Sammy Slice: On The Rise

With a fresh sound, innovative delivery and a humble personal philosophy, DJ Sammy Slice is making waves in Philadelphia. In this exclusive interview, Slice offers up a firsthand look into his passion for the music, and the inside scoop on “ballin’ on a budget” in the City of Brotherly Love.

Interview by— Marissa D’Orazio

Marissa: How would you describe your DJ sound?

Sammy: Definitely cross-genre. I go in and out of a lot of different styles throughout the night and take the party through peaks and valleys musically.

Marissa: Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?

Sammy: When I was 12, I heard this mix tape from a local DJ. It was just some local cat from Jersey, but I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I remember researching everything about DJ’ing at 12-years old. I saved all my money and bought a pair of turntables by 13.

Marissa: Did you ever find out who the DJ was on that mixtape?

Sammy: Yea yeah yea. He was my biggest influence when I was younger. He actually… he died when I was like 15 or 16-years old. Since then, everything I do- he’s in my mind when I do it. He was just a local DJ you know what I mean? But to me he was fucking Jimmy Hendrix.

Marissa: As a young DJ, how did you get your foot in the door in Philadelphia?

Sammy: My fist real gig was at Bar Noir on a Sunday. They let me play a half-hour and I did it for free. And seriously, it was a half an hour, but this might as well have been the fucking Grammys for me. It was there that I really learned how to rock a crowd of 10 people. If theres 10 people in a club, I’m completely confident that they will walk out and have had an amazing time.

Marissa: How about throughout your progression. Who influenced your sound and style as a DJ?

Sammy: Well when I was in college and before I was 21, I started sneaking into 700 Club to see Low Budget DJ. That was the first time I was ever at a party where the DJ was spinning eclectic styles of music and everyone was just freaking out. I felt like I was there with all these like-minded people. Like I wasn’t the only one who seriously has this musical ADD and I just dug that so hard. At the time, I was listening to a lot of mixes from Cosmo Baker and DJ AM. Those guys were all big influences. From there, Brendan BringEm really brought me further into Philadelphia culture. He gave me some really good advice when I first started. He told me if you do what you do well enough, people will spread the word for you, because good news travels fast. I couldn’t be more grateful to all those people. It makes me work 100 times harder.

Marissa: Where and when can we catch you spinning in the City of Brotherly Love?

Sammy: Thursdays, I’m at Mo Money No Problems at Silk City with Cool Hand Luke and Tu Phace, who’s an amazing artist on the verge of doing something really special. Saturdays, I do a party called Lip Service at PYT and Sundays we do a party at the Walnut Room called Say Yes, which is more like a feel good classics party.

Marissa: Can you describe each party in one word?

Sammy: Silk would be crazy, PYT is sexy, Say Yes would be happy.

Marissa: I was very curious to see how you would describe your Sunday nights because Say Yes has always been my personal favorite.

Sammy: That party is just good for the soul.

Marissa: What if we’re ballin’ on a budget and we want to come check out your parties, how can we get the most bang for our buck at each location?

Sammy: Most bang for your buck huh? Well Silk is free until 12, but the trick with Silk is to take advantage of all the promotions. Two weeks ago we did Jameson open bar from 10-12. After the promotion’s over there are plenty of cheap ways to keep drinking. You can knock back PBR’s for two bucks the rest of the night. The move with PYT is their dollar drink specials from 10-11 and some nights its an open bar. On top of the open bar, its free to get in. Sunday Nights once again, no cover. They also do the Philly Special, which is a shot of Jack and a PBR for five bucks. And here’s the real bang for your buck. I bring a lot of special guests to these parties. On any given night you can show up and see someone really crazy. I remember Beanie Segel came to Silk one night and did a 20 minute performance and everyone there just went nuts.

Marissa: How do you find out about these promotions?

Sammy: Be my friend on Facebook, and on Twitter. I utilize all new media. It’s my friend, for sure.

Marissa: What makes this city different to other cities you’ve been to?

Sammy: Oh that’s so easy. This city is a soul city. People have so much soul here and so much heart and so much character. It’s so fun to play for them because they really feel it. What I really love about my parties is that people really get down. No one’s self-conscious and theres no pretentiousness, and thats so Philly. That can’t be said in every city.

Marissa: How would you describe the following you’ve developed in this city?

Sammy: Great question. The people that come to my parties are an eclectic mix with a unifying bond. And I think everyone that comes to my parties has a serious appreciation for the music and the community it creates. They’re the musicians and the artists, the people that work in fashion or the kids in school who are taking advantage of the city they live in.

Marissa: If you were visiting Philly for a day, what day would it be and where would you hit?

Sammy: I’m obviously going to pick Thursdays. I’m pretty biased in this selection, but Thursdays, I would go to Silk City. And I say this because before I took over Thursdays at Silk City, I was going to Thursdays at Silk City. I remember going there and saying I wish I could share this party with my friends from other cities. You ever had a party so good you just wish you could call everyone of your friends and say come here and see how fucking awesome this party is? And now I do.

Marissa: And if I understand correctly, at Silk City you can party there and you can eat there.

Sammy: I eat at silk every Thursday, on the diner side. I think it’s a great vibe. The food’s excellent. The portabella burger’s my jam.

Marissa: Where else would you take your visitors?

Sammy: Northern Liberties to shop. There’s three quick spots I’d hit which would be, Fresh Melt Water, Exit Skate Shop and Made to Order. If I got to pick another day though, it’d be First Friday.

Marissa: Whats so special about First Friday in Philadelphia?

It’s awesome! All the galleries open their doors to the public for free. You get to see amazing art and there’s usually free wine and beer. Everything is just really accessible and everyone’s out. So I’d kick around with them in Olde City to see some art and then take them to PYT.

Marissa: What’s the least expected door DJ’ing in Philadelphia has opened up for you?

Sammy: Definitely doing the X-games. That was one of the raddest things I’ve ever done.

Marissa: How did you work your way into that situation?

Sammy: I knew someone from Philly who worked for Sailor Jerry’s and she was doing the booking for the Sundance Film Festival and X-Dance Extreme Sports Film Festival. She booked me for the after- party in Utah and I was seriously bugging out. To get a plane ticket and a hotel room was so cool!

Marissa: Ok rapid fire time. Pat’s or Geno’s?

Sammy: Pat’s.

Marissa: Your hometown’s almost in Yankee territory, spill it, Phills or Yankees?

Sammy: I became a Phils fan.

Marissa: If you could only hear one song on repeat for the next six months, what would it be?

Sammy: Bill Withers, “Use Me.” God! That song’s so good. I want to listen to it now.

Marissa: Guilty pleasure?

Sammy: Domino’s Pizza. I could eat it anytime of the day.

Marissa: Pet Peeve?

Sammy: Ughhh Bluetooths. I hate when people are talking on Bluetooths in front of me- or even when it’s just in their ear it bothers me. Just fucking take it out of your ear! You’re talking to me right now.

Marissa: One thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Sammy: Ughhh. Thats a good question. I’ve probably had a tuna fish sandwich five out of seven days a week for the last 10 years. I mean that, I really have.

Marissa: All time favorite song?

Sammy: Can it be favorite album?

Marissa: Sure, I’ll work with you on that.

Sammy: Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z.

Marissa: All time favorite artist or performer?

Sammy: Jay-Z.

Marissa: Name your best and worst experience DJ’ing?

Sammy: I’ll start with the best. It was at Bar Noir on Halloween. It was the first time that all my friends had come to see me together. I was so humbled. I DJ’ed my heart out. If that night went shitty, I mean who knows, the whole thing could have been fucked. The worst gig I’ve ever done… hmm. Well, I DJ’ed in a bathroom before but that actually ended up being awesome. That was actually one of the best.

Marissa: Where was that?

Sammy: That was in Italy. I mean you gotta think. There’s so many girls in the bathroom, it was the most poppin’ party I ever DJ’ed.

Marissa: Was there ever a moment where you thought that this might not pan out, and that you might not be able to do what you love?

Sammy: Totally, When I started Sundays at the Walnut room. I remember for like two months, nobody came, besides like four of five of my friends. I thought to myself at one point, maybe I just can’t do what I think I can do. I said to myself, let me do something that hasn’t been done here for my demographics. I said, I’m going to book a band. And I booked this chick Patty Crash to play with her band. And I promoted my ass off for that party. And that party was poppin’; Dice Raw got on the mic with a fucking live drummer, me DJ’ing and he started rapping and people just went nuts. From that point forward I just kept trying new things and pushing the envelope. Next thing you know I got a six-piece house band in there and we were jamming out every Sunday. I realized I could do it, and maybe it would all just take a little more work than I thought.

For more information on DJ Sammy Slice, check out these links:

http://myspace.com/sammyslice

http://twitter.com/sammyslice

http://sammyslice.com