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SAMOH
WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH
WORDS BY RUTH CASEY
Inside the acid charged World of SAMOH’s KNTXT breakout.
The Netherlands has long been a powerhouse in global dance music, shaping some of the most influential artists across every sub genre. SAMOH is one of the newest exports rising from the Dutch underground, carving out a sound that refuses to sit neatly in a box. Drawing from trance, acid and heavy techno, his music captures the energy of a country where rave culture is woven into everyday life.
Recently signed to Charlotte De Witte’s label, he’s quickly proving he’s one to watch with his debut KNTXT EP Changing Worlds which landed on February 26th. We caught up with him ahead of the release to talk standout gigs, label recognition and the creative vision behind the record.
Being a Netherlands-based artist, how has the scene shaped you? Are there rave scenes elsewhere that inspire you?
The Netherlands has a really rich history when it comes to electronic music, especially in the hardcore, trance and techno scene. Growing up, I was very aware of artists like Tiësto and Armin Van Buuren. That old trance era had a big impact on me. Even though my sound evolved into something heavier and more acid-driven, that emotional intensity and melodic tension from trance definitely stayed with me.
At the same time, the Dutch techno scene has also shaped my sound a lot. From going to big Dutch techno festivals like Awakenings, to dancing in a dark club in the middle of the night. Both really influenced how I wanted to make my music and what I want it to do with the crowd. Beyond the Netherlands, I honestly find inspiration everywhere. Germany has its own strong identity, Portugal, Spain and Italy all feel different. South America brings insane energy. In North America techno was born and in Asia, for example in India, you have powerful psytrance festivals with a completely different atmosphere. Every country has its own flavour, and I love taking small elements from different scenes and letting that influence me naturally.
‘Changing Worlds’ is your debut on KNTXT. How were you discovered and what has the process been like?
To be honest, I’m not even 100% sure how it all happened. Years ago, I sent a demo and didn’t hear anything, so I also didn’t know if it arrived, and then a year later I saw Charlotte De Witte playing one of my tracks. That was surreal. The only thing is that I couldn’t really get in touch with her. Messages on SoundCloud and Instagram didn’t send, so nothing really happened for a while. Then almost a year ago, out of nowhere, she messaged me asking if I still had some demos. That moment meant a lot, because it showed she genuinely believed in the music. Releasing on KNTXT is such an amazing opportunity. I am really grateful for being able to let my music be heard by more people. In general, I don’t want to chase labels. I just want to make music that I like and I am so glad KNTXT felt the same about my music.
I saw you recently played Ghent’s Flanders Expo and closed after Charlotte at Lofi in Amsterdam — what did that mean to you?
Playing at Flanders Expo and opening the whole event was insane. I had never even been to a venue that big before, let alone played there. The scale of it, the production, the number of people… it honestly felt like a dream that went by too quickly. It was just so crazy to jam and play live for so many people and warm up the room for some amazing other artists. Closing after Charlotte at Lofi was a completely different kind of experience. If I’m honest, I was probably more nervous for that one. Taking over directly after her is a lot of pressure. I needed to keep the energy in the room and build up from where Charlotte ended her set. It was just really nerve-wracking because my live set works differently from playing and mixing tracks. Usually, I don’t even know what I am going to make. It’s more layered and less focused on huge explosive breakdowns. There’s always that thought in your head: I hope the crowd connects with this too. But it did, and I had an amazing night, and I think everyone else did as well.
Lofi was amazing and had a bit more intimate energy, while Flanders Expo was massive and overwhelming in the best possible way. Both felt incredible in completely different ways.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about releasing on labels? What are the difficulties, and how did you stay motivated?
The best advice is simple: make the music you truly want to make. Don’t chase hype. Don’t suddenly change your sound because a certain trend is popular. Stay close to what you like and what feels natural to you. Of course, send demos. Reach out to labels that genuinely inspire you. Try to connect. You already have a “no”, the only thing you can get is a “yes.” But if no one picks it up, release it yourself. At least it’s out there. The hardest part is the waiting and the silence. You send music and hear nothing. That can be frustrating. But you can always send it to multiple labels. For me, motivation was never really the problem because I genuinely love making music. Every time I’m in the studio, I already have ideas for two more tracks. It’s almost like I can’t stop. I just want to bring the ideas in my head into reality. That drive keeps me going. It motivates me to keep trying to release my music because I want it to see the light of day.
What inspired the new EP? Any specific acid influences?
The EP is really a mix of influences. There’s definitely inspiration from 90s trance, that slightly nostalgic, emotional tension, combined with heavy acid basslines. Besides that, I also get some inspiration of the scales and singing they use in the middle east. I wouldn’t call the EP pure techno or trance. It sits somewhere between techno, trance with acid influences. I like blending those worlds instead of sticking to one box. I was also very focused on creating intense breaks, moments that feel almost chaotic but still controlled. The kind of energy you feel when you’re deep into a party and everything hits at once. I wanted the tracks to really move people physically.
You’re making your Awakenings debut after attending as a raver. How does that feel? What’s next?
The first time I went to Awakenings, I was around 16 or 17, and I even had to use my roommate’s ID to get in. I remember how overwhelming it felt. The production, the artists, the scale of it. Now, almost 10 or 11 years later, I’m playing there myself. That’s honestly crazy to think about. What makes it even more special is that the same friends I partied with back then arenow coming to see me play. That shift, from being in the crowd to being on stage, feels surreal. I feel genuinely blessed to experience that. For the rest of the summer, the focus is simple: making more music, improving the live set, and continuing to grow. I don’t see it as an arrival point. I just want to keep building.
SAMOH ‘Changing Worlds’ is out now on KNTXT. Get it here: https://orcd.co/kntxt032 and stream here.
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