"It’s been everything I had dreamed of and more. Simon has been my mentor for the duration and his knowledge and guidance has helped me carve a succesful career."
Sam joins Defected, 2008
In 2008, Sam was offered a job by Chief A&R head Aaron Ross and moved from Bristol to London shortly after completing her first season in Ibiza. She was asked to service all the DJs on the island with Defected singles and samplers and then report back to A&R with the tracks were going down the best.
Events Managing in Ibiza, 2009
In 2009, she was offered the events manager role, she said; "I remember Simon calling me to the office. We took a cab ride across town for lunch, not your usual job interviews to be asked to manager Defected in Ibiza in the back of a black cab."
"The job was very challenging and completely out of my comfort zone but it taught me a lot on how to communicate with agents, the logistics side of booking travel and putting it all together for the artists. I got to know my heros really well that summer. Kenny Dope, DJ Spen, Sandy Rivera, ATFC, Junior Jack & Kid Crème to name a few became my good friends."
First time playing for Defected, 2009
Alongside hosting the Defected Radio Show on Ibiza Global Radio and looking after the artists, 2009 marked Sam's very first time playing for Defected - warming up for DJ Spen at Ibiza's renowned Café Mambo.
Defected at Pacha in Ibiza, 2009
In 2009, Sam was billed in as the warm-up artist before Bob Sinclar, marking a very memorable first ever Defected club show. She recalled the night; “I remember all my mates flew out for it and they took over the dance floor. Later that year, Simon asked me to fly back to London to play Ministry Of Sound to warm up the 103. I remember playing Kings Of Tomorrow’s ‘Finally’ and getting up on the decks - this was a regular thing. When I jumped down off the decks, Simon was stood in eye view but never said a thing to me. On the Monday after Ministry he called me and offered me a trial on the DKJ Agency”.
Defected Radio Show, 2009 - present
In her work with the Defected Radio Show, Sam found her feet as a presenter which opened opportunities to interview all the artists at Café Mambo before the main show at Pacha. She said; "I love it how I can connect with people all over the world and I love it even more that at every show wherever in the world I am people take the time to say how much they love it. It really does mean a lot to me."
First festival - We Are FSTVL, 2013
"I was playing the second set at 2-4pm and there was about 10 people in the tent. I had dropped a ‘Sam Divine – We Are FSTVL Pre & After Party Mixes' on the Friday night in a bid to entice people to come early to see me play. The mix went viral and the tent was 1 in 1 out by 2.30pm. I have to be honest, it was one of the best sets I have ever played. The stars aligned and after that show I felt fully part of the London scene."
Since Sam's debut in Ibiza, she now headlines around the world, bringing her hard earnt Defected journey to a full circle. She continued; "Simon will never give you an easy ride that’s for sure but you will always be rewarded."
'Confessions', 2014
In the production of ‘Confessions’, Sam’s first single on Defected, she teamed up with Curtis Gabriel. The track featured on the Sam Divine In The House compilation and went on to reach #1 on Traxsource and Beatport as well as the ITH album landing #1 in the Dance Album chart. She said; “It actually took two years to come out from start to finish, tweaking it, changing the vocalist and then managing to tie her down in Amsterdam for a vocal session on her European tour from Australia. I lived it with it for a long time before I was completely happy and I’m really grateful I was patient and that Simon kept pushing till we got it the best it was going to be.”
DVINE Sounds, 2014 - present
In March 2014, in conversation with her manager Sam Holt, Sam expressed that she had found Sheffield-born Curtis Gabriel and was confused as to why he had not yet been signed. Sam Holt suggested she started her own label to pick up these kinds of records herself and the venture kicked off alongside best friend Kamila and Jess with a free download of Curtis’ ‘Always Right There’. The label’s first official release ‘If You Can’, also a Curtis production, the track lifted to #1 on Tracksource. The success continued and DVINE Sounds celebrated its 3rd birthday with a triumphant DJ Mag Live Stream. Sam said; “The best thing about running my own label is giving up and coming talent a platform that they may not normally get. I love sourcing raw talent.”
Defected Ibiza 2018
“Simon has mixed the Ibiza comp for as long as I can remember. Even before I was signed to Defected I collected the compilations for Most Rated Ibiza, Miami and Amsterdam to all the House Masters series. It was a great honor to be asked to mix this year’s comp and a perfect way to celebrate my 10-year anniversary. There’s lots of tracks on the compilation that we have supported on the show so it’s a great way to bring it all home.”
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