Check out our interview with talented DJ & nightlife legend, Samantha Michelle who has worked with music legends including the likes of Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, LCD Soundsystem, Miley Cyrus, DJ Ruckus, and Bachman Turner Overdrive.
Her recent accolades include private events for brands such as Bulgari, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Harper’s Bazaar, Meta, Audible, Rolling Stone, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Carolina Herrera. Just recently she performed at Paramount’s 2023 Grammy party, and continues to play at Viacom & Wall Street Journal events during Cannes Lions.
Follow Samantha @samanthamusic
Hi Samantha, please tell us a little about you?
I’m a DJ, actress and filmmaker living in NYC & LA.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Sensitive. Adventurous. Passionate.
We’re sure you have been asked this a million times but how did you get in the industry?
I plugged in my iPod at a party at the Groucho Club about ten years ago, played some throwback bangers like Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” Chubby Checker’s “Let’s Twist Again,” the crowd went wild, and the rest is sort of history.
Describe your sound in 3 words?
Upbeat. Ecstatic. Triumphant.
Do you ever get nervous?
Sometimes… when the stakes are high or the territory seems foreign, but I try to embrace that nervous energy. I kind of love it.
Which artists and styles inspired and influenced you?
Music from the 1960s & 70s – soul, funk, folk, and rock & roll in particular – that’s what ushered me down the rabbit hole of what became my life in music. Bob Dylan. Tom Petty. Bruce Springsteen. Nina Simone. Aretha Franklin. Van Morrison. Janis Joplin. T. Rex. Elton John. This is my ‘desert island’ record team.
When all the partying is over how do you like to chill out?
I order Thai food (drunken noodles as it happens) and curl up with my dog, Bear, on the sofa; spend about an hour perusing the streamers trying to find something to watch and then more often than not, I give up and read a book instead. My tastes are particular, and I like narratives from authentic female perspectives – those are hard to come by in film/ tv.
Best stage you have ever played?
‘Incendia dome,’ at MemphoFest in Memphis, Tennessee Fall of 2019. It was this wild structure which literally breathed fire from the top, I played in a booth barricaded by fire, closing out the festival after Brandi Carlile… the roadies let me know on arrival we had a heap of propane to burn through, and that we did!
What’s your favorite club or event to DJ in?
The KitKat Club in Berlin. There is no freer, safer, more ‘be you, whoever that may be’ place in the world. I played there in July alongside some amazing fellow funk-loving German DJ pals in the Disco Bizarre space, ‘twas certainly a night to remember.
Tell us about opening for such world-wide top talent like Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, LCD Soundsystem, Miley Cyrus, and DJ Ruckus? And also, for brands like Bulgari, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana to name a few. That’s amazing!
Thank you. I’ve been very blessed to be trusted with the opportunity to sound score some pretty special experiences and partner with brands I’ve loved for a long time. Dolce & Gabbana in particular, I’ve been obsessed with since I was a teenager, so that was a leopard print dream come true, again and again. I absolutely love DJ’g D&G events. Opening for your music heroes is pretty cool too I must admit.
What is fun and rewarding about what you do? And what’s not?
Creating joy, the space for people to feel free and silly, to sing and dance. It feels like bringing life, conjuring energy, it’s magical. But securing those sorts of opportunities isn’t easy. The DJ world is a super competitive industry, and the nightlife sector in particular is trolled by a ton of dudes obsessed with who or what is allegedly ‘cool.’ There’s ick abound for sure, and that’s a side I don’t love to navigate.
What’s your advice for the newer DJ’s / Producers?
Find your sound. Say something in your sets. You’re gonna be the vibe, so be about something. And if you can… spread love.
What was the first record that you bought?
On vinyl? Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks.” It’s the only way to listen to it, and it is a religious experience.
What’s next for Samantha Michelle in the last months of 2023?
Next up, I’m excited to produce my second ‘Samantha Michelle’ presents event: Witches of Disco at Soho House New York featuring an all-female DJ lineup. Consider it the autumn edition of the ‘Capri-Ski’ event I produced on the rooftop there in August… this one’s just in time for Halloween. Then I head back overseas, I’ve got some exciting gigs coming up in Berlin, London and Paris.
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
Hold tight, honey.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Mark Manson
If you are a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
The Drunk Love Diary of a Wanderlust DJ.
How would your best friend describe you?
Sweet.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Cameron Crowe. He’s a hero of mine. He puts music and movies together with heart in such an incredibly personal and powerful way. You can feel the purity of his love for music in his work.
Best advice ever given?
“All that matters at the end of the day is that when you look at yourself in the mirror, you like the person you see.” – my dad George.
Name one of your strengths?
I value integrity, and I’m accountable to myself and to the people I love most. I mean what I say and do what I promise. I show up with heart.
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
Sleep in. Do some writing or creative work. Make a big breakfast at home. Take a long walk with Bear, preferably in nature. Catch up on the phone with my family. Maybe buy a pair of platform shoes, snuggle up with someone special, order some takeaway and chill. The simple things, you know…
What is your own definition of happiness?
Do what you love. Create love. Spread love.
Do you support any charity?
Yes, I work with Generation SOS. They’re an inspiring organization doing phenomenal work for youth communities creating safe spaces for peer-to-peer conversations around mental health, social pressure and substance misuse. Check ‘em out: https://generationsos.org/
What is your favorite healthy food?
Scrambled eggs!
And your favorite cheat food?
Birthday cake.
What would be a deal breaker on a first date?
I’m pretty ruled by pheromones. I gotta like the way you smell.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Dj’ing around the world. Releasing my own music. Directing films. Writing books.
How would you describe your fashion style?
Bohemian, nostalgic, glam, cozy and cuddly.
What do you think of Social Media?
Ay… it does not come naturally to me. There’s massive pressure I feel as a freelancing entrepreneur to be constantly editorializing life experiences and I think we’re all so much less anxious when we’re actually present. You’re not fully present if you’re also figuring out how to milk that moment for content, likes, and career leverage. There’s also such falsity to it all, and I like authenticity. All that said, I’ve found my way with Instagram. I have real boundaries with what I expose from my own personal life and emotions and beyond that, I focus on promoting positivity and sharing good vibes.
Where can we follow you?
@samanthamusic on Instagram
Favorite Quote: “I decide! I say who, I say when, I say who!” – Vivian in Pretty Woman
Favorite Movie: Almost Famous.
Travel Destination: Cote d’azur.
Favorite Sports Team: Toronto Maple Leafs baby!
