DJ Sammy - Record Producer
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
If you can remember where you were when you heard "Heaven" for the first time (either by Bryan Adams or later on by Belinda Carlisle), you'll probably want to add the latest version by DJ Sammy to your memory bank, and get to know this new musical genius.
DM) You've gone from a DJ to much more than a DJ, but a producer. How did you take that route in your career?
DS) Actually, I come from a musical family, and I was working very hard in my bedroom, in the house that I grew up in. I love doing music, because I heard my family playing music. I had music around me all of my life. Since my father was playing guitar and my sister was playing piano, I got more into electronic music. So what happened ? That's why all of my songs are a mix between acoustic sounds and electronics. I grew up with an education of the acoustic sounds, and I'm always using songs with influences of dance music and acoustic things. It took quite a while to show my talents to the whole world, but keeping my desires very high and believing in myself, and always believing that nothing is impossible has helped me succeed. But the biggest of all of this, is that I am an example for a lot of young kids who have computers and are doing home music. To all of those people, for me, that young generation is our future and I see so much email from kids saying, "Thank you Sammy for inspiring me to make music. Maybe one day I can be like you." This is my biggest pleasure.
DM) You were saying that you got the influence to start music 15 years ago, from hearing your parents play music. Is that why you chose the songs you did from that time period, the late 80s?
DS) Actually, it's one of the reasons. I took these 80s songs like Heaven and Boys of Summer, and my parents aren't a big fan of dance music. They are not into it and don't understand it very well. But I can guarantee you, when they heard "Heaven" or "Boys of Summer", they said, "This is the best you have done to date!" (Laughs) And they said this, even though I've sold millions of records before that. So actually my parents sensed a hit before I did.
DM) Are there other songs that you wanted to do, that you didn't do?
DS) I'm not the kind of guy who says, "I want to cover this or that." I get to write my own songs, but still do covers knowing that it's more difficult to do a cover, knowing that you're playing with the creativity of somebody else. It's really, very, very difficult to play with the creativity of somebody else's melody, and making it with your own style and creativity. It's really, very, very creative. If you wish to do a brilliant cover, I think it's easier to do anything else. The reason I chose "Heaven" and "Boys of Summer", are because I love them and they have a very special memory from my youth. I have strong memories with them both. That's why maybe they did better, because I had so much love for them. If I had to choose another song, I couldn't say now, it all comes from what I feel at the time.
DM) You said you had good memories of them growing up. What were the memories you had?
DS) You know, you are a teenager growing up and you know that these songs are classics. Those songs are played worldwide in any radio station. So wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you're always hearing these two songs. Heaven, in particular,I heard when I was very young, maybe 11 years old, in one discothèque in one hotel, my parents used to spend Saturday Nights there. I used to sneak down at 9 o'clock and we would go break dancing there. When it came to the slow songs, they always played Heaven. At the time, it left quite an impression of a love song to me. I can tell you many more situations, being young. Those songs have been riding through my body for years.
DM) I noticed that you didn't cover any European songs, especially being from Europe.
DS) Yes, I agree with you. This point is a very good point. I knew it for a few days, and somebody told me, "These covers are all American", and I said, "Sorry, I didn't really pay attention to where they came from." Loving the songs, I never look if the person who sings them is successful in America or somewhere else. But it's absolutely no reason because they're English or American or whatever. The first cover, California Dreamin', I did because the President of my management company asked me to cover it. That was the only reason. But the other songs are American classics. There are no other reasons to have all American songs... it's just co-incidence.
DM) Before people even heard of you in America, you were very popular in Europe.
DS) It's nice, because I always had this saying, "Everything should come slowly, because you will then be more careful, more experienced, learning more and appreciate it more, you'll be a better everything" I'm happy that it took so long to break into America, because everything comes at the right moment. I think it came at the perfect moment because I learned much more in the music industry. I am better musically. I am more clever doing music. I know better how to make people better. The only reason I hit Europe first, because I had a contract for very little money in Germany. The older records that sold millions in Europe, they didn't even release in America, which is a shame. To break America, worldwide it was a question of time. I always say, "Everything should come for a reason." I'm sure in the record company in Germany they must be really pissed off they let me go 2 years ago.
DM) What were the reactions you've received from the original artists of songs you've covered?
DS) I met Brian Adams a few times, I've seen him a few nights ago and I'll see him in London. We get along very well together. We get together well as musicians and as friends. I can tell you that he is a brilliant artist, so a guy like me, and him might make a good combination. I think we understand each other well, and we are ready to work together as well. We might work together in the future. We decided to do a few things together... it will be a beautiful cooperation between a guy with 30 years of experience, and a guy who is pushing to reach the top. It's a special combination.
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