goes on and on. Its this kind of activity and promotion that will help BCM reach their target of 10 million visitors to Majorca this season.

BCMs debut event is in Southampton on March 6th, with headliner DJ Sammy and a live PA performing his club anthems Heaven (UK No1), The Boys of Summer (UK No2), and Why (UK No7); subsequent events will see golden ticket giveaways via confetti drops, an event in itself, offering all expenses paid holidays and a day out on a £10,000,000 super yacht!

We caught up with superstar DJ Sammy ahead of the event...

What scene did you grow up in? What got you into electronic music?

I grew up in Mallorca, its a wonderful island very cosmopolitan. In it´s beauty you learn the pleasures of life. Mallorca is a Holiday resort, that enables you meet so many multi-nationalities and teaches you how to treat and welcome ever nation. I grew up in a musical family, my dad plays guitar and was in a band my whole young life, my sister plays piano, and her husband was in a flamenco group. So I had the mix of flamenco, and acoustic. As a teenager I was into club music, I wanted to rebel, to be different, I had Atari 1024 computer and I started to make electro songs. I was greatly influenced by German bad kraftwerk.

How have your tastes and views changed since you first started out?

I love all kind of music, I learned when I was young to appriciate all cultures and musical styles. This meant that I was open minded from a young age. Living on a small island and playing in small clubs means you have to learn how to please all crowds, you need to keep them happy to keep your job! This is the greatest lesson for a DJ you must be open minded.

Basically I have evolved, you grow up, and discover yourself and discover and invent your own style. You never stop discovering both in life and music. For me it´s all about the combination between a great melody and club sounds.

Whats the big secret to making a hit? Do you set out to make them or does it just happen?

I think that if you try to make a hit, it sounds contrived and false. I let it flow man, I let the ideas work themselves out. Sometimes they hit the jackpot. The secret is just that, a secret, it´s something that has no answer no mathematical combination. But when you have a great song you know it, if it becomes a hit, great, if not then at least its something I made with all my love. I love every song I´ve ever made. That why I have open wings

How did working with the Black Eyed Peas come about? What was it like working with them?

My PR agent, and management team, out me together with Jean Baptiste about a year ago. They thought artistically we would fit. They told me he worked with the B.E.P.´s and Kelis, I liked his work. We have been bashing about ideas over the last year, and finally I think we´ve hit on the direction that the album needs to go in. He´s so talented, and super cool, he´s so easy to work with, we really feel each others vibe, and we have written the last few tracks so fast. It´s scary how good this album feels.

Have you an album out this year? Tell us about the styles and influences if you can?

Yes, I will hopefully have it out by the summer, it´s full of surprises. Its a combination of me, and some great writers, and vocalists from both the UK and the US.

I´m DJ Sammy, and my style is always positive, it´s my musical signature. Each song brings the clubber to the floor, and fills them with the love, and positivity, that I put into the track. The album is all about club music with great and beautiful song structure.

And describe one of your sets to us? How do you choose records to play? What are you looking for?

Like I say I am a positive DJ, I wanna inspire the crowd, ofcorse it´s all about the journey, but I want them to feel everything, each beat, each rise and fall. The crowd is my set, I need them to be part of each session, I talk to them, they talk to me, it´s like it´s just me the music and the individual clubber hanging out. When I do a show we become friends, so I choose different records depending on them, I read them. I have my favourites at each moment in time and usually find that the crowd are feeling them. I look for positivity, that's it. If I buzz I´m sure my people will buzz with me!

What have you got planned for 2010?

This is gonna be one of the most exciting years of my career so far, I feel like a kid when I think of this year, 2010 man, it´s ours!!

I have the album coming out. There will be some major tours happening, with promotion for the new album. I´m in talks in Ibiza for the summer residency, with a set up that's gonna bring back the true flavour of, GLAMOUR, Ibiza.

I have an artist being released this year on the "Universal" label. I´ve been working on her for a year now. I´m so proud of the project, she´s called Miss Kookie, and she´s gonna bring a new, sweet allure, to pop music all over the world.

What do you like to do aside from music, or do you never get away from it?

Sometimes it feel like I live in the studio, but I also have a life outside. I am absorbed by football, I´m an addict, big real Madrid fan, I´m a member and share holder. I try and get to the gym about two times a week, I also play in a football team for fun here in Mallorca. All the rest of my time I devote to my little girl.

What do you make of BCM, have you played there before?

For the last five years I have had my own parties there, and they have been one of the most successful nights there. It´s my home base, I love the atmosphere, the people, the fans. BCM has to be one of the best clubs in the world. Everything you could wish for in a night out, and more!!

What have you planned for playing on their tour event?

I have a great show coming,it´s not good to give it all away, but what I can say is expect a full show with a combination of amazing visuals, lights, crazy good dancers, new tracks and ofcorse live vocals with my singer, Nyah. A show not to be missed, see you all there x