“The job is focused on putting the expert knowledge of others to use on different societal issues – environmental, economic, cultural, etc. It’s slightly all-consuming at times and a jarring contrast with music, but I enjoy having both in my life.”
Sam has been releasing music under his surname for over a decade now, and twisting knobs on CDJs for much longer. Having turned 40 this year (no shade), he’s well-versed at composing music.
Sam doesn’t shy away from where he’s at in life, telling me he’s actively pulled away from the rampant dance music bubble. The only thing that pulls him back in is gorgeous sounds and performances. “There’s always some record, old or new, that pulls me back in and reminds me of why I got sucked in to begin with, or a certain gig that sustains the flame.”
One show that keeps the flame lit is his residency “Telfort’s Good Place” at iconic spot Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh, which recently hit its 10-year anniversary. Over the decade, Sam has hosted Move D, Cinthie, Matt Karmil, Smallpeople, Lola Haro and hordes more.
What’s cool is Sam went about it his own way from the jump. Before a single track was released, he formed TLFT, his own imprint. A place his music would live and has ever since its formation in 2015.
Instead of shopping his material around, Sam created his own label. The forethought and courage behind this move are cool, especially for someone so green at the time. Sam says it was honestly just naivety that ended up working in his favour. “I took risks I didn’t realise I was taking, so nothing put me off.”
For him, this decision was rooted in longevity and controlling the narrative. What if a label Sam signed to at the time became something he no longer identified with a few years down the line? The idea of making music that lasts feels like a genuine theme running through the project. Take his debut, “In A Good Place”, for example. Although it came out in 2015, it’s hard to pin down a specific calendar date. Music to stand the test of time.
Now, over a decade on, Sam looks back on those decisions fondly. TLFT isn’t what you’d call a prolific label, with just six records to its name, but that doesn’t concern the Scotsman. Instead, he finds comfort in the continuity of the EPs, a throughline.
And, on a lighter note:
