Samson A.K: The ‘Wednesday Alternative’ Mix

5 Minute Read

Music

Next up is a fast paced, techno driven mix to bang midweek from the Balamii resident and London based producer come DJ.

Some of you might know Sam best from behind the Phonica counter – having recently left the longstanding London record shop to pastures new we invited him to showcase and celebrate some of the music he’s been collecting and digging recently.

He’s been busy, working tirelessly behind the scenes for many years producing and showcasing music both independently and as one half of the house focussed duo Zoo Look who have released music on the likes of Lost Palms, E-Beamz, Tsuba and more.

Independently Sam tends to draw for the darker, stranger and more abstract sounds spotlighting material which emerges from the UK underground and beyond.

In his own words this mixtape was recorded with an unapologetic emphasis on Techno.

“I had a few beers and banged out my mix for you last night. I went full on techno. I hope that’s ok.”

It sounded pretty darn ok to us and we are more than delighted to welcome a longstanding friend of Ransom Note to contribute to our now, far too big, mix series.

Dig in!

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I’m Sam aka Samson A.K and I’m a London-based DJ, producer, and radio host.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

This guy comes to mind.

Where was the mix recorded?

Due to not being able to bang it out loud at home, Mark at Loose FM kindly let me record the mix in their studio in Hoxton. Extra special shouts to Mark!

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Wherever you are now.

What should we be wearing?

Whatever you’re wearing now. You look great btw.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

The Sleeparchive track because of its super fuzzy bassline.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I can’t think of one particular mix, but there were some killer ones in those Little White Earbuds podcasts in the early-to-mid-2000s.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

That’s gotta be the Guv’nor. Weatherall. Just because!

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I had a pair of hand-me-down Gemini PT-1000 turntables and a Numark DM 2002X mixer. Now I have a pair of 1210s, a Pioneer DJM400 mixer and some Pioneer XDJ 700s.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Depends on the situation: recorded mix, start… in a club, end.

What were the first and last records you bought?

When I was about 14 years old I used to get the hour-long bus into Bournemouth to visit a place called Avid Records (now long gone, R.I.P). I used to come home with all kinds of trance, drum & bass and UK hip-hop gems (still got them all). I can’t remember exactly what my first purchase was but it probably would’ve been something like Rodney P & Skitz “Dedication” on Ronin Records (still a banger). I do remember buying my first ever CDs though, which were Cypress Hill, Beastie Boys and Korn (lols). The most recent records I’ve picked up are Civilistjävel!’s Järnnätter LP on Felt and the new Mobbs LP on Felix Hall’s Chrome label.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

An onion. It has layers and it will make you cry.

If it was an animal what would it be?

One of those blobfish things. It’s pretty face-melty.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Kinda cheating here, but multiple unplayable records from shitty Discogs sellers. Shouts to the VG+ crew.

Upcoming in the world of…

Quite a few DJ gigs coming up over the summer which is nice. Some killer guests lined for guest mixes on my monthly Balamii radio shows too. Keep an eye out for the next show on Friday 13th May with D.K.

I’m also one half of a duo called Zoo Look, which is a bit more house music-focused than my solo stuff, and we have a new EP coming out on Permanent Vacation soon this summer. We tend to work on these things super slowly, so it’s been a long time coming and we’re chuffed to see it all finally come together.

Anything else we need to discuss?

Nah I think that’s everything <3