Music is timeless, everchanging, and made up of a collection of artists wanting to tell their stories. DJ Samantha Michelle is all about that. Throughout her 20s, Samantha traveled between New York and London. She studied art, religion and foreign policy at NYU, as well as various British academics at Oxford. Samantha always knew, however, that music was her calling.
Her sound focuses on upbeat tones that are slinky and soulful, blending old-school vibes with modern times. Samantha primarily plays at large global festivals and events in the music, film, fashion, media, arts, charity and political arenas.
She has recently spun for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Lotus Cars, YPO, Bulgari, WSJ, Rolling Stone, Christie’s, Liquid Media Group, and the list goes on. Working with Dolce & Gabbana was a bucket list, leopard-print-dream come true.
“Since I was a teenager, I’ve loved the brand and the sense and spirit of the irreverence it has for me, always incarnated. I DJ’d back-to-back bicoastal gigs for D&G in their NYC flagship and Beverly Hills stores in November/December 2021.”
Samantha has always felt a strong connection with the groovy era of the 60s and 70s, as various artists inspired her to create similar music that makes people want to get up, dance around and be free. Specifically, “It was the holy trinity of Dylan, Springsteen, and Tom Petty who escorted me down the rabbit hole of a life in music.” Bored with the same old monotone sounds being played everywhere, she knew there had to be a thirst for more optimistic and upbeat music.
Music brings joy, light and a unique reaction to one’s life. Those are the feelings that Samantha is always striving for when performing. “Life can be difficult and stressful and it’s so important to have the space to let loose,” she explains.Along with providing entertainment for festivals and large events, Samantha loves to perform and work with many non-profit organizations and volunteer groups. Over the years, she has been the main advocate for Artists for Peace and Justice, which partners with communities in Haiti to create pathways out of poverty by expanding access to education.
COVID-19 has changed our lives one way or another, and for Samantha, these past two years have not been easy. “Lockdown was a difficult challenge for me personally in all sorts of ways. I had heaps of dream gigs on the books for winter/ spring 2020 that just went, poof!”
When the pandemic put a standstill on the entertainment and music industries, artists had to look for other ways to reinvent themselves and keep up with the drastic changes of the world. The loss of opportunities and advancements in Samantha’s career was a major disappointment, as she truly threw herself into her work. Having to stop traveling was also one of the most difficult aspects to get used to in 2020: “Staying put was tricky for a gypsy soul,” she says.
Navigating through the pandemic and quarantine, Samantha spent her days writing, reading, learning to play the bass, as well as taking time out of her busy schedule to spend some much-needed quality time with her family.Samantha’s lifetime passion for music and DJing is what she lives for. She loves to create unique experiences and uses music as a tool to connect with others and bring people together. “It’s a mythical language that transcends the affable and explicable and connects our souls and spirits to the divine. And I’m passionate about creating community, and a sense of togetherness.”
With a genuine and creative spirit, DJing allows Samantha to work in a field where she can just be her authentic self. “In the words of Bob Dylan, ‘All I can do is be me, whoever that is.’ At the end of the day, all you gotta be is true to yourself and live your life with honesty and integrity. That is what’s most important. And when it comes to creativity, authenticity is paramount.”
Going forward, Samantha wants to continue to travel the world, check off her bucket list, and spread her love of music. She has recently started producing her remixes and is excited to see where that takes her in the future. Overall, her main goal is to bring happiness to everyone.
“I hope to continue to be part of creating memorable experiences, the sorts of nights that make us smile, help us escape the fundamental oneness of being, and make us feel connected like we are part of this bigger whole, that we are all in it together.”
To see the works of DJ Samantha Michelle, check out her website and Instagram
