Sam Paganini

Sam Paganini is an Italian DJ and producer, also identified as Samuel Scaboro. He begins as a musician playing drums, guitar and piano in local rock bands before focusing on DJing at the age of 15. He develops an early interest in acid house, techno and technical recording, and starts playing at local parties and clubs after buying his first turntables.

Early work and studio setup

While working as a DJ, Paganini turns towards electronic music production and creates a series of demos that lead to contact from Media Records in 1993. In 1997 he sets up Cellar Rock Studio, which gives him space to experiment further with sound and develop his music.

Releases and recognised tracks

One of his first defining records is Paganini Traxx - Zoe, an instrumental track that reaches number one in the English club chart and receives strong support from specialist press. It becomes a techno-progressive classic and is played by Sasha, John Digweed and Paul Oakenfold, before later being remixed by Timo Maas.

From 2000 onwards, Paganini releases music on a wide range of labels including Southern Fried, Octopus, Terminal M, Phobiq, Material, 1605 Music Therapy, Driving Forces Rec, Android Muziq, Amazing Records, 303 Lovers and Toolroom.

Drumcode, Form and Cocoon Recordings

In 2010 he releases The Beginning EP on Form, Popof's label. The release is described through tracks such as “Stratos”, “Strobe” and “The Beginning”, which are played by Richie Hawtin, Dubfire, Marco Carola and others.

In 2011 he signs the four-track Cobra EP to Richie Hawtin's Plus8 label, a release that reaches the Top 10 of the Beatport Techno Chart in October 2011. In 2012 he follows with Prisma EP on Drumcode, which also reaches the Beatport Techno Chart Top 10 and gains support from artists including Alan Fitzpatrick, Slam and Erick Morillo. Later in 2012, the track “Prisma” appears on The Sound Of The 13th Season, the Cocoon Ibiza compilation mixed by Sven Väth.

He then releases the five-track Body To Body EP on Cocoon Recordings, which reaches number one on the Beatport Techno Chart for more than three weeks. His output places him within techno, minimal and electronic music, and he is associated with labels including Drumcode and Cocoon as well as the wider techno circuit.

Related projects

Paganini is also linked with Analogic Tribe, C.K.A. and Sharada House Gang.