Floating Points: 'I Think Everyone Can DJ'

The English electronic musician on how DJing is more about art than technique, his song writing process, traveling to India for a record, and more.

- Kenneth Lobo

MANCHESTER-NATIVE SAM Shepherd is one of the DJ heroes of the modern era. He’s an audiophile in the vein of pioneers like New York’s Loft founder David Mancuso. He’s an obsessive record digger, a gifted producer and holds a Ph.D in Neuroscience. His critically acclaimed debut album Elaenia’s restrained electronic jazz funk made its way into most end of the year ‘Best Of’ lists. And his elegantly weaved, genre-hopping, marathon DJ sets are stuff of legends (check out this six-hour epic with Four Tet at the closing of London’s beloved venue, Plastic People, in January last year). In the Internet Age of throwaway tracks and restless toggling, Shepherd likes to take his time with DJ sets and look for space in his compositions. Ditto with this interview, where, Shepherd deliberates every question with measured, thoughtful responses.

It’s been a little over a year since your debut album Elaenia’s release. You’ve been touring with the band on the road a fair bit. How much has the live show evolved in the past year?

I wouldn’t change anything. It’s been amazing, having different permutations and combinations with the band. It’s been a big band with strings, wind, brass and a smaller band with just five of us. We have tried most combinations. It’s a logistical nightmare. The band segues from a selection of the album into its own music and a lot of quite heavier music. I have been listening to a lot of rock music, which I wasn’t doing years ago. Now I am very interested in psychedelic rock, I never used to listen to that. That is influencing a lot of the music I am making with the band. Now, I am definitely making music for the band, which has definitely been a big change.