The Tribune

By LESH

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

HIS CREATIVE technique and energetic flow are the hallmarks that make DJ Sampler one-of-a-kind.

In an interview with In Ya Ear, DJ Sampler said he keeps his experiences fun and entertaining by not just deejaying at a party, but becoming a part of the party itself.

“If it is an old school party, I go into old school mode. If it’s a Bahamian party, then its ‘sculling the boat and mashing the roach’ all night long. I basically make the people dance and have the time of their lives,” he said.

With his father and uncle being involved in music under the ‘Echo’ and ‘Fresh’ deejay groups, DJ Sampler said he was inspired to do the same.

“When I was about 16 I got into deejaying and I spent hours of my free time learning the basics of music, equipment and all-around entertainment. I fell in love with music and I loved entertaining people. I started deejaying with the Ruffhouse Sound System (X-Cape, Reds/Twister), and together we became some of the hottest deejays in the Bahamas,” he said.

After having found the inspiration for what was quickly becoming his passion, the Bahamian deejay said all he needed now was a name.

“I was deejaying at a party a long time ago – and back then we used turntables – during the party one of the needles had broken on one of the turntables. It is what I did next that inspired my deejay name. I continued to deejay at the party with only one turntable and a sampler effect (a recording option that can be found on a mixer board). I rocked the party all night long with one single turntable and a sampler, and everyone had a great time. After that night everyone started calling me DJ Sampler,” he said.

DJ Sampler said he has had so many memorable deejaying experiences, that it is hard to just pick one to speak about. However, he recalled an Andros Crab Fest event some time ago as one of his best times.

“I was a guest deejay at one of the local clubs in Andros, along with some of my deejay members – Ruffhouse Sound System and the Supreme Dream Team. We rocked that club from Thursday night nonstop until Sunday night; the party was crazy. I think I got a chance to sleep when I got back to Nassau,” he said.

DJ Sampler said he has also had the opportunity to deejay in places like Jamaica, as well as in the United States. The international experience, he said, is similar to local events in that no matter the circumstances, he always plays music the crowd wants to hear.

“Whether it’s a Bahamian crowd or an international crowd, I get people up and dancing. I tend to keep the party hype by playing popular music and interacting with the crowd. From Bahamian home-grown flavour, soca, hip hop and R&B to reggae, old school, pop and top 40,” he said.

As it concerns the Bahamian entertainment scene today, DJ Sampler said good communication is always key. He said he would like to see the relationship between Bahamian deejays and artists improve.

“When this happens, the deejay would start to spin more Bahamian music on the radio, at nightclubs and at parties. I would like Bahamian music to be more accessible also. As it stands, Bahamian music is hard for the local deejays to get here in the Bahamas. I’ve started a website to assist with some of these issues – www.bahamastop20countdown.com– with the intent to promote Bahamian music on a global level,” said DJ Sampler.