Luka Sambe’s music has always been influenced by the peaks and troughs of his life and driven by emotion and energy. He believes the subtleties in progressive house allow relentless walls of percussion to guide the melody along rewarding journeys which he demonstrates in his music.
If you’re not paying attention, Luka Sambe’s penchant towards thoughtful and sincere productions might sound familiar at first. However, listen carefully, and you will realise what sets him apart is his impressive ability to engineer otherworldly sounds that feel organic at the same time.
We had the chance to talk with the Australian producer. Enjoy the read!
WWD: Hey Luka, welcome! Thanks for your time. Let’s get started with a little bit of your background. Who is Luka Sambe?
Hey guys, thanks so much for having me. Luka Sambe is from Sydney, Australia and is the alter ego of Michael Arcuri, born out of pure necessity to release a creative energy that bubbles constantly. I have a deep appreciation for thought provoking and emotionally educational art and I think that music makes me feel things that language cannot describe.
WWD: Did you always know you wanted to create music?
I didn’t know I always wanted to create music. I’m an extremely curious person, so as I became exposed to sounds and different feelings that were the result of songs listened to in certain environments, I naturally grew quite motivated to explore this with no boundaries. Ableton allowed that, it’s impossible to imagine life without it now.
WWD: For anyone not familiar with your music, how would you describe your individual styles? Can you put your finger on the elements of your music that make it so distinctive?
I think my music is a constant dance between chuggy and really electronic progressive house, which I love, and the beautiful melodic and organic house, which I also adore. Different moods create varying pieces – the key for me is honesty in the studio.
WWD: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from my life: the feelings I feel, the food I eat, the people I meet, the books I read… Most themes are deeply emotional, especially when I’m thinking about the people closest to me, my partner and my rabbit, Michelin.
WWD: Congratulations on your ‘Alive Is The Meaning’ release on Meanwhile Recordings! How does the creative process work when you’re making music?
Thank you. Most of my tracks are born on a Saturday morning between 4:30am and 10:30am. That is when my creativity is exploding. I can’t sleep in because I am so excited to get in the studio. Black coffee in hand and a huge desire to create, Ableton allows me to play with some melodies/chord progressions and build around that.
WWD: Since life is on pause in so many ways at the moment and we have some time to reflect – what has been some of your highlights this far in your career?
Highlights for me release wise would have to be Lost & Found and Armadillo. Apart from that, getting the support of respected artists off something that you have created is always very exciting and encouraging. I think the most memorable thing for me is just being in the studio – nothing compares to the feeling of creating. Filter Bear and I have had some of the most amazing days and nights together in the studio and, for me, that’s what it is about. I would still be doing this even if I could never release music again.
WWD: Time to dream – if you could play anywhere in the world, where would that be?
It would probably be for my friends, family and partner, in my garage, with a BBQ sizzling in the background on a beautiful, late spring afternoon in Sydney.
WWD: Do you have any tips for aspiring producers and DJs?
Honesty, inside and outside the studio. It really will set you free. The way you portray yourself through music and the way that you present yourself online to your fans and the wider community has to be truthful. I think we get so caught up in getting the most exposure possible that we forget who we are and what it means to be privileged enough to create.
WWD: Name 3 of your favourite Australian electronic artists right now? Why?
NuKreative, Double Touch, GMJ & Matter, Jamie Stevens… I could go on! 3 is cruel ha-ha, Australia is bursting with flavour! Why? Because they are making music that matters to me, but more importantly, they are all great people that constantly inspire me.
WWD: What else can we expect from you in 2020?
October is coming to an end, so not a whole lot… I have a really electronic progressive EP coming soon on Kasey Taylor’s Vapour Recordings and a nice EP on When We Dip XYZ. My first studio album of entirely experimental down tempo is complete and will be here in 2021, plus a bunch of new EPs on labels I’ve not released on yet, which is so exciting! Lots to come, patience is not my strong point.
Out Now: Luka Sambe – Alive Is The Meaning (Meanwhile Recordings) MW005
Buy on Beatport HERE.