Sam PV: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

Introduced to us by a friend, this mix takes us on a whirlwind tour across a breadth of sounds, featuring both a UK influence and music from further afield. It’s a riotous selection of Garage, Kuduro, Breakbeat and beyond which firmly celebrates the modern sound of club culture in London.

Listen and read the interview below:

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

I’m Sam PV, i’m the founder and a resident at the London-based queer dance party Pumping Velvet, which we hold every two months at Dalston Superstore.

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)?

I find describing music without resorting to basic cliche to be a very difficult task. I like tracks that foreground crisp and satisfying drums, bright and engaging melodies and the deep rumble of sub-bass. This mix is somewhat classier and more refined than how I play in a club (e.g. there’s no pop bangers) and if I had made a mood board prior to recording it, this picture of Grace Jones with her former partner Dolph Lundgren would be front and center.

Where was the mix recorded?

At home, the day I landed back from an incredibly inspiring trip to Honcho Campout in Pennsylvania.

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

You do you babe. Sweat it out in the gym, dance around your living room or avoid making eye contact on the tube. These are just some of my usual settings for listening to mixes, but whatever works for you.

What should we be wearing?

Something louche yet comfortable. A silk dress gown and crocs?

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

In Fabric Room 1 but with the booth set up in the middle of the dancefloor so I could bask in the glory of that soundsystem. I don’t think i’ve ever experienced a richer and more dynamic sound anywhere in the world.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Olof Dreijer’s Rosa Rugosa on Hessle Audio. Olof played it a while before it was released at our Pumping Velvet 5th Birthday Party in May and it was immediately recognisable as his. The intoxicating melody has remained lodged in my head ever since. The way he’s taken his trademark melodic approach, so familiar from the Knife and Oni Ayhun, but combined it with those clattering Kuduro influenced drums makes for a bewitching and unique track.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

So many! But the winner is probably Mark Seven’s Salute to the Men of Vauxhall, recorded live at Horsemeat Disco. It oozes class and sophistication while simultaneously channeling sweat and sleaze, a glorious dichotomy encapsulated by all the best disco tracks.

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

Honestly as a control freak back to backs give me anxiety. How can I plan if I don’t know what the other DJ is gonna play? But more as an opportunity to meet him and see his record collection I would pick David Mancuso.

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

I first learnt to DJ on a cracked copy of Traktor in my friend Michael’s claustrophobia inducing bedroom in Kennington. I’ve never really had the space for my own set up and have relied on various friends and flatmates over the years for use of their technics or CDJs. Currently I have a Pioneer XDJ-RX2 at home, it’s not something I would choose from a technical or aesthetic perspective but its all I have space for and it gets the job done.

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

It depends! What time of the night are you playing? If i’m closing the party I put great thought into my last tune and pick something particularly special to me, if i’m just handing over to the next DJ I like to pick something satisfying but not too ostentatious that affords them the room to go wherever they want to go. But I guess the first tune is always important (unless you’re opening to an empty club), it sets an intention.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first physical musical media I ever bought with my own money was a CD single of Horny, by Mousse T. It perfectly incapsulated my 11 year old mental state!

Vinyl wise the first record I bought was a second hand copy of Sade’s self titled debut album, which after many years of love I still own and play to this day. Despite being an avid collector for many years I rarely buy vinyl anymore due to ever growing cost and lack of space. But the last record to enter my collection is a gorgeous Japanese edition of First Love by Hikaru Utada.

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

A Senegalese Chicken Yassa. Bright and fresh with a deep and robust flavour and a hit of chili that packs a punch.

If it was an animal what would it be?

The theme of this mix is new music, with almost every track having been released in 2023. With that in mind i’d like to dedicate it to Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa, one of the world’s newest discovered species and a delightful looking rainbow coloured fish. A future queer icon?

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

Probably a Chris Corsano and Paul Flaherty LP. Wild, blistering free jazz. Good luck beat matching that mess!

Upcoming in the world of…

I’m playing at Savage in Hanoi Vietnam on 4th November, a club i’ve heard so many great things about and my first time playing in Asia. So to say I was excited would be an understatement! Then on 18th November we have our next Pumping Velvet at Dalston Superstore with Juan Ramos from Cocktail D’Amour in Berlin and Michael Upson from Love Muscle in Leeds coming to play.

Anything else we need to discuss?

Omg this was so many questions. What could there possibly be left to discuss?