Joining us at the Goodtime Hotel, in the Nexus Lounge, Miami we spoke with Sam Feldt about his favourite artists, his evolution as a musician, and the inspiration behind his Heartfeldt foundation.
Ten years ago, right after his first Spinnin’ Record release – a remake of “Show Me Love” by Robin S – Sam Feldt attended his first ever Ultra Music Festival. In the years since his career has grown bigger, and his sound has certainly developed, but one thing that hasn’t changed is his passion for creating great music.
“A lot of DJs and producers think they have to market and promote themselves, and that’s how they’re gonna get the big shows. At least from my perspective, when I tried to do that, that never worked because you need something that’s sellable. So I would say focus on your craft and make great songs that stand out.”
That’s certainly a philosophy he’s exhibited in his own work, consistently releasing singles that showcase a distinct personal style. All the same, he’s also managed to grow over the course of the years. When talking about creating great music, he stresses the importance of balancing both impulses in order to create music that is recognizably yours.
Of course, that’s not to say inspiration doesn’t play a major part. When asked about his favourite artists, Feldt was quick to sing the praises of Don Diablo and Paul McCartney, two people he says he dreams of one day collaborating with.
Not that it’s all about music for Feldt. When he’s not working on his next track, he devotes much of his time and energy towards his Heartfeldt foundation – a non-profit he set up with the aim of promoting sustainability and environmentalism.
When discussing the origins of the foundation, Sam noted that it was a way to reconnect with where he’d come from before the success of his music career.
“I remember sitting in a jet in Brazil going to my New Year’s Eve show and going through my New Year’s resolutions and that’s where the idea for the Heartfeldt foundation came from. Because I was sipping champagne inside a private jet and it was so in contrast to how I was brought up.”
These days Sam continues to tour all over the world but that doesn’t stop him promoting his sustainability cause, hosting panels and encouraging festivals to think more about their environmental impact.
If you’d like to learn more about Sam Feldt, his music, his charity, and his experiences as a Dutch DJ in the US, then why not check out the full, exclusive, Nexus Radio interview?
