Bankbeats
Bank
- Location: London, UK
- Show Time: Friday
- Start: 08:00
- End: 10:00
Sam ‘Bank’ is a London-based producer and DJ, and the host of BankBeats on Bassdrive. Growing up in
Baltimore, Maryland, Sam’s introduction to drum and bass and jungle was shaped on the legendary
dancefloors of Fever in Baltimore and Buzz at Nation in Washington, DC, as well as at many raves across
the Mid-Atlantic that brought prolific DJs from the UK and beyond.
The genre unlocked something perfectly suited to Sam, combining his love of playing drums with
experimenting on his father’s impressive collection of synthesizers. He had found his thing—and his
people. In 1999, he purchased his first pair of turntables and has been DJing ever since.
In 2003, his love of drum and bass eventually landed him in its cultural birthplace: the UK. Sam cleverly
used a college screenwriting program as a way to fully immerse himself in the London scene. Living only
a few blocks from Fabric nightclub, he regularly experienced lineups stacked with artists like High
Contrast, DJ Marky, Calibre, DJ Hype, and London Elektricity, while legendary MCs Fats, GQ, 2Shy, and
Moose dominated the mic. The energy of this era—and the emergence of liquid and soulful drum and
bass—solidified the sound that would come to define Bank’s work as a producer.
Back in the real world, Sam moved to California and waded into the precarious waters of the
entertainment industry in Los Angeles, with his music providing a welcome escape from dodging abuses
from angry talent agents. Bank’s first record was released in 2015 on Sodajerkz. What followed was a
prolific outpouring of music, including multiple releases on Soul Deep Exclusives, Vibration Records,
Plush Recordings, Beatalistics, Fokuz and many others. Sam later signed an advance deal with Textures
Music Group to produce his debut album, Sleepless Nights. Along the way, he collaborated with some of
his heroes, including Freaky Flow and Random Movement, who also provided a remix for one of two EPs
released on Flight Pattern. Additional collaborations include work with Anthony Kasper, Cnof, and Nelver,
among others.
Sam moved to London permanently in 2014 and soon debuted on Bassdrive, hosting the Vibration
Records Radio, where he played for two years before graduating to his own show, BankBeats, in 2017.
Sam has been rolling the beats for the Bassdrive crew ever since.