Samantha Loveridge has made a significant impact on the music industry through her innovative productions and performances. Her DJ sets and productions blend Middle Eastern and Afro sounds, drawing inspiration from diverse musical styles to create a distinct sonic landscape.
Photo credit: Samantha Loveridge – Official
Samantha’s cover of R.E.M.’s ‘Losing My Religion’ with Treetalk gained widespread acclaim, while her track ‘The Pusher’ featured on Innervisions’ Secret Weapons series, demonstrating her global appeal.
Her collaboration with vocalist Lizwi on Get Physical Music further showcases her genre-melding prowess. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit, Samantha manages two record labels, Inward Records for Afro and Organic sounds, and Tortuga Tribes for Caribbean House.
Known for her exceptional crowd synergy and technical skills, Samantha delivers a mix of deep, Afro, and melodic sounds. Her performances have earned her spots at major events in Australia and internationally—including the Burning Man festival and gigs in Morocco.
EG sat down with Samantha to discuss her creative process, latest releases, and future projects. In this exclusive interview, we explore her recent European tour experiences, the story behind her hit track ‘Losing My Religion,’ her thoughts on AI in music production, and her upcoming performances in Sydney and beyond.
EG: Hi, Samantha! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Samantha Loveridge: Hey EG! It’s a pleasure to be involved, thank you for having me! I’ve been doing well thank you, a few ups and doing production-wise this year in terms of writer’s block but I think I’m through the other side now and enjoying making music again. I’m currently in Sydney which is where I am based.
EG: How is your summer going so far? Any particular highlights? What has your first tour in Europe been like?
Samantha Loveridge: My summer has been epic so far! Especially since it’s winter in Sydney, and I’ve missed the coldest months. It’s been really nice to go back home to the UK, see my friends and family, and use that as a base while touring in Europe. It’s been a much-needed change in routine and somewhat of a break.
My tour has been amazing! I’ve found myself feeling so grateful to explore different cities, dancefloors, and connect with people in person. A highlight for me was Off Sónar in Barcelona, where I met so many artists I’d only spoken with on social media, so it was great to spend time with them in person. Playing at La Cabane des Amis in Marseille, France, felt like a movie and a real pinch-me moment. One of those sets where everything just clicked. Another standout was my first-ever five-hour set (publicly) for SASS in Vienna, Austria, which was such an exciting challenge. These are two places I’m hoping to return to next year, along with a few more.
EG: How do the vibes compare or differ from the scene in Australia?
Samantha Loveridge: The scene in Australia differs by state. For example, in Melbourne, you can start dancing on Friday and have somewhere to go non-stop until Monday. In Sydney, that’s not so much the case. Many venues close at 3 am, and the previous lock-out laws which required you to be at your final destination by 1 am, along with COVID, really hurt the scene. Not forgetting it gets really hot here during summer. The heat plus the Government’s strict festival act introduced in 2019 makes it difficult for them to continue running successfully. It’s also challenging because Australia is so far away! Bringing international artists here isn’t just a one-gig trip, it requires a lot of planning. However, we have a bunch of brands working hard round the clock, giving it their all, and doing a great job of offering people a range of parties and artists on a regular basis.
In Europe, there are so many big names playing everywhere all the time. You’re spoilt for choice! I found myself leaving for the club at around 1am, and the parties would go on much later. I kept thinking, “Oh yeah, I’m in Europe!” Also, summer is the season of open airs which are a total vibe. Each country I visited offered its own experience and was a learning curve. I often found myself digging through my USBs to find something that suited them and their scene whilst putting my own spin on it – Pun intended.
EG: And are there any imminent plans to hit the USA?
Samantha Loveridge: Imminent plans, not so much, but plans, yes. I’ve had quite a bit of interest from parties and clubs wanting to book me in the USA, but I don’t have my artist visa for that Country just yet. It’s something I’m aiming to apply for in the next few months, with the hope of playing there for the first time in 2025. I’d love to do a tour! The interest is there, it’s just a matter of piecing it all together once I have my visa, which takes a bit of work and time to make happen. It will be worth the wait!
“For any artist, releasing on a label like Innervisions is a real pinch-me moment, one of those bucket list music goals”
EG: By the way, ‘Losing My Religion’ is a global hit, congratulations! Can you tell us about the process behind this track and its success?
Samantha Loveridge: Thank you! This track has exceeded my expectations and has been a game-changer for me. It was originally meant to be a free download! I had never made an edit or bootleg before, but after hearing one using London Grammar ‘Wasting My Younger Years,’ I was inspired to give it a try.
One night, I randomly started singing a phrase from ‘Losing My Religion’ in the shower so I decided to experiment! Once finished, I sent it out on promo, and it gained heavy support from major artists like Black Coffee, Carlita, Jimi Jules, Keinemusik, MoBlack, and Rufus Du Sol, which made the track highly sought after. I struggled to get it signed due to the obvious original vocal, but a friend managed to get in touch with Get Physical Music. They were willing to go the extra mile to make it happen and had a relationship with a vocalist, TreeTalk, who was perfect for re-singing the vocal. They also managed clearance on publishing which allowed us to officially release it, and the rest is history!
It was an unintentionally clever vocal choice at a time when edits and bootlegs weren’t as popular as they are now.
EG: Not only that but before the end of the year, you also landed on Innervisions with ‘The Pusher’. How did this one come about? What does it mean for your career to release on a label as important as Innervisions?
Samantha Loveridge: It was actually off the back of ‘Losing My Religion’ that this opportunity came about. Jimi Jules posted a video of his B2B with Black Coffee at Hï Ibiza, and my track was playing in the background. My friend tagged me in it, so I slid into Jimi’s DMs asking if he’d like a copy. He replied “yes” and soon he was playing it everywhere too.
Innervisions is my number one label, and I made ‘The Pusher’ with them in mind. Once it was finished, I sent it to Jimi to see if it was in the right ballpark. Before I knew it, he’d sent it to them, and they liked it! For any artist, releasing on a label like Innervisions is a real pinch-me moment, one of those bucket list music goals. It’s really hard to get big labels to listen to demos because they’re so busy, I can’t even imagine how many they receive. So, it means a lot to me personally and to my career to hold that achievement, both in terms of recognition in the scene and booking opportunities.
EG: Since we’re on the releases front…is there anything you can anticipate release-wise in the near future?
Samantha Loveridge: There are a few things in the works, yes! I’ve just finished a collaboration with Kali Maji, which will be coming out on Get Physical. I’ve also signed one of three tracks I made with my friend and mentor, FOTN, to a label I can’t reveal just yet, but it will be accompanied by a huge remix from the label owners, which we’re really excited about!
Additionally, I’ve secured a release with a highly reputable label and am currently working on the B-side as we speak. I’m sitting on a handful of tracks that I’m currently testing out, and I plan to send them out as demos soon in hope of releasing them.
EG: Now, on to one of those hot current subjects…What’s your stance on AI? Do you see it driving the scene forward or is this one of those innovations that just take us backwards? Has any form of AI been applied in your recent productions?
Samantha Loveridge: Ahhhh, AI! Honestly, I think it’s both a help and a hindrance. If it’s being used to create a track from scratch, essentially acting as a ghost producer, then I feel it’s a negative innovation for the music scene. With technology, it seems like anyone and everyone can be a DJ these days, but production is a different ball game. I hope there’s a way for labels to filter out tracks made with AI, otherwise, it’s very discouraging for those who put in the time and effort.
That said, AI can be helpful, particularly when it comes to spoken word for vocals. I’ve used it myself in ‘The Pusher’ and still use it this way. You can type in exactly what you want it to say, and in what kind of voice, and it does, which is very useful for producers who need something quick but don’t like the sound of their own voice! However, getting AI to sing isn’t quite the same, so it doesn’t replace vocalists.
I feel like AI should be used for admin tasks that take time away from smaller artists who don’t have a team around them. This way, it would free up more time for them to focus on making music.
“With technology, it seems like anyone and everyone can be a DJ these days, but production is a different ball game”
EG: Finally, what can we expect from Samantha Loveridge in the next few months? Where can your fans catch you playing live?
Samantha Loveridge: Summer is around the corner here in Sydney, so it’s dance-dance-dance! A few things that are confirmed so far include Rêve at Tiva Lounge, and I’m also playing alongside Adam Ten for The Fan Club Collective at Civic Underground – This will be a big one for Sydney! I have The Ivy Pool with Return to Rio, which I’m excited about because I’ve never played there before, plus their Day of the Dead festival.
I’m also heading to Melbourne a few times this year for some huge gigs I can’t share just yet, plus my debut in Byron Bay. And I’ve just had confirmation for a festival that’s been on my goals list since moving here, so I’m very much looking forward to that!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Samantha! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Samantha Loveridge: Thank you for the chat EG! You too!!
Samantha Loveridge’s ‘The Pusher’ is now available via Innervisions. Stream and download here.
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