Sam Shelley

Sam Shelley is a London-based DJ and remixer with a passion for Soul, Funk, Jazz-Funk, Brit Funk, Rare Groove, Disco and Boogie, music that has been part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Growing up, Sam was surrounded by the sounds his parents played at home and on countless car journeys. His mum brought the Disco, while his late dad introduced him to Funk and Jazz-Funk, with both sharing a love of Soul.

His dad’s record collection included artists such as Donald Byrd and Curtis Mayfield, while his mum was a true Disco girl during the genre’s late-’70s heyday, regularly visiting London’s nightspots. She even made it to New York’s legendary Studio 54, a story Sam never gets tired of telling!

That musical upbringing helped shape Sam’s own tastes. Among his favourite artists are Chic, Earth, Wind & Fire and Donald Byrd, with Nile Rodgers remaining one of his biggest musical heroes. Sam is also delighted to see the continuing revival and rediscovery of the incredible dance music created during the 1970s and ’80s.

Determined to develop his own skills behind the decks, Sam completed a DJ summer course at Point Blank in East London in 2011, followed around two years later by further DJ training at London Sound Academy in Camden.

After leaving school in 2013, he took his passion for music a step further, enrolling at the London School of Sound in Clapham Common, where he studied Music Production and Sound Engineering.

Since then, Sam has DJed at an impressive range of venues across London, including Soho House Greek Street, Soho House Dean Street, White City House, Ministry of Sound, Egg, Lightbox, The Scotch of St James, The Looking Glass Cocktail Club, Folklore and Proud.

His music has also taken him beyond London. During the summer of 2017, Sam played in Ibiza, and he has appeared for three consecutive years at Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).

Radio became another natural outlet for his passion when Sam landed his first regular broadcasting role, presenting a weekly Sunday show on NDC Radio.

Whether he’s behind the decks, remixing, producing, discovering records or simply listening, one thing quickly becomes obvious:

Sam lives, eats and sleeps music.

Drive Time - Monday, 5:00pm–7:00pm

Whole Lotta Soul - Thursday, 7:00pm–9:00pm

Or, to borrow the title of Patti LaBelle’s 1979 classic: “Music Is My Way of Life.”