We’re so Jealous of Her Ridiculously Fun Lifestyle
Written By: Kai Oliver-Kurtin Take a Walk on the Wild Side with DJ and Model Sam Black
Photographed By: Taylor Lewis
Styled By: Manuel Parra
Hair & Makeup By: Sonia Reshetnikova
Model: Sam Black, Disc Jockey and Fashion Model
Q: How do you split your time between DJ gigs and modeling shoots?
Sam Black: It works out perfectly because almost all shoots are during the day and all DJ gigs are at night. Sometimes it’s pretty hectic when I do back-to-back shoots and shows. The most hectic was when I had a two-day shoot for Aeropostale’s summer campaign and DJ’d the Wildfox launch party in between. No rest for the wicked.
Q: How did you break into the music industry?
SB: It all started when I worked for a youth marketing company in Melbourne. They assigned Chupa Chips as my first client, a massive lollipop company, and they wanted to hit an 18-25 year old market. I had them sponsor an EDM festival called Stereosonic that did a bunch of installations, interviewed the artists backstage, hosted giveaways … the whole nine. Shortly after that, I left and went to an artist management and touring agency. To be honest, breaking in isn’t hard. You have to be a cool person that people like and wanna f*ck with. What you do once you are in is the hard part.
Q: How did you learn to mix tracks and create sets?
SB: I actually took lessons from a guy in Los Angeles when I first moved back home from Australia. I would go to Guitar Center all day long and play on all the control panels they have on display there. The people who worked there hated me.
Q: How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?
SB: My music is a mix of vibes that makes you feel like you’re on drugs—cruisy, happy-go-lucky, smiley ones and that make you wanna rage and #$%~ someone at the same time!
Q: I heard that living in Australia had a profound impact on your music career; can you tell me more about that?
SB: Australia is where I met my favorite people, heard my favorite songs, made my favorite memories and really found out how to love life. I spent my foundational years there so everything that happened along the way really impacted my life.
Shot at:
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
465 S La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.247.0400
P U M P /// the Volume with DJ and Model Sam Black.
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who contributes to several national and regional publications, covering travel, dining and lifestyle.
