SAMCHE is a music producer and DJ whose rich soundscapes and melodies transport listeners on an emotional journey between the organic and electronic. Much of his music draws inspiration from his career as a humanitarian worker, and his first tracks were composed while based in conflict zones and on the road near the frontlines of war, using equipment suitable for on-the-go travel and making it past military checkpoints.
Q: Hey SAMCHE! Introduce yourself to our audience here on Rising Artists!
SAMCHE: Thanks so much for having me! I’m a music producer and DJ currently based in Switzerland, influenced by the music communities in Ibiza and Beirut. I love to make and mix progressive, organic and afro house music.
Q: “All That We Got” is a great summer anthem, providing light at the end of this tunnel year that we all have had. How did you come up with the idea of the song?
SAMCHE: At the beginning of the pandemic – wow, it feels so long ago! — I made the track “Stay Far Away” using classical guitar and organic drums to evoke a quiet reflection on our feelings of isolation and lockdown. With the end finally in sight for parts of the world, I wanted to do a follow up that captures hope, optimism and appreciation for all that we have. It’s my latest collaboration with talented vocalist, Wanda Toso, whose booming vocals I knew were a perfect fit, and combines samples of the WHO’s Dr. Tedros with retro-melodies and playful amusement park synths in a celebratory summer anthem.
Q: What made you want to become a musician?
SAMCHE: As a child, I grew up playing all sorts of instruments, cello, trumpet, guitar, a bit of piano. But it wasn’t until I trained in music production that I discovered – through sound sampling – that the entire world around us is a musical instrument and that there are beautiful rhythms and melodies to be found in the details of everyday life. I try to explore these motifs in my music, like my recent EP Mudun, which uses actual soundscapes to pay homage to the nostalgic beauty found in three middle eastern cities.
Q: Tell us about your favorite performance in your career.
SAMCHE: My favorite is probably when I released my debut album at the end of 2019. I was living in Beirut and DJing at an artisanal bar called Tenno in the Mar Mikhael district, where we organized an amazing, album release party that was one of my last memories there before I moved to Switzerland. The city has been through so much since then.
Q: Who is one of your favorite artists of all time?
SAMCHE: I’m going to have to go with one of the icons of our age, Bono. Not only for having written so many songs that were the soundtrack to my formative years, but for combining activism, social justice and a genuine commitment to human rights.
Q: What would you do if your audience looked tired or bored during your performance?
SAMCHE: Actually one of my favorite times is starting a sunset session at the beach, when the audience may still be sleepy in their loungers. For those, I like to slowly lull the crowd awake with an ambient or meditative soundtrack that is like reaching into their dreams, and then gradually introduce a beat that accelerates and starts to inject them with energy until everyone is alive and ready to dance.
Q: What can we expect from you next?
SAMCHE: I’ve got some new music in the works, including an upcoming EP using soundscapes from three different cities in Asia. Some of that may have to wait as I hope to enjoy this long awaited summer and celebrate All That We Got!
Interviewed by Stephanie Pankewich
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