City on a Hill Press: When did you first start producing music?
DJ Sam F: I started producing when I was 16. I used Garageband at first and then I used Reason. It was mostly hip-hop back then and I kind of rapped. It was pretty silly.

CHP: How did you get started producing at UCSC?
DJ Sam F: One of my friends from high school, Lucky Date, talked with me about being producers and making it a career. He kind of inspired me to get back into it. I took a class at UCSC on Logic the end of my sophomore year and since then I’ve been in Logic. For the past two years I’ve been producing EDM, but I wasn’t good at first. It took a while before
I liked the end result.

CHP: What types of EDM do you produce?
DJ Sam F: Dubstep, electro-house and “hip-hop step.” I’ve done a bunch of remixes that are about 100 beats per minute. People really like those but I don’t want to pigeon-hole myself into a “remix genre” of what I do. I’m working on my EP now and it’s going to be electro. I also work on some glitch-hoppy, rap influenced EDM.

CHP: What other artists/genres influence your work?
DJ Sam F: Definitely Porter Robinson and Lucky Date. Skrillex has been a huge influence — his music has been super innovative and he started the whole “brostep” genre. People hate on it but I love Skrillex and I’ve always considered him as one of my favorite artists. I’m influenced a lot by the hyphy movement because I grew up in Berkeley, so you’ll find rap things [in my music] that allude to Bay Area hip-hop.

CHP: How would you describe your musical style?
DJ Sam F: It’s pretty complex. I do resampling — crazy techniques of making my sounds. I’ll program a synth, bounce it to a new file, edit it again, re-compress it and add more effects. Really complex, glitchy sort of sounds.

CHP: How long do you usually spend on a single track?
DJ Sam F: It depends. A hip hop remix I could do in two days, sometimes even a day. Originals I like to spend more time — really go back into fine detail and find everything that I do like, until I have a final product I can say I’m really proud of.

CHP: What is your process when starting a track?
DJ Sam F: Before I can do anything I need to clean my room, it’s like a weird OCD. If my bed’s messed up, in the back of my head, I’m like “I can’t produce.” Then I’ll usually start with drums or a sample and then layer it. I usually start with drums, then go to build, then drop.

CHP: What is your favorite part of performing?
DJ Sam F: I’m really into the vibes. When I drop a song and everyone is stoked, that’s the best for me. I just get really excited and I jump and see the crowd’s appreciation. Especially when it’s an original. So definitely “vibing” off the crowd.

CHP: What was the strangest or most interesting thing that has happened to you at a show?
DJ Sam F: This isn’t strange, just really unfortunate. There was a really drunk girl at MOTIV, and she came up and was lingering next to me in the booth. I asked if she could please move and get out of my space but she was like, “No, f*** you.” Then I was like, “Security, can you please tell this girl to leave?” Then she goes to the crowd and finds her boyfriend. They come up and then close my laptop and the music stops and I was like, “Security, get them.”

CHP: Is producing and performing music something you intend to pursue as a career?
DJ Sam F: Definitely. After I graduate I’m planning on moving to LA to network down there. It’s all about coming up with original music. I have a release on Universal Republic — I did a remix of The Lonely Island’s new song “Yolo” that comes out on Saturday.

CHP: Do you have any advice for up-and-coming producers?
DJ Sam F: Dedicate yourselves to it. It’s really hard and takes a lot. But if you’re committed to spending three hours a day, everyday — no exceptions — for like a year, then it’s definitely possible [to be successful]. I haven’t made it yet myself, I’m on a path to hopefully succeed. But it takes dedication and full commitment.

Sam’s music is available online on his SoundCloud and Facebook.
soundcloud.com/djsamf
facebook.com/djsamf

DJ Sam F gets the crowd going at the E-40 show.

DJ Sam F gets the crowd going at the E-40 show.

Sam F adds effects to the mix.

DJ Sam F performs at The Catalyst before E-40.

DJ Sam F performs at The Catalyst before E-40.

DJ Sam F performs at The Catalyst before E-40.

DJ Sam F performs at The Catalyst before E-40.

DJ Sam F performs at The Catalyst before E-40.

Sam uses a variety of plugins.

Sam F programs synths and drums.

Sam F works with his production setup in his house

Sam works with Massive to craft his synths.

Sam F programs synths and drums.

Sam F programs synths and drums.

Sam F uses Apple Logic in his production.

Courtesy of Sam Fishman.

UC Santa Cruz student DJs will be putting their own spin on the downtown club scene.

Red Bull is sponsoring a competition for Santa Cruz DJs on May 17 at Motiv, located in downtown Santa Cruz. Hosted by emcee Nick Centis, it will feature a set by professional DJ John Beaver after the competition.

Five UCSC student DJs will be performing: GuR (JR Rolle), Razzmatik (Alon Rogenstein), Ruby Sparks (Vanessa Sandberg), Sam F (Sam Fishman) and Stay Deep (Michael Gushansky). The winner will be awarded a $100 cash prize, as well as a “Gold Record” and an invitation to perform at Motiv in the future.

The DJs involved have distinct creative styles in mixing music. Gushansky, a fourth-year politics major, describes himself as having an “old-school” DJ style.

“I like making it seem as though you don’t know where one track starts and one track ends,” Gushansky said.

DJs will be scored by audience reaction, meaning competitors will need to select songs that will get the crowd excited.

“It’ll be interesting seeing the crowd’s reaction to what I play,” said Rolle, a third-year psychology major and event competitor.

“I’m looking forward to bringing something completely different to the competition. I’m pretty sure that I have a particularly different style,” said Rolle, who favors “deep dubstep,” a subgenre of dubstep.

“It’s focused on subbass and minimal rhythms,” Rolle said. “I’ve been spinning that for a while now.”

DJs select music based on popularity, personal preference and a variety of other factors. High-energy music such as electro and dubstep are popular choices, Gushansky said.

Many DJs use computers to mix and play music, as opposed to turntables and other equipment, he said.

“I use computers when I want to replicate my digital library in an older medium,” Gushansky said, “when I want to feel like I’m playing vinyl but I don’t have $1,000 to spend on records.”

However, Gushansky said new technology takes something away from the DJ experience.

“The problem is you’re not forced to look for records in your crate,” Gushansky said. “That takes a really crucial element out of the performance experience, because half the battle is looking for those records. You don’t really that much time to mix. It’s like a blitz.”

Although the event is a competition, participants like DJ and music producer Sam Fishman are mainly looking forward to performing for a crowd.

“I’m not too competitive,” Fishman said. “When it comes down to it, I know that Stay Deep and JR are really good DJs. For me, I’m more of a producer. I spend all of my time making my own songs.”

Fishman, a third-year art major, is also a hip-hop artist and rapper. He said his greatest aspiration is to become famous through his music.

“The stuff that I produce is mostly electro-dubstep,” Fishman said. “Fast-paced dubstep, you could call it.”

Motiv regularly holds “College Thursdays” for local students.

“I’m looking forward to playing out of Motiv,” Rolle said. “I’ve played there a few times and I like the sound. It’s a good place to play a small party.”

Regardless of who wins or loses, ultimately the event is about a bunch of people doing what they love.

“It feels so good when someone comes up to you after the show and says, ‘Hey, what was that track you played?’” Gushansky said. “You tell them about it and they write it down, and two months later they’re DJing themselves.”