LA DJ Sam Hiller plays at Blue Beet Aug. 14
Sam Hiller is one of LA’s hottest DJ’s around – from being an on-air DJ on Evolution to being head resident DJ at The Avalon in LA, he’s done it all! His sets are energetic and fresh, which is what he’s known best for. Hiller’s will take over a set at The Blue Beet in Newport Beach on Aug. 14.
Hiller was a school DJ and moved on to work for Groove International where DJ legend, Swedish Egil, became drawn to Sam’s ear for good music and took him under his wing, taught him the ropes of the industry and knowledge of music. Since then he has performed numerous shows and festivals sharing the stage with names such as Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Kaskade and more.
OCCG recently caught up with Sam and talked to him about his inspirations, working with Egil and his musical preferences.
OCCG: What drove/inspired you into becoming a DJ?
Sam: I started “DJing” (if you can call it that) in high school with a 2 channel Radio Shack mixer and two single deck CD players. I had no pitch control, no EQ’s, lol it was pretty ghetto. All I could do was crossfade between songs. I was driven to do this by the fact that the local DJ services in my town that played Middle and High School dances were really awful, and I thought I could do it better, at least in the music selection department. I under cut them a lot with my fees too, so people started hiring me haha. After that, I took a break from DJ’ing while I went to college, and only got really into it again as a profession after I studied abroad in Europe and witnessed their amazing dance music culture first-hand.
OCCG: How was it like working with the amazing Swedish Egil? Especially when he took you under his wing and taught you the ropes?
Sam: Egil was and is an amazing person. I could not have asked for a better teacher, both in terms of the technical aspects of DJ’ing, and also when it came to helping me to appreciate and understand dance music and its roots and history. Egil truly is a legend, his knowledge and history go back to the beginning of it all, and though a lot of people don’t know it, he was instrumental in helping plush dance music through to the mainstream in the U.S. for the first time in the early 90’s. I can never thank him enough for everything that he taught me.
OCCG: In LA there are many DJ’s and clubs — what sets you apart from all of those other DJ’s?
Sam: I’m a music junkie, I probably download 100-200 new songs every week, so my sets are constantly changing. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever played the same set twice. In an age when many DJ’s tour and play the same set in every city, I’m headed in the opposite direction. I would never do that, I’d get bored. With so much amazing music out there, why not change it up as often as possible? I’d rather introduce people to new songs that they’ve never heard, than play the Beatport Top 10. I show up at a gig with USB’s full of music and no plan in mind, my sets are never mapped out, I just go where the night and crowd take me.
OCCG: Is there a certain genre you prefer to play in your sets?
Sam: I personally enjoy playing tech house, techno, nu disco, and deep house the most these days, but honestly I have such passion for so many different types of music, that I can never pigeon-hole myself. I love electro, I love big rave sounds, I love breaks, etc. If I’m closing at Control, I’ll play a much heavier set because that’s what that time of night calls for, vs. opening, when I’ll start things off in a much more mellow fashion.
OCCG: Who are some of your musical influences?
Sam: I love DJ’s who aren’t afraid to take chances and take their crowds on a journey. Some of my favorites would be Boys Noize, Fatboy Slim, The Magician, Above & Beyond, Eric Prydz, MK, Brodinski, I could go on and on….
OCCG: What artist would you love to share the stage with?
I’d love to open up for Fatboy Slim, I think that would be so much fun!
OCCG: Throughout your career, what has been the most memorable event–why?
Sam: Opening up the MainStage when I was in PeaceTreaty at the first Beyond Wonderland in 2011. That was an insane show. We started right when gates opened and there was no one there, and by the end of our set there were 10k people watching us. It was the biggest rush I’ve ever felt!
OCCG: Being a head resident DJ at the Avalon, and an on-air DJ is there a difference in the environment?
Sam: Absolutely. Club DJ’ing and Radio DJ’ing are two very different things in my opinion. Sometimes songs that work well in club won’t work well on radio, and vice versa too. And then of course there’s the personality aspect; you have to have a voice and persona as a radio DJ, whereas when DJ’ing at the club you could literally never say a word, and that wouldn’t necessarily matter at all. It’s funny, I’ve seen numerous big Club/Touring DJ’s completely freeze up when it comes to doing radio, they don’t know what to say in front of a recording mic, or totally flub the easiest liners. To each their own!
Thanks for having me, I can’t wait to party with you all at HONOR at Blue Beet in Newport Beach on Aug. 14!