Logic1000, aka Samantha Poulter, is an Australian music producer and DJ. Named one of Mixmag’s ‘DJs of the Year’, Logic1000 found global success after releasing her debut EP in 2019. Since moving to Berlin in 2020, the producer has become a linchpin of the city’s club scene. Her upcoming debut album Mother, a soft and mature-sounding house record, was inspired by the birth of her first child, Genie, in 2021.
Your new album feels very mature. It’s a departure from your previous, much ravier releases. Do you feel like the album is the result of a period of personal growth?
Very much so. The time in which we [Poulter and her partner and fellow producer Tom McAlister] wrote the album and the time after we submitted it was potentially the most transformative time of my life so far. I feel like I have edged a little closer to becoming self-actualised. Not that I think there’s a point at which you’re like, “I’ve arrived”, because I think we are all constantly evolving. But yeah, I feel a little closer to my authentic self. The album is a symbol of change. It’s a new chapter for me, for Logic1000, and for my future.
The album is a symbol of change. It’s a new chapter for me, for Logic1000, and for my future.
What are the challenges for a mother dealing with balancing a child and a career, touring in your case?
It’s all about hiring the right support team, if you can, expressing your needs, putting your family first – and being incredibly good at logistics.
You started a daytime rave series, called ‘Therapy’. How did that come about and were you surprised that something like that didn’t already exist in Berlin?
It actually is surprising. The wonderful [UK DJ] Annie Mac founded the Before Midnight party series. It looks incredible and I admire her dedication. For me, the idea came from my coaching session with Sam Parker [co-founder of coaching agency, Attune]. I was telling her all the ideal parameters for which I would like to play and perform in, and she said, “You know you can make that happen right?” And so, the therapy party was born.
How has the reception been so far?
It’s hard to know because I’ve only hosted it once. But before, during and after the party, I had people telling me how thankful they were for doing something like this. I’d say overall it was a very positive response.
The series is also linked to sober raving. What are your own experiences with the clubbing scene when it comes to drugs and alcohol?
I had a moment in my early twenties where I was into party drugs, but they didn’t sit right with me. I guess you could say I had an allergic reaction to them. My mental health completely deteriorated and by the time I was 25 I decided to stop completely. I have been sober since then, and I’m turning 38 this year. I’ve never really been a clubber, but when I used to take drugs, music was a massive part of that. But since I stopped partying, I do have a different relationship with music. I think my relationship with it is more authentic and meaningful.
You were diagnosed with schizophrenia in your mid-twenties, which is something you’re really open about. Mental health and access to therapy is a hot topic in Berlin at the moment – what’s your experience with mental health services available in Berlin?
I have a psychiatrist in Berlin, Dr Sven Hessmann, who oversees my prescribed medication. He’s incredible and he has been my doctor since I moved here. The healthcare system in Berlin works so well.
Have you noticed any other benefits of living in Berlin?
There have been so many. Experiencing a different culture is an obvious one, but also if I had not made the move, then I wouldn’t have been able to do music full time. It really was the best decision to move here.
How has your life changed as a result of that decision and how do you feel about the future in Berlin?
Tom and I came to Berlin with a few suitcases and some furniture from our time in London. Now we have a baby, a dog and a lot of possessions. For the first two years we were here, it was the pandemic, plus, as I’m such a homebody anyway, I didn’t really make a huge effort to explore the city. 2024 will be the year to really sink my teeth in.
- Mother is out Mar 22. For more info follow @logic1000____ on Instagram.
