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Sam Popat follows in the fusion footsteps of Claude Challe and Jose Padilla, combining everything from Celtic to Arabic rhythms in his atmospheric soundscapes.

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City Times spoke with the DJ and creator of the Little Buddha compilation series

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I have a very multicultural background. I’m originally Indian, born in Madagascar and raised in Canada and Paris.

How would you personally describe your style of music?

My style is a mix of world music and electronica, which we call fusion, and it goes from chillout to progressive and ‘ethno-tronica’.

How did you settle on this sound?

I didn’t really choose this style, it came to me. I just felt it in me and realised this was my style.

What or who has been your biggest musical inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is (DJ and Buddha Bar founder) Claude Challe of course, he made me realise we could put all this music together and travel through music.

What do you love the most about music?

Music is a print in your head that brings out a memory, a picture, a situation and most importantly an emotion. That’s what I like to give with my music.

What are you hoping your fans will get out of listening to your music? Are there any particular emotions you hope to convey or invoke?

Not in particular. I want people to express their emotions, but all I want to make music that travels around the world.

What originally made you want to pursue a career as a DJ?

I was not meant to be a DJ. I studied as an electronic engineer, and as my last project I helped a friend who was a DJ to build all his DJing equipment. I obviously had to go out into the field to see if everything was working properly and was really surprised to see all that joy my friend was bringing to people. I said to myself, “This is what I want”.

How do you choose which songs you want to incorporate in each Little Buddha compilation?

I go with my own emotions and feelings. I listen to 100 tracks and keep one or two, so to get 30 tracks you can imagine how hard it is.

Any advice for those also hoping to become professional DJs?

Play what you like and try to be different. Being unique is the only way you can succeed.

What has been the biggest moment in your music career so far?

I thank God every day for giving me the chance to do what I like the most. Any moment I’m DJing or producing music is the biggest for me.