We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samantha Barnhart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I’ve found my freedom through being a creative. When I was younger, I was always picking up a new craft hobby. Usually I’d get disinterested by the time I’d acquired the materials to properly do that hobby. Music has always remained constant through that time, through highs and lows and everywhere in between. Somewhere in college, I was taught how to mix by my friend Mitch, and things started clicking together.

I’ve never had the time out of school to lead a normal work life, as since I graduated I’ve had countless opportunities to be a part of music events through performance or work. All I’ve known in my time since graduation has been this wacky, wild, wonderful lifestyle so many of us lean into. To be able to earn most of my living through the music industry feels more real than doing so in an office.

I often find myself thinking about what it would be like to have a regular job because I’m also a Social Worker by education. Most of my peers from college work in jobs that demand a great deal of their mental and emotional energy. I haven’t had much time to explore that formally as a job since my schedule is so packed with performances that help push me further as an artist, and event work that’s too lucrative to pass up. I want to find a job where I could do Social Work part time during the week, with the flexibility needed to make event contracts work. But truthfully, I might end up creating the right job myself. I have a vision of starting a harm reduction nonprofit that could travel to events while also addressing local harm reduction needs. That might be the path I need to carve out so I can both do the work I know I’m meant to do- help people, and the work I feel called to do- being involved with music events.

The last time I thought about having a “real” Social Work job, I came to the conclusion that I have the capacity to help people through music, too. Yes, Social Work is what I’m trained in, but I carry that perspective with me when I curate sets, and when I work events. In fact, the platform I have gives me a unique opportunity to spread that perspective to others as well.

I do need to find a way to do Social Work in a semi-traditional manner so I can keep working towards higher licensure. But I have more than 7 years before that window closes- so much time to streamline this lifestyle into what it needs to be so I can find balance.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born, raised, and currently reside just outside of the music nexus and university town known as Athens, GA. I have always been obsessed with music, with songs I loved on repeat until I could no longer find the meaning in the sound. I was a band kid and colorguard member in high school. In my first year of college, I met a dear friend who took me into the fold of bass music. Later that year, I attended my first music festival, which catapulted me into my next four festivals and a regional burn under my belt in only four months. As that’s not financially realistic, I began volunteering, and quickly into working smaller events. This is also when I picked up flow arts which would evolve along with my musical expression through the next several years.

In 2018, I received encouragement to enter music from a friend turned mentor. He saw the awe in my eyes, my desire to be a part of the magic, and perhaps the potential within me. The people he connected me with helped create my network in ATL. That summer, a stranger turned friend through a car ride to Infrasound became the person who gave me my first mixing lessons. Over 2019, I’d play events for bassheads in Athens, small venues, and local music events.

I began to dream of creating an event series, which turned into streams when the pandemic hit. In 2020, I hosted two successful streams each with 9 DJs and multiple VJs, with the intent to raise money for local nonprofits. That year I also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

In 2021, I received my first opportunity to play at a venue in ATL. This kicked off a crazy year where immediately after I received my master’s degree, I played my first festivals, and caught the eye of two notable promoters from Chattanooga. I’ll be forever thankful for that first opportunity to play in their city because it opened me up to a special scene that I hold close to my heart. The next year was full of music opportunities, more festival billings, and work at festivals seemed to be aligning more than ever.

At the beginning of 2022, I met my partner at an Aquarius celebration in Chattanooga. We spent the year taking on the many opportunities coming to us, delving into learning production, and building our brands. We made a big investment at the end of 2022, which has yet to be announced. It will contribute to our growth as artists and as people who want to help create magic at events.

This year, I chose Chattanooga to host my first in-person event, Just Peachy, for another year of Aquarius celebrations! I intend to host more events between where I live in Athens, ATL, and Chattanooga in the coming years to continue building and strengthening the bass community, while giving back to the local community as well.

I aspire to dig my roots deeper into the southeast as a DJ, event creator, and flow artist. I want to apply my Social Work perspective to creating events that help heal, while putting that energy into the music I select and create as well. I feel my unique outlook based on my education and passion for the scene will carry that energy forward. People have supported me because they see I care, I try to spread love, etc. Though these are not unique characteristics, the scene needs more people fueled by this. This community is about love, but to me it’s clear we need to be more about it. More intolerant of intolerance. Less accepting of falseness. Condemning of oppression. I hope to facilitate this change.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

SHΛKTi SOUND is a music project backed by my values. Shakti is the feminine energy that flows within all of us, and incarnate is a multi-formed goddess. Shakti translates to power from Sanskrit, being the primordial energy of creation and maintenance of the universe, which pulls us towards our creative expression. Through this moniker, I hope to inform people about Shakti and assist in connection with themselves.

I chose this name because I want to push the sound that empowers the feminine within me, and to do so in others. I want them to feel the vibrance and wildness of that energy that already exists within us. I hope especially to inspire femme and nonbinary people to learn how to do what I do as well. It’s truly a beautiful thing to express one’s feelings and experiences sonically.

The container provided by a music event generates the potential for alchemy. In terms of event creation and harm reduction, my intention is to facilitate this through ensuring comfort and available care if necessary.
In order for me to successfully create such a repository, my goal is to be skilled in all ends of event work – A/V, promotion, brand management, etc. I want to be equipped to share that knowledge with others. My goal is to be remembered as someone who contributed to the evolution of the scene through her skill, love, and creativity. Most especially, through the impact I make on empowering people who are underrepresented in the scene.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I have always wanted to express myself creatively. Becoming a DJ and being on the journey into production gives me a sonic outlet. Creating posters, social media graphics, and logos gives me a visual medium. I flow to release that energy through movement. I often ask for my fire flow be incorporated into visuals behind me to tie music back into the movement and vice versa. Even how I dress and style myself is an intentional creative choice.

Building this image, whether sonic or visible, has been a journey of finding myself. Each of these creative outlets have given me a way to work through emotion and convey experience, while revealing a better understanding of myself. To find yourself through expression is beautiful. For others to connect with that is incredible. I think that connection is the most rewarding aspect of what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/shaktisound
• Instagram: instagram.com/shakti_spins
• Facebook: facebook.com/shaktisoundwav
• Other: soundcloud.com/shaktisoundwav

Image Credits
Both images with green lights: Josh Hennessee Fire skull hoop: Anh Tuan Nyan Fire poi & parasol pics: Steven Goodwin