How did you get started and what can people except out of a Sam Ramirez DJ set?
I started DJing around 2007? I lived in Dallas at the time and regularly attended a Britpop night called Mile End hosted by DJ Laureen at Fallout Lounge. I'd catch future homie Gabriel Mendoza guest DJing sometimes. I loved Mile End and was sad to see it go. The owner Ulisses Knew I was interested in DJing and gave me the opportunity on the first Thursday of the month. I used the bar's old school CD player and mixer. Playing a mix of Britpop, New Wave, Post Punk Revival and Indie Dance. Stuff like, The Rapture, MIA, Air, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and LCD Soundsystem. This went on for around a year.
Joshua Wrinkle (...of Death/Tidals) and I did a Reggae, Dub, Soul, Proto Punk night called Too Much, Too Young! a handful of times in Fort Worth soon after. Joshua relocated to South Africa and Too Much, Too Young! moved to Fallout Lounge with Gabriel Mendoza Joining me as a guest DJ. Thank you to our mutual friend Kel Kel for making that happen. We both grew up Latino, new waver/punk hardcore kids at a time when there wasn't very many of us, so we vibed pretty easily and that spirit resonates in everything we do.
Soon after, we met at Amsterdam Bar and discussed working together on something new. This would become Away From The Numbers in November of 2009. A DJ collective based on equality, community, shared contribution/compensation. Equal play time, no headliners, no egos, a celebration of subculture, simply about the love for this music and sharing it with people.
Fallout Lounge closed abruptly in 2012 (RIP) and we moved to Texas Theater for what felt like a summer and eventually landed at Singlewide thanks to Kim! After the pandemic we made the move to Double Wide where we are every 2nd Saturday of the month.
People can expect to hear me play Post Punk, Darkwave, Synthpop, Goth and Industrial but I also play Shoegaze and Britpop earlier in my sets. Sad songs.
Influences?
Seeing Jonathan Graham play Italo Disco and 80's deep cuts on vinyl at a Denton house party was definitely a spark. This was years before we would become friends. I remember hearing Vanity 6 "Nasty Girl." Everyone at the party seemed too young to know the song or too drunk to care but I grew up with it (older sister) so the nostalgia was heavy and the love was instant. i was like "Damn! I want to do that."
The movie Beat Street, my sister letting me scratch up her Egyptian Lover "Egypt Egypt" 12", 120 Minutes, Laureen, Natalie Sanchez, DJ Wild in the Streets, Ricky Simpson and Gabriel Mendoza.
What are you listening to right now?
Cave In, M!R!M, Plastic Estate and High Vis. My favorite band is Depeche Mode so they are always in rotation.
Visit Sam for his latest gigs.
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