A NIGHT OUT WITH SAM GELLAITRY
Over the weekend, producer, DJ, singer, and songwriter Sam Gellaitry unveiled his long-awaited debut album, ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT — a defining milestone for the multi-hyphenate creative as he steps fully into his own. Across twelve tracks, Gellaitry showcases the full scope of his artistry: producing, writing, and performing each song himself. The album’s soundscape moves fluidly through disco, funk, and pop-infused electronic textures, all shaped by his synesthesia-informed approach to color and sound. The result is a body of work that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant; introspective yet built for the dance floor.
A couple of weeks before the release, LISTEN Magazine caught up with Gellaitry at Brooklyn Steel during soundcheck as he prepped to bring his signature energy to a packed New York crowd.
What does a typical day on tour look like for you from wake-up to stage time?
It varies every time, really! I usually try to rest when I can because most of this tour I've been getting back-to-back flights on the weekend, and it does kind of get to the point where you forget where you are.
How do you take care of your mental and physical health while constantly moving?
In regards to the mental side of things, I find travelling around, especially doing the thing I love, extremely gratifying and rewarding, so most of the time I’m feeling thankful about being on the road! Physically, it’s definitely taxing because of some of the routings and lack of sleep, but I’ll be able to catch up on that when I get home!
You’ve been on tour with KAYTRANADA for the past couple of dates. How does it feel to perform your own headlining show?
Man, the live shows have been incredible! It had been a while since I had done one, and it's definitely the most comfortable I’ve felt, and because I now have a lighting director, it really elevates the visual aspect of the show and adds to the comfort levels up there.
At soundcheck, I noticed you’re very hands-on & the lighting direction was very intentional as well. What’s your process when it comes to directing your live shows?
That’s true! A huge part of the soundcheck is making sure everything’s working sound-wise as they should! In regards to lighting, I basically assign each song to the colours that I associate with them. I have synesthesia, so it's important to me that the colours match to the key of each track as I visualise them in my head.
What’s your favorite track to perform live?
“Nervous” from my new album is super fun to play live; there's a long synth solo near the end, which I loved playing each night.
Has there been any fan interaction on this tour that really stuck with you?
I was catching up with a friend at a bar in NYC, and this person walks up to me with a face of shock as she was in the middle of listening to one of my tracks called “Curious!” It felt serendipitous for the both of us.
What’s your favorite song at the moment?
I’m loving “Afterthought” from the new Tame Impala record.