Balancing beats and business: The dual life of Samuel Ferreira da Silva (aka Sam)
As resident DJ at the Oshua Beach Club in Porto, Sammi (as he is known to his friends and fans) spent 14 Sunday afternoons last summer spinning tunes until the early hours. By 9.45 am every Monday, he was back at his desk at the bank, alert and ready to take on his team’s demanding schedule of office moves across the Group. For most, these would be two full time jobs. But most people are not so fervently driven by their passion.
Growing up in a small village outside Porto, the youngest of nine siblings, Sammi was drawn to the mixing decks and extensive vinyl collection of his older brothers. Innately resourceful, by 15 he was playing in the local bar and high school gigs and at 18, he moved to Switzerland in 1998, bringing his musical ambitions with him to the bar scene in the Rive neighbourhood.
Seeking a more stable source of income, Sam (as he is known at the bank) joined his brother Jorge da Silva in the Relocation, Storage and Maintenance team at Pictet in 2005. “I arrived when the Acacias building was mid-construction,” he recalls. The mammoth task of moving 2500 people from Georges Favon to Acacias proved to be foundational. The team became known for their punctuality and efficiency, a testament to the brothers’ rigorous organisation skills and perfectionist work ethic. “Since 2010 when the team came under my responsibility, I’ve hand-picked every member of the team, we are like a family, I trust them implicitly.” Yet as the workday ends, Sam reverts to his music.
His passion for Afro House - defined by electronic rhythms and African voice beats - was ignited by the likes of Black Coffee more than 15 years ago. “I discovered the genre in 2009 at electro festivals and clubs like Djoon in Paris,” he recalls. “I’d go for the sets, then meet up with friends, who would introduce me to the artists and promoters.” Pretty soon, Sammi was the main contact in Europe for artists coming from South Africa. “From there I travelled all over Europe promoting them, performing in clubs, even on yachts.” A self-proclaimed DJ from the ‘old generation’, he built his reputation, connections and seized opportunities where he could. Which is how he came to headline for major artists like Black Coffee and Shimza, that ultimately led to his music career snowballing and him being asked (and accepting!) to play multiple cities in one weekend.
During Covid, Sammi returned to producing tracks, a pastime he hadn't pursued since his school days in Portugal. He teamed up with Chaleee, a DJ and producer from the Netherlands, and their collaborations quickly gained popularity among fans and other DJs. Today, artists actively seek Sammi and Chaleee's music, including The Avener, who reached out on Instagram to request a mix for the 10th anniversary of their infamous song "Fade Out Lines." After three weeks of work, the pair released the track which instantly premiered at the renowned Hï club in Ibiza, and is now featured on Universal and The Avener’s YouTube channel.
Sammi has kept every entry ticket or wrist band to every concert he's ever been to.
Sammi has a studio where he often spends lunchtimes or evenings creating new tracks. He has a SoundCloud account, but his tracks are scarce and hard to find for the uninitiated. He values exclusivity and shares his work only with select DJs in his inner circle. For Sammi, recognition by connoisseurs is what drives him. "I love it when I get tagged on social media in videos of other DJs playing my music," he smiles.
Last year, he declined an invitation to play at the Doha Grand Prix despite them offering “silly money,” preferring smaller, intimate venues where the DJ desk is directly on the dance floor and where “you can feel the energy”. “The only way I can lead both lives is to be organised and have a clean lifestyle, even if I do love a party. I don’t smoke, and I don’t do drugs.”
I said yes to every opportunity to mix. I played 110 dates. The craziest weekend was Lisbon, Toronto and Montreal, with a set in each city.
Like clockwork, Sam is back at work on Monday mornings. “Last year was my first year at 95%* at Pictet. I said yes to every opportunity to mix. I played 110 dates. The craziest weekend was Lisbon, Toronto and Montreal, with a set in each city.” He admits it was a lot. “I’m grateful, my wife is very supportive and shares my love for music. She encourages my musical explorations.” Now that their kids are older, she occasionally joins him for weekend gigs.
When asked about a dream collaboration, Sammi answers that it’s less about who he plays with, “I’ve played with pretty much all my idols. Even Louie Vega. I went to see him in 2001 when he was untouchable. I brought along a vinyl cover for him to sign. 20 years later, we regularly spin together, same with Black Coffee.” Sammi daydreams more about playing in iconic venues. “Hï in Ibiza. Coachella of course. Institutions like Watergate** in Berlin. Although sadly a lot of the traditional house clubs are closing.” Now it’s all about one-off promoter evenings, ultra exclusive, in unique, Instagrammable locations.
Despite being in high demand in his personal life, he would never give up his day job. “I grew up in a big family with traditional values: work hard, earn a steady income, provide for your family and take pride in a job well done.” It is exactly the busy nature of his day job, when everything is aligned, in place, on time and managed to his exacting standards, that brings him the calm and energy he needs to take on his musical ventures beyond work.
With three big moves coming up at the bank, Sammi is already turning down offers for the coming season. “I’ll only play Saturdays and by August I’ll stop travelling altogether. With the Geneva moves starting September, I can’t afford to not bring my A game.”
You may spot him around work, cooly commandeering the next office move. But to really catch him in his element, seek him out on Instagram for upcoming sets: @sammiferrer.