Interview: 5 minutes with Sage Armstrong

Sage Armstrong is a DJ and producer currently based in Santa Monica. Upon his debut release via Claude VonStroke’s DIRTYBIRD imprint, Armstrong has been dropping jaws all over with immersive house cuts and captivating DJ sets, setting a different tone from the rest.

Now, after several successful festival appearances including Coachella, Sage Armstrong has taken up remix duties for famed British electronic act Faithless (along with Californian producer Steady Rock), showcasing their ability to twist and turn in just the right ways.

Listen to Sage Armstrong‘s brand new track, Faithless – ‘Music Matters (Sage Armstrong & Steady Rock Remix)’ below while you read the interview.

We caught up with Sage Armstrong on dangerous performances and keeping a clear mind:

Set the tone for us. Why the arts?

It’s just what I’m here for. I’ve worked many jobs and this is my favorite, and the one I’m best at so far 🙂

Which comes first when you’re making music – the sound or the idea?

It’s always different, there will be times when I’m away from home and will think of some really good lyric or idea and I will normally write it down or Voice memo it on my phone. Inspiration can strike at any time I make music everyday, so there’s even times where I have no idea or sound so I just start putting sounds together that I like.

What’s on your current playlist?

Jimmy Edgar, Kaytranada, Pharrell Williams, Lil Uzi Vert, Tycho, ISteady Rock, Ardalan, Soulection, Ski Mask the Slump God, XXXtentacion, Kendrick Lamar, Dirtybird, Travis Scott, Tankhead666.. Too many, lol

Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.

It’s a beautiful thing, Its a escape from your average day I guess. I truly love to vibe out and interact with my fans during the show and after!

Take us through a day in the recording studio.

I normally hit the beach first thing in the morning to exercise and ground myself.  After that I head back to the lab and create til really late hours; A lot of coffee, weed & bass. A lot of times I’ll have some producer homies over or I’ll be at a friend’s place to switch up the scenery.. a lot of experimentation going on.. I’m always learning!

Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?

Yes! I always knew music was what I wanted to do – I just never knew how to make it work initially. But it was when I was working at TGI Fridays literally hating every second there because I knew I was worth more than 4.50 p/ hour + busser tips. I watched a Claude VonStroke interview that literally helped me realize some things, I quit my job, left my gal made a lot of sacrifices. A year later I signed my first release to DIRTYBIRD.. That was the point I realized, “I’m all in!”

You’ve been playing a whole lot of festivals recently – what’s been your best festival show experience so far?

Coachella was amazing this year. Truly blessed to experience that. I really loved Dirtybird Camp Out East as well!

And a festival experience you’d prefer to forget?

Uff! This was hard to think of, lol, I don’t have many but… I rammed my head into a tree once at Camp Out and got a concussion, my head hurt for like 3 months!

Any emerging artists on your radar?

Steady Rock, Franklyn Watts, BOT, OMNOM, Astronomar (Squaaaaaaaad!)

You’ve done a lot of really cool collaborations this year – what’s been one of your favourite ones? Tell us about the experience.

I made this tune called “Unify” with my buddy ESSEX, and it’s a cool hybrid between Hip-hop & Electronic im excited to drop this, and another one with BOT called “Excuse Me” has been getting a lot of love on the dance floor (Both Unreleased)

If you could collaborate with any artist, living or not, who would you choose and why?

That’s so hard to answer because there are people I’d die to have a session with.. But I’d have to go with Pharrell Williams.

What gets your creative juices flowing / how do you get yourself excited to create?

Having a clear mind & living!

Any side projects you’re working on?

Working on an album and making a lot of hip-hop too. I might include some of this in my album and or start a side project 🙂

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?

Fire Music constantly dropping for the rest of the year, and maybe trying some new genres and styles, plus a lot of shows!

For more information follow Sage Armstrong on Facebook