Pure Ivy Radio Episode 5: Sam Walker

It's crazy to think that Episode 5 of Pure Ivy Radio is already upon us - how time flies. Ever since kicking off on Pulse Radio earlier this year with a debut from Alison Wonderland, Pure Ivy Radio has brought us quality mixes from a variety of local and international talent before they hit the decks at to rock crowds at Ivy Club in Sydney.

This time round, they again haven't skimped on the talent, flying in UK DJ Sam Walker, who not only plays across Europe regularly combined with a busy UK national tour schedule, but also holds a prestigious residency with Global Super Club Space, Ibiza with Carl Cox on Tuesdays and Come Together on Thursdays and he has also just recently completed his first International tour taking in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and of course Australia.

Ladies and Gents, we give you Pure Ivy Radio 005: Sam Walker.

Pulse: What kind of music inspired you as a kid growing up? Did your parents influence your tastes at all? Sam Walker: When I was a kid until I was about 10 nothing else mattered except Michael, yes Michael Jackson! He was my hero and to be honest to this day he still is. My Mum loved MJ and they both loved Opera which was interesting and educating so I definitely had some influence from them.

How and when did you get into DJing? When I was about 12 or 13 I started getting curious, I started asking family friends who had decks in their houses what they were and how they used them and I guess from there I got hooked. I then got my first set of decks when I was 14 and since then its been a journey il never forget.

What about production? That came later on; once id achieved more than I ever thought I could as a DJ I knew to take myself to the next level I had to get into production. I got myself and IMAC and Logic Pro and started learning the ropes. I then found an awesome production partner who shared the same drive and dreams as me. Two years later and 15 tracks and remixes later were flying!

What’s your most treasured piece of production equipment and why? I have an IMAC with Logic Pro on and I couldn’t live without it! Software wise the Sylenth plugin is untouchable!

Fill us in on Pukka Up Radio – what’s the idea and ethos behind it? Pukka up Radio is something that I took on in spring 2011. It was started in summer 2010 and was on one station throughout the summer. The guy who was doing it had to give it up for summer 2011 and so I took it on. Now we run the show all year round across 15 stations world wide and this summer its going to be huge. We are going to be running our show through some of the biggest stations in the world and will be hitting millions of people worldwide every week. The idea of the show is to deliver a radio show with a Pukka Up style edge. I bring the tunes, the banter and the content and with a Pukka Up concept spin it makes it unmissable.

You’ve been to Australia before right? Recently for a boat party? Any particular stories from your last trip you can share with us? The boat party in Sydney was amazing. 500 people on a boat, on a hot summers day, going up and down the river under the bridge and seeing the beautiful Sydney harbour is a memory il savour forever. It was a mental party as well and I think Pukka Up is definitely making headway in Australia. The best part of the trip for me though was playing the main room at Ivy that night. I’ve never seen anything like the place. The layout, vibe and just general amazingness was unreal. Definitely the place to play in Australia so 5 stars for that place. I look forward to coming back in 2012!

Will you have any time whilst you’re here this time around to do any touristy stuff like sightsee? When I was there in Sydney in December I had a nice walk around from my friend Grahams apartment who I was staying with in Kings Cross all the way round the whole harbour to the Opera House (which is amazing) and then back up George Street so I saw the whole waterfront last time. Sadly though, apart from the Saturday when we did the boat party the weather wasn’t to good so I didn’t get to go to Bondai Beach so next time that’s the number one thing to do on the list.

Which artists are inspiring you at the moment? Nicky Romero and his big room sound is massive right now I love opening my email to a new promo from him its always top! The Swedes are always smashing it but at the moment I am loving Tommy Trash, he’s remixed a Steve Aoki track recently which is sick!

Can you tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve recorded for Pure Ivy Radio? How did you decide to approach it? Well I thought it would be a good chance to showcase my sound. All of the tracks from the mix are produced by myself and my studio colleague TEEJ. Most of the stuff is unreleased as well so you have some world exclusives there! I hope you like it!

Name three tracks that never leave your record bag/cd case? Sam Walker & Teej – Lifted. This has something about it, it has an uplifting anthemic sound to it that always gets everyone putting there hands up in the air!

Kings Of Tomorrow – Finally (East & Young Mix). This anthem was redone in 2011 and is unreal, it never fails and with that big old school vocal it works a treat. I think I hit Ivy with this in December!

Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (Swedish House Mafia Mix). Another anthemic tune! Coldplay are nothing short of a force and with those 3 Swedish fellas on the remix it’s a future classic!

Name your top three travelling tunes; ones that you love to relax to on the plane, in the airport or in the car. I don’t really have relaxing tunes as when I am on the road I get the MacBook out and bang some ideas together for new production work but I like to listen to Bruno Mars, Tinie Tempah, Usher and Ne-yo (love my RnB on the side hehe) but there is one track that inspires me:

Pryda – Melo. It is what it is a progressive Melo number from the man that is Erick Prydz. This track always touches me and inspires me to make music so I love listening to that when I need some motivation.

Listen to Pure Ivy Radio on Pulse Radio