Sampology Details

Defying expectation and breaking genre boundaries, Australian artist Sampology is a pioneer of performance, blending a musical and visual experience to become what many consider Australia’s leading Audio Visual DJ. His live AVDJ performances have earned praise from The New York Times and The Independent while his creatively effervescent, almost rugged technique and cheeky, irreverent sense of humour have caught the attention of artists like Peaches, Sinden and AC Slater. With influences ranging from the Beastie Boys to Bruce Willis, Sampology AV shows, DJ sets, mixes and original productions are unexpected and always ready to entertain.

Born Sam Poggioli in Brisbane, Australia, where he’s currently based, Sam’s early entry into DJing started at home at age 15, around the time The Avalanches released their legendary album Since I Left You. While Sam had that album on repeat for about a year, he began learning his way around a set of turntables. His cousins, musicians themselves, were giving him occasional lessons in audio software Logic, and even invited him on tour with their band including their slot at Big Day Out in 2002. However, by 2008 Sam had gone from DJing, turntable scratching and sampling to incorporating video mixing into his performances, becoming a full-fledged Audio Visual DJ.

In recent years, Sam has transitioned from being a AVDJ/performer to being a producer as well. In 2011, Sam released the Super Sounds EP, following it up in 2012 with a full length Sampology album, Doomsday Deluxe. Sam’s vast mental musical reference library that you hear in his DJ sets (where he can go from Jamie Lidell to Toro y Moi to a Justin Martin remix of an Uz track in a matter of beats) also shows up in his own productions, which blend elements of hip-hop with electronic music.

Sam’s offbeat humour and standout personality, showcased prominently in Sampology originals as well as his remix videos (sometimes of artists like Major Lazer and Beyoncé), caught the attention of Australian entertainment icons Chris Lilley (Summer Heights High, Angry Boys) and The Wiggles both of whom commissioned Sam for official remix work. Most recently, DJ Butcher tapped Sampology for a collaboration with Grammy Award-winning reggae star Beenie Man on their single, “Dancehall Queen.”

Sam’s unique approach to a mixed media live performance has made him a popular performer at creative festivals around the globe - from Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Splendour In The Grass to SXSW and Tropfest, not to mention the Big Day Out tour in 2013.

In the studio, Sam primarily uses Sony Vegas for his video work while still using Logic, Ableton and Maschine for audio. Sam admits to having a synth obsession, with 7 and counting to his name (he’s partial to his Oberheim Matrix 1000 and a Moog Little Phatty).

Watching Sampology’s career is a lot like listening to one of his DJ sets: you can’t predict what’s coming next, but you know it’s going to be good.