International DJ, Sam Hall, better known as Goldierocks spends her time invading festivals and DJing sought after events all over the world. Not content with just that, she is also a theatrical performer, TV/Radio Broadcaster and all ‘round lovely lass.
Her passion and bubbly demeanour
has helped her gain a global audience via. her weekly radio show, Selector. She’s
DJ’d the Paralympics, saved Wakestock 2007 and has a love for fancy dress, to
name just a few of the things Sam gets up to. Goldierocks is also a presenter
for new pop-culture fashion channel, FASH#TAG, part of YouTube’s UK
original channels initative and has designed the soundtrack for the entire
series.
If you’ve not had the pleasure
of listening to a show, jumping around to a live set or meeting Sam, fear not.
A few weeks back I caught up with Sam when she was sunning herself in
Australia, whilst I was, umh possibly tucked under a huge duvet shivering to
death. None the less, thanks to Sam for taking the time out to speak to me and
without further ado, here’s our interview.
Daisy Digital: First
off, you're a global DJ, broadcaster, and presenter. Do you ever get a chance
to sit still? Did have have any relaxing time off over the festive period?
Goldierocks: I
actually spent Christmas over in Australia this year. My boyfriend is from
Syndey, so I had my second ever hot Christmas which was surreal but lovely to
spend it with a big gaggle. We surfed, ate salads and drank a lot of very good
wine. I’ve spent most of January travelling round with Scott (he’s a
professional wakeboarder), supporting him on photoshoots around the country, which
has been a lot of fun. Lots of travelling through the bush to secret beaches
and spectaular unspoilt lakes. I’m writing this from Lake Eildon as featured on
cult Aussy film ‘The Castle’ which is much nicer than they’d have you believe.
It’s been the first time I’ve had a chance to catch my breath over the last
year and it's really enabled me to get creative again.
DD: ES magazine
have been quoted saying you could be 'the most influential woman in pop'. How
do you think you've earnt that title?
G: Well that’s
very flattering, but you can only take press comments lightly, whether they’re
good or bad. You just have to have focus and have faith in what you’re doing.
Know your own truth. However I hope that I continually strive to break new
bands, trying to find something different, something fresh, something that
makes you feel. I think my weekly global radio show The Selector does that, and
I hope the live shows shake up the clubbing landscape somewhat too.
DD: Your
'unique blend of festival chic, bassy remixes and wonky electro' has allowed
you to tour extensively, at many venues across the world, what's been your most
memorable gig to date?
G: I DJ’d a
secret backstage party at Glastonbury, years ago supporting the Chemical
Brothers. It was a tiny VIP party but it went wild with Kate Moss and Keira
Knightley rocking out. I got booked for the MTV European Music Video Awards the
week after and did my first international show in Lisbon with Justin Timberlake
body popping in front of my decks.
DD: Wow, that’ll
be one to tell the grandchildren! What was it like DJ-ing for the Paralympics
Opening Ceremony this Summer in front of 85,000 people?
G: Probably the
most intense experience of my life. Performing in that vast a space, on such a
historic momentous occasion, representing my country - it was phenomenal. The
roar of the crowd was such that it made my hair blow back like a wind machine.
I would love to do an arena tour this year- supporting a band across America.
DD: A little
throwback now, as a regular visitor to Wakestock Festival, tell me how you and
Mark Ronson survived 2007 and the crowd? (For anyone who doesn't know, describe
the scene, the year it was cancelled)
G: It was like a
war! Record breaking floods swept through the North of England and Wales and
the land was just sodden mud pits that blocked all roads to Abersoch. I’d
arrived by the train the night prior but pretty much every single tour bus got
stuck. I went on early and ended up DJing for about 7 hours non-stop while we
waited for different bands to hopefully arrive. I explained to the crowd that
there were 2 ways this could go; they could start throwing stuff at me (literally
the only artist on site) or we could just all go with it and have a good time,
and they went wild. 12,000 people rocking out in a crammed tent hiding from the
rain. It was incredible.
DD: Known for
your stage diving, climbing decks and crowd surfing, tell us how on earth you
ended up in a wheelchair? And is crutch dancing as fun as it looks?
G: No it’s not
fun at all. My spine was out of balance and my hands swollen for months after I
was off the crutches. I went crowd surfing at the end of my set at Isle of
Wight festival in 2011 (first festival of the season) and badly damaged my knee
on the crowd barrier. It was so bad I couldn’t walk for the rest of the summer,
but didn’t want to cancel all my shows so proceeded to trek around the country
in a wheelchair. Djing sitting down, hobbling from one muddy field to another.
It was a brilliant insight into a disabled person’s experience of a festival.
Disabled access at music events needs to be greatly improved in the UK.
DD: What a
trooper! What is it like running a weekly radio show and filling in at BBC
Radio 1?
G: It's a lot of
work, but also a lot of fun and extremely rewarding. My weekly radio show The
Selector is a 2 hour, completely cross genre new music show featuring live
sessions, DJ sets and interviews. We’ve won a number of global broadcasting
awards and tripled our audience in 3 years (now broadcast in 37 countries
around the world- from Mexico to Israel, Syria to China, Kazakhstan to
Thailand). I love working with the BBC also. There’s some very exciting radio
projects coming in 2013.
DD: And finally,
what should we expect in 2013 and have you any New Year Resolutions?
G: Lots of very exciting media projects and the DJ show is just
going to another level… expect a BIG stage show. I’m looking back to my theatre
roots and getting creative. My resolutions? To go with the flow more and to
have more of a life/work balance. Be healthy, be happy and just be as truly
creative as possible.
Thanks Sam!
Be sure to keep up to date with Goldierocks via. Selector and
FASHTAG, the on point fashion and beauty channel, subscribe here.
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