SAM SHI is a Los Angeles-based vocalist and producer whose path to the dancefloor ran through physics, tech, and a 200-hour yoga teacher training. Now releasing on two of dance music’s most respected labels within months of each other, she appears on Anjunadeep Explorations with ‘Aside’ and on Crosstown Rebels with ‘What U Said,’ a collaboration with Enamour that arrives alongside a remix from Bonafique. We caught up with her to talk about embodiment, collaboration, and what it feels like when a room finally catches up to the music.
WWD: ‘Aside’ was built around the emotional arc of a relationship, and ‘What U Said’ lands in that same territory of tension and chemistry. Do you find yourself writing from a specific moment or feeling, or are you working toward a sensation you want the listener to have?
It depends. During both of these collabs, I took on the role of a mirror, embodying the emotions of the collaborator. I encourage myself to stay open and curious, asking questions about things like tone and delivery. I often find myself asking “What are we really trying to say?” or “What is this actually about?” And then, I’ll think of a personal experience that I’ve had where I relate to the feeling to evoke the emotion in my vocal delivery. Interestingly, both of these collabs started a few years ago and took their time to surface. There is variety in my process.
When I write alone, there is usually a very specific moment in time that triggers the songwriting process. Working toward a sensation that I want the listener to have usually comes through more in the production I’d say. I have been working on a new solo record for several months now with multiple iterations, and each version truly evokes a different sensation. One of the reasons I love collaborating with Enamour is because he is skilled at identifying a specific sensation and orienting the whole production around that, even down to his guidance on my vocal delivery when we’re recording. I have a wide range and a lot of variety in my taste and vocal timbre, so collaborating with peers who have a specific vision feels very rewarding for me.
WWD: The Anjunadeep tracks on the EP sit at opposite ends of the same story, one open and optimistic, one hypnotic and uneasy. ‘What U Said’ feels like a third thing entirely, more charged and playful. How do you know which emotional register a collaboration is going to live in before it’s finished?
Interesting question! This isn’t something I necessarily know beforehand. I flow with my collaborators and with the spirit of the song. Some songs are more playful and charged. Some are light and ethereal. Some are confrontational and powerful. I try not to force myself into one emotional register when I sing. That said, this chameleon-inspired approach is both a strength and a weakness. I honor the message, and sometimes I lose myself, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because through all those moments that I’ve felt lost, I’ve also reflected and integrated on why that is, which ironically brings me back to myself and elevates my own self-intimacy.
WWD: You’ve now released on Anjunadeep Explorations and Crosstown Rebels within months of each other. Those are two distinct audiences and two distinct dancefloor cultures. Are you thinking about that difference when you’re in the room making the music, or does that come later?
When I was working on these two specific records, I was not thinking about this difference. I absolutely love this question though because it is something I’ve been thinking much more about lately. I have tried on a lot of different dancefloor cultures in the past ~6 years of my life and it’s been a fun, beautiful, and messy exploration. Currently, I am excited about the sonic signature that Crosstown Rebels delivers on and am working on some new demos that I’m excited to share.
WWD: ‘Aside’ has an openness to it, emotionally immediate and built around the brightness of the vocal. ‘What U Said’ creates a different kind of tension, more physical, more charged. As a vocalist, how differently do you approach a track that wants to lift versus one that wants to pull?
I embody the emotion and vibe. When I’m in the studio recording, I like to take my time with cleansing the pre-existing energy of the room. Taking the time to set the vibe can change the entire outcome of the song. If someone simply DMs me asking to collab without introducing themselves or taking even just a few minutes to get to know me, it’s an orange flag. I’ve been in situations before where I’ve explored a collaboration where we did not take the time to get to know each other and it didn’t go that smoothly and we didn’t end up doing anything with the song. While I don’t regret that, and it was an experience to learn from, I have since refined my collaborative method. I want to collaborate with people who I enjoy spending time with because if I am to embody an emotion – oftentimes a vulnerable one – then I want to feel safe in the space and in the collaborative dynamic. Embodiment is a north star in my life. My ability to embody various emotions on demand comes from integrating lessons from my lived experiences. This is why I prioritize gathering inputs – going out, learning something new, traveling, etc. – just as much as outputs.
In terms of embodying emotions in the studio, here are a few prompts that I find helpful: When did you last feel this way? Where were you? Who were you with? What were the bodily sensations? Were you nervous? Calm? Excited? Did you have butterflies in your stomach? How confident were you? Were there others around? Was it quiet or loud? What environment were you in? All of these prompts help me drop in.
I also always record standing up. If I want to dance, stretch, or move around, I just go for it. Whatever helps me drop into my body which then helps my vocal delivery.
WWD: You came to music after studying physics and interactive media, working in tech, and completing your 200-hour yoga teacher training. When you watch a room respond to one of these tracks, does that feel like something you understand scientifically, or does it still catch you off guard?
Yes! I absolutely do understand this scientifically. The way I build my sets is rooted in my understanding of how energy flows. Rarely do crowds catch me off guard. And if they do, I view it either as a pleasant surprise or as a fun challenge. Whenever I am on stage, there is like a switch that flips and I drop fully into my stage presence. The only thing that matters is to put on a great show and to connect with the people around me. I am so in the flow that I almost black out. I find myself to be more charismatic and witty when I’m on stage. Like I can be so weird and awkward when I’m not on stage. But then I go on and something changes. Instinct takes over & I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.
WWD: Two releases across two major labels in a short stretch. What does this period actually feel like from the inside?
Exciting! It feels like sparks in my chest. A bit surreal, but also like wow – finally! As if I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while. I am working on a lot of new music and can’t wait to refine the productions and share my new songs with the world. I would love to release with Maccabi House and Experts Only in the near future.
‘What U Said’ is available here