BIOGRAPHY
Back in 1988 Samuel bought his first mixer and a pair of regular turntables. That was his first step into the music business. Mixing everything from hiphop, house and techno he began to explore the phenomenon of mixing. In 1991 he formed a party organization with his friend Max Reich, and started to pull off parties around Gothenburg. During the same time Samuel also started spinning outside his bedroom. When Max got a proper studio in 1995, he felt it was time to take a step further, so he asked Max to teach him the basics about producing. A couple of months after that they formed Solid Beat, a techno label distributed by Neuton. As time went by Samuels skills became more and more polished, so he felt he was ready to move on by himself. Samuel needed to start something of his own.
So, 1997 was the year when the first "Cycle" came out in the shops. Titled "Techno Soul Pt 1", it contained laidback grooves for cool out corners. In the first two years he only released three, but in late spring of 1999 he decided to really have a go on it. And thats when things really took off for Samuel. "In Your Box" became his breakthrough record. Being played by people like Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Umek among others, people out there really started to take notice of him. The following release, "Check Out This I Bring" made him even more shiny as a wider range of jockeys span his wax. The phone started to ring more and more frequently, asking for his services regarding spinning, remixing and releasing. He quickly became a known face at various clubs and events around the world.
Before he put "Cycle" on a break in 2001 to form "SLS", eleven releases had seen the light of day. Now with "SLS" on hand he felt trying out other parts of the spectrum . "New Soil" became the first one, a double pack filled with warm, more melodic grooves. The first track,"Velvet", became a hit on the floors and were soon hailed as a classic. In the same period Samuel got invited to do a remix of "Visions Of You" by Blake Baxter & Trevor Rockcliffe. Already a classic record, he was more then pleased to put his own touch on it. Another big tune he remixed in that time was FunkDvoid´s "Diabla" on Soma. It became a well played mix by many. When "Merengue" came out soon after, it was one of his best sold records ever. Slam and Oliver Ho all contributed to the success as their mixes were more then appreciated.
In 2006 it was time for a big change as Samuel felt he needed another direction and a new challenge in music. "Klap Klap" was born. A Slower, funkier and sometimes deeper sound were formed in the studio. With this totally new approach he reached out to a bit different and wider audience then before. The highpoint on the label is without any doubts "Can You Relate". It was a track with just the right combinations released at the right time that probably made it so big. Dj´s in all kind of camps put their hands on it! So, with this track in his discography
he quickly became a sought after name in a way he wasn´t used to from before. Widespread appeal is the best word to use here as he received offers from unexpected places and people. Slam, Steve Rachmad, Joris Voorn and Martin H has so far been doing successful remixes of it, and it seems like "Can You Relate" will become a true and modern classic.
With this behind him, except for playing, he focused mostly on doing a lot of remixes in the studio. Kevin Saunderson, Jerome Sydenham, Audio Soul Project, Len Faki and Alexi Delano among others, all had their music tweaked and remade by the man. He kept evolving both behind the decks and in the studio, trying to perfect his touch on things. Hot on the heels, Samuel now felt that he was on fire due to all the work and appreciation, so he needed to go one more step further. It was time for an album.
"Be As One" approached him regarding this, and the timing couldn´t have been better. A Deal were done and he started to work on it. By spring 2009 he was finished with it and the result is nothing but excellent. Laurent Garnier, Rolando, Francois Kevorkian, Christian Smith and Adam Beyer are some of the people that already has embraced Samuel´s new work. Watch this spot! It will be out in October 2009.
ALBUM INFO
THE MAN WITH THE CASE Release Oct. 2009
‘The Man With The Case’ is a culmination of two decades of experience from
Swedish old school techno legend Samuel L Session.
The sound of the past often collides with current movements but never has it
sounded so fresh than from Samuel L. Session AKA SLS. His skills and
knowledge from the evolving electronic music scene create a stark and original
album project to remind us what the real sound of techno is.
Sounding as fresh as the early days of the 909, ‘The Man With The Case’ harks
back to the house veins of Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May but in an inspiring
new context, digging into the roots of techno while stamping the SLS classic and
groovy print into each production.
The album opens elegantly with ‘Time’, drifting into a dreamy and evocative
atmosphere glowing with luminosity. Bouncing straight into ‘Chimes’, the B side for
the first EP release earlier this year sinks quickly into rolling grooves and soars
with radiant melodies.
The tempo is raised with burning dancefloor cuts ‘Tronic’, ‘My People’ and Big Bad
Drum’, the classic bomb released earlier this summer on Be As One, and simmers
with the smouldering embers of the warmth of house music in ‘Lucious’ and ‘Past
and Present’. Menacing flares and bold snares make ‘The Soloist’ shake the skull
and the closing moments in ‘Tight Stack’ and ‘Pulse’ offer a chance for reflection
and new insight.
Samuel L. Session’s career began in the late eighties when mixing hip hop and
early forms of techno and house in his home of Sweden. His SLS guise soon
became synonymous with groovy techno through a string of high profile releases
on labels such Planet E, Soma and Intec and remixes for techno veterans such as
Slam and Kevin Saunderson. SLS also founded a string of his own successful
imprints, Solid Beat, Cycle and Klap Klap, each making a significant mark on the
landscape of techno.
Now a main player in the Be As One family, ‘The Man With The Case’ gives way
to a new dawn in electronic music, while still keeping the spirit of it’s origins alive.
Tracklisting
- Time
- Chimes
- Tronic
- Lucious
- Past and present
- My People
- The Soloist
- Big Bad Drum
- Clear As Day
- Sections
- Tight Stack
- Pulse
