This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)
This week in the feature MY FIRST GIG: Icelandic Samuel Barthelemy, a.k.a. DJ/producer Samwise, who had a rather special first techno gig. "It was quite an unusual setting: a wedding."
“My first real gig took place at Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam. I was 26 at the time. I was a bit nervous because it was quite an unusual setting for a gig: a wedding. After a performance by a traditional wedding band, the bride and groom wanted two hours of pounding techno. The crowd was quite unique too. Everyone was dressed to the nines in tuxedos and such.”
Lucky Break
“I had prepared a few things at home. I brought a variety of tracks so I could respond to mixed reactions from the crowd. However, I got lucky because it was an authentic Dutch crowd that truly enjoyed the driving techno and minimal music I was playing.”
Uplifted Crowd
“Even though there were no family members or friends present to support me, I got a lot of encouragement from the uplifted crowd. At the time, I didn’t know many people in Amsterdam since I had just moved to the Netherlands from Iceland. I didn’t have a mentor back then, but I now consider some of my friends as my mentors in the music industry. So, there was nothing else to do but to bring the house down on my own.”
Positive feedback
“That first gig turned out really well in the end. It was the first time I experienced the feeling of receiving constructive energy from the audience. Getting so much positive feedback was very rewarding—it synchronized me with the crowd. This ultimately resulted in an overall good set.”
Minor screw-up
“I have to admit: I did make a small screw-up. I accidentally started the track that was already playing. Normally, this disrupts the tension and groove, but I got lucky, and the transition actually fit quite well. So, luckily, the damage was minimal.”
Skills
“What did I learn from that experience? A lot. I think you learn something from every gig, especially in the early years of DJing. Technical skills, stage presence, reading the setting and the environment, observing how the venue is set up, and so on.”
Minitech Recordings
“This past year has been pretty busy. I’ve performed in Argentina, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Lithuania, and in my home country, Iceland. And of course, in Amsterdam, together with my label Minitech Recordings. I’m a manager there and work alongside a fantastic team of friends and artists.”
Richie Hawtin
“I’ve also been fortunate that my work has been played by various artists—artists I look up to and admire. For example, I received videos of Richie Hawtin playing my track ‘Frames‘ for thousands of people in Buenos Aires. And not just once, but two days in a row! That was a huge thrill!”
“As for the future, plans for 2019 are steadily taking shape. I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.”
This interview with Samwise is originally published on This Is Our House in December 2018.
Who is Samwise?
Hailing from Iceland, Samwise is a techno/minimal producer that is currently based in Amsterdam. Having just stepped into the techno scene late 2014, Samwise’s journey is about pumping out headbobbing music into the industry.
Samwise’s biggest influences are Jay Lumen, Julien Jeweil, Matt Sassari, The Prodigy and others of similar style.
